Abu Bakr
First Rashidun caliph, close companion of Muhammad, and key figure in early Islamic expansion.
He became a cloth merchant at age 18 and was known for his honesty and morality.[1] He was the first free adult man to embrace Islam and later became the first caliph after Muhammad's death.[2][1]
Quick Facts
- Predecessor
- Position established; Muhammad (as Messenger of God)
- Successor
- Umar
- Spouse
- Qutayla bint Abd al-Uzza
- Umm Ruman
- Asma bint Umais
- Habibah bint Kharijah
- Issue
- Asma
- Abd al-Rahman
- Abd Allah
- Aisha
- Muhammad
- Umm Kulthum
- Father
- Abu Quhafa
- Birth name
- Abd Allah ibn Abi Quhafa
- Born
- c. 573
- Birthplace
- Mecca, Hejaz, Arabia
Facts from the source article.
Life and work
Abu Bakr's childhood love for camels earned him the nickname "father of the camel's calf"[3][1] He was literate, fond of poetry, and attended the annual fair at Ukaz.[4] He never prostrated to an idol and refused intoxicants, stating he maintained his honor.[1] After converting to Islam, he persuaded several prominent companions to convert, including Uthman ibn Affan and Talha ibn Ubayd Allah.[5][1]
In 613, he delivered the first public address inviting people to Muhammad, after which Quraysh tribesmen beat him unconscious.[6][1] In Medina, he resumed his cloth trade and his business flourished.[7] He participated in the battles of Badr, Uhud, the Trench, and Khaybar.[7][8][9] A preserved story recounts that as a child, his father took him to the Kaaba to pray before idols; after the idols failed to respond to his requests for clothes and food, he threw a stone at one of them and left.[10]
Eight slaves (four men and four women) were purchased and set free by Abu Bakr for 40,000 dinar; among those freed was Bilal ibn Rabah.[11] During the migration to Medina, Abu Bakr went with Muhammad; to avoid the Quraysh, they took refuge in a cave at Jabal Thawr, about five miles south of Mecca.[12]
What the cited sources add
A 2022 online article states Abu Bakr was born on 27 October 573 and died on 22 August 634.[1] The same source reports that he became a merchant at 18 and traded in cloth as his family business.[1] It records that he said he never drank intoxicants and never prostrated to an idol.[1] It describes how unbelievers beat Abu Bakr until he fell unconscious after his first public address.[1]
After Abu Bakr's conversion, Uthman bin Affan, Abdul-Rahman bin Awf, Talhah bin Ubaydillah, Saad bin Abi Waqqas, Al-Zubair bin Al-Awwam, and Abu Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah also converted.[1] In the cave, Abu Bakr saw the feet of the pursuers and expressed fear; the Prophet told him not to grieve, saying that Allah was with them.[1]
References
- "Facts about Abu Bakr al-Siddiq", studioarabiyainegypt.com, 28 November 2022. facts only, no text reused. studioarabiyainegypt.com
- Wikipedia, "Abu Bakr" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Abu Bakr - Biography & Facts", britannica.com, 19 August 2023; Saritoprak, "Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq", oxfordbibliographies.com; Campo, "Encyclopedia of Islam", Infobase Publishing, 15 April 2009 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abu Bakr" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Drissner, "Islam for Nerds – 500 Questions and Answers", createspace, 2016, p. 432; War and Peace in the Law of Islam by Majid Khadduri, translated by Muhammad Yaqub Khan Published 1951 Ahmadiyyah Anjuman Ishaat Islam, original from the Univers (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abu Bakr" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Al-Zarkali, Al-A'lam, Dar al-Ilm lil Malayeen, 15th edition, May 2002 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abu Bakr" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ashraf, "Encyclopaedia Of Holy Prophet And Companion (Set Of 15 Vols.)", Anmol Publications Pvt. Limited, 2004 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abu Bakr" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Muslim persecution of heretics during the marwanid period (64-132/684-750), Judd Steven, Al-Masq: Islam & the Medieval Mediterranean, April 2011, Vol. 23, Issue; Abu Bakr by Atta Mohy-ud-Din, published 1968 S. Chand Original from the University of Michigan, digitised 6 January 2006, ASIN B0006FFA0O. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abu Bakr" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Tabqat ibn al-Saad book of Maghazi, p. 62 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abu Bakr" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Morgan, "Essential Islam: A Comprehensive Guide to Belief and Practice", ABC-Clio, 2010, p. 126 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abu Bakr" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Razwy, "A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims", p. 192; ibn Ishaq, "The Life of the Messenger of God"; Irving, "The Life of Mohammed"; Haykal, "The Life of Muhammad", 1935; Razwy, "A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims", p. 192–193; Irving, "The Life of Mohammed"; Razwy, "A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims", p. 193 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abu Bakr" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Masud-ul-Hasan, "Sidiq-i-Akbar Hazrat Abu Bakr", Ferozsons, p. 2; "Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq – Islamic Studies", Oxford Bibliographies Online (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abu Bakr" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Tabaqat ibn Sa'd 3/ 169, 174; Tarikh ar-Rusul wa al-Muluk 3/ 426 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abu Bakr" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Islamic Culture by the Islamic Cultural Board Published 1927 s.n. Original from the University of Michigan, digitised 27 March 2006. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Abu Bakr (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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