August Session (Part 2)
Abu Bakr (RA) – Second to None in the Pursuit of God
In August, we also had the opportunity to learn about the life of Abu Bakr (RA), the first person to accept Islam and a close companion of the Prophet ﷺ. We studied the beginning of his story, looking at his noble background, early life, and the strong support he gave to the Prophet ﷺ. His kindness, faith, and sacrifices played a key role in helping to build the early Muslim community. Our discussion helped us understand his character better, and the lessons from his life continue to inspire and guide us today.
Abu Bakr (RA) was from the Banu Taym, a noble sub-tribe of the Quraysh. His real name was Abdullah ibn Abu Kuhafa, or Abdullah ibn Uthman. His mother’s name was Ummul Khair, and his father’s name was Uthman (Abu Kuhafa). The nickname "Abu Bakr" (Father of the Young Camel) was given to him because of the camels he reared. He was also called "Atik," meaning "the freed one," a nickname his mother gave him as he was her only surviving male child, freed from the grip of death.
He was born around 572 CE, about two and a half years after the Prophet ﷺ. Growing up in a noble tribe, Abu Bakr had a passion for poetry and studying ancestry. He was eloquent, intelligent, and a skilled businessman, particularly in the trade of fabrics and clothes. Known for his honesty, he was well-loved by those he traded with. From a young age, he found idol worship silly. Once, his father took him to the Ka'bah to worship, but after addressing the idols and receiving no response, Abu Bakr dismissed them, saying, "This is nonsense; I will not worship this."
When the Prophet ﷺ introduced Islam, Abu Bakr immediately believed and submitted. Not only did he believe, but he also worked tirelessly to spread the message of Islam. He brought six of the ten people promised paradise to Islam, including Abdullah ibn Awf, Uthman, Zubair, Sa’ad, Talha, and Abu Ubaidah. Abu Bakr’s efforts also included supporting the Prophet ﷺ as he traveled to different tribes to invite people to Islam.
Abu Bakr (RA) endured great hardships for Islam. Along with Talha (RA), he was tortured by Nawfal ibn Khuwailid, the brother of Khadijah (RA), who was notorious for his cruelty. Abu Bakr was also known for freeing slaves who embraced Islam, including Bilal (RA). He paid a large sum—seven uqiya—to free Bilal (RA), and he continued to free slaves who were tortured by their masters for their faith. When his father criticized him for freeing slaves who were weak and unable to contribute, Abu Bakr responded by saying that he was seeking their freedom for Allah, and Surah Al-Lail was revealed in response to this. By the time of the Hijra, Abu Bakr had spent nearly all his wealth, leaving him with only 500 dinars out of his initial 40,000.
Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said that no wealth ever benefited him more than the wealth spent by Abu Bakr. When Abu Bakr heard this, he cried and said, "Am I or my money of any use except for you, O Messenger of Allah?" Jabir (RA) also reported that the Prophet ﷺ would spend Abu Bakr's wealth as if it were his own. Abu Bakr was the first man to accept Islam, and he used his wealth to support the community around the Prophet ﷺ.
One memorable incident occurred when the Prophet ﷺ was harassed by the Quraysh in front of the Ka'bah. Despite the Prophet’s instruction not to retaliate, Abu Bakr could not remain silent and challenged the Quraysh, saying, "Will you really kill a man just because he says his Lord is Allah?" The Quraysh beat him until he lost consciousness, and when his people saw he was not moving, they took him home. His face was unrecognizable from the beating. When he regained consciousness, his first question was about the Prophet ﷺ. He insisted on going to him and, upon seeing the Prophet, he embraced him. Ali (RA) would later say that one moment of Abu Bakr's life was better than the entire life of the people in the house of Pharaoh.
Abu Bakr was completely selfless. When the Prophet ﷺ was granted permission for the Hijra, he came to Abu Bakr at an unusual time, and Abu Bakr immediately understood that he was to accompany the Prophet. He cried with joy at the privilege. Aisha (RA) mentioned, "I had never seen someone cry out of joy like my father did that day."
For the journey, Abu Bakr offered two camels, and the Prophet ﷺ paid for one. During the journey to Madinah, Abu Bakr stayed vigilant, positioning himself around the Prophet ﷺ for protection. When they reached the cave of Thawr, the Quraysh were searching for them, and while the Prophet ﷺ slept, a scorpion bit Abu Bakr’s leg. Despite the pain, he did not move, protecting the Prophet ﷺ with his own body. His tears woke the Prophet ﷺ, who reassured him, "Do not worry, Allah is with us."
During their journey, they stopped at the home of a woman named Umm Ma’bad, who offered them hospitality without knowing their identity. The Prophet ﷺ asked for a goat, which was believed to be dry and unable to produce milk. He milked the goat with the words, "Bismillah," and offered the first drink to Abu Bakr, who insisted the Prophet ﷺ drink first. They repeated this three times, with Abu Bakr content to watch the Prophet drink, his love and connection to him so deep that his satisfaction came from seeing the Prophet ﷺ content.
May Allah be pleased with Abu Bakr (RA), his selflessness, devotion, and love for the Prophet ﷺ.
To be continued……