Virtues of Aboo Bakr As-Siddeeq

by Imaam al-Haramain Abdul Muhsin Ibn Muhammad Al-Qaasim 

All praise is due to Allaah. May His peace and blessing be upon the Prophet, his household and companions.

Dear Muslims! Fear Allaah and be dutiful to Him, for the fear of Allah is victory in this world and the provision for the hereafter.

Dear brothers! Every nation and community gets proud of their noble and distinguished personalities. The Prophet saws said: “Man is with the one he loves” (Muslim).

Therefore, every Muslim is indebted to the companions of the Prophet saws for his Eemaan, knowledge, acts of worship and prosperity. For, they were the ones who conveyed the religion to us and fought relentlessly in the way of Allaah until the religion became consolidated. Ibn Mas'ood ra said: “The companions of Muhammad saws are –by Allaah!– The best of this Ummah, the purest of heart and most knowledgeable. Allaah appointed them for the companionship of His Prophet and the establishment of His religion.”

Ash-Shafi'ee also said: “The companions are far above us in knowledge, religiousity, guidance and all other avenues by which one can gain knowledge and guidance. Their opinion pertaining to issues concerning us is better for us than our own opinion.”

Allaah has in fact praised and informed us that He is pleased with them. He says: “ And the first to embrace Islaam of the Muhajirun (those who migrated from Makkah to Al- Madinah) and the Ansar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhajirun) and also those who follow them exactly (in Faith). Allaah is Well-Pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success." (At-Tawbah 9:100). 

Each and every one of the Sahaabah has a laudable role he played in the consolidation of Islaam, knowing their stories enlivens hearts and emulating them brings felicity. Ibn Al-Jawzee said: “The Salaf used to teach their children love of the Aboo Bakr and 'Umar as they taught them a Surah of the Qur'ân.”

The best and most distinguished of the Sahaabah is Aboo Bakr As-Siddeeq. He was revered among the Quraysh and loved. He was an expert in Arab genealogy and history. When Islaam came, he was the first to believe in the Messenger of Allaah saws and ever since remained on the truth. The Prophet saws said: “I said: O you people! I am the Messenger of Allaah to you all. And you replied: “You have lied! But Aboo Bakr said: “You have said the truth! (Al-Bukhari).

Aboo Bakr ra was a man of outstanding achievements and noble deeds. He holds excellent position and he was resolute, merciful, forbearing and generous. He defended the religion of Allaah and helped His Messenger saws. He was the first of the rightly guided Khaleefahs. He never drank alcohol, never worshipped idols and never told a lie. He was the first person to call to Islaam and Allaah made accept Islaam through him five of those who were given glad tidings of paradise namely: ‘Uthman, Talha, Sa’d, Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Auf (Ra) . He was the first person to be persecuted in the way of Allaah. He accompanied the Prophet saws right from the beginning of his mission till his death and was the only one to migrate with the Messenger of Allaah saws . The Prophet saws said: “No money has benefited me like that Aboo Bakr”

He has once spent all his money in the cause of Allaah. 'Umar Ra said: “The Messenger of Allaah saws enjoined us to make a Sadaqah and I brought half of my money to him. When he asked me about what I had left for my family, I told him that I left for them the like of what I had brought. As regards Aboo Bakr, he came with all that he had. The Messenger of Allaah saws asked him what he had left for his family. He answered that he had left for them Allaah and His Messenger. Then 'Umar said: “I shall never compete with him in anything again.” (Aboo Dawood).

Aboo Bakr As-Sideeq was a good-spirited person. He never ask anything from anybody. He said:  “My friend saws enjoined me never to ask anything from people.” (Ahmad).

He was also the most-firm in faith among his Ummah Even if his faith is to be weighed against the faith of the whole Ummah excluding the Prophet- his faith would out- weigh theirs. Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudre said: “Aboo Bakr was the most knowledgeable among us.”

The Ummah never differ on a issue during his lifetime except that he settled it.

He was so loved and revered by the Prophet saws that he (saws) deputised him to lead people in prayer and to lead the first hajj contingent from Al-Madeenah. Sheikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said: “Knowledge of the rites of Hajj is the most-subtle of all acts of worship and there is no issue of acts of worship that is more complicated than it. If not because of Aboo Bakr’s wide knowledge, the Prophet saws would not have made him the leader of the first Hajj contingent.”

His whole life was spent in the way of Allaah. He has never left Madeenah except for the purpose of Hajj, Umrah or Jihaad and all his money was spent in the cause of Allaah. His daughter 'Aaishah said:  “When he died, he did not leave neither gold nor silver coin.”

Aboo Bakr was the bravest of all the Companions. He would always be found in the forefront when the war became terrible. He was the one who protected the Prophet saws with his body during the battle of Badr and he was firm and resolute during the famous Battle of Hunayn. He said of himself: “Fear never entered my heart since the day I was with the Prophet saws in the cave.”

When people were in the state of bewilderment concerning the death of the Prophet saws, Aboo Bakr it was, who only demonstrated self-control and bravery to face the situation. It was then that he made his popular speech:"Whoever worships Muhammad, Muhammad is now dead, but whoever worships Allaah, Allaah is Ever-living, Immortal.”

Aboo Bakr led the Muslim Ummah after the death of the Prophet saws with justice and wisdom and consolidated Islaam. His opinion was the most correct. The Prophet saws used to seek for his views first among his companions. ‘Umar also used to consult him during the Prophetic Era because of his intelligence. It was only Aboo Bakr who had the honour of the fact that his father, mother, children and grandchildren embraced Islaam during the lifetime of the Prophet saws. None of the Sahaabah had the same honour. Sheikhul-Islaam said:  “The household of Aboo Bakr is that of Eemaan. There was no hypocrite among them.”

It was also said that: "Eemaan do have households as hypocrisy does. The household of Aboo Bakr was that of Eemaan.”

Aboo Bakr was a highly devoted companion, the philantropist and a fighter in the way of Allaah, when he reads Qur’aan he would not be able to control his tears and he would be the first person to do good deeds. He possessed the qualities that guarantee paradise for one. He was fluent and eloquent when he spoke and he has spoken on behalf of the Prophet saws on many occasion with or without the presence of the Messenger of Allaah saws. He was so loved by the Prophet saws and used to visit him in his house in the morning and afternoon and would call him: My brother, my companion. He would also praise him by saying: “What an excellent man Aboo Bakr is!”

It was out of the Prophet’s love for him that he married his daughter. The Prophet saws likened him to the Prophets Ibraheem and ‘Eesaa in leniency. He benefited the Messenger of Allaah with his wealth and life and spent his money abundantly for the upliftment of the Religion of Allaah. The Prophet saws said: “No body has done a favour for us except that we have compensated him save Aboo Bakr for, he has done us favours that, it is only Allaah who can recompense him for it on the Day of Judgement.” (At-Tirmidhee).

The Prophet saws also said:  “O Aboo Bakr! You are the first person to enter Paradise from my nation.” (Aboo Dawood).

Aboo Bakr was also the most beloved among the companions. The companions loved him and revered him. ‘Umar said: “A night and a day of Aboo Bakr is -by Allaah- better than 'Umar and the household of 'Umar.”

Ibn 'Umar also said: “We, during the time of the Prophet saws did not consider anybody equal with Aboo Bakr.” (Al-Bukhaaree).

Dear Brothers in faith! These are some of the virtues of Aboo Bakr, may Allah pleased with him and please him. Therefore, give this meritorious companion of the Messenger of Allah his due in respect, love and position. The Almighty says: “Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allaah (i.e. they have gone out for Jihad (holy fighting), and showed not their back to the disbelievers); of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred;) and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed (i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they conclude with Allaah) in the least.” (Al-Ahzaab 33:23). 

Fellow Muslims! There is another fact that should well understood. The later generations of this Ummah will never succeed unless with what made the earlier generations succeeded. The companions of the Messenger of Allaah are the best of all men after the Messenger of Allaah himself. Therefore, knowing their ways of live, their characters and manners illuminate the way for a believer who wishes to live according to the way the Prophet did.

Brothers in faith! Emulate these people, be steadfast on their path and always be truthful in your sayings and deeds, you will be among the truthfuls before Allaah. Also spend of your wealth seeking the pleasure of your Lord, you will be forgiven your sins; do good to people, grief and calamity will removed from you; be patient over persecution in the way of Allaah for, that is the way of the righteous people and restrict yourselves to Halaal earnings only, your money will be blessed. Endeavor also to learn knowledge and submit the whole of your life to Allaah, you will have happiness. Engage in a lot of prayers, fasting feeding the poor, visiting the sick and attending funerals, you will earn the reward thereof in Paradise. Revere and honour the Companions of the Prophet saws. For your honouring of them means your love for your Prophet saws. All the above are the characters of the truthful Muslims, if you can have that, you will be among them.