Abu Bakr: Difference between revisions

'''Abū Bakr b. Abī Quḥāfa''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|أبو بكر بن أبي قُحافة}}) (d. [[13]]/634) was one of the [[companions]] of the [[Prophet (s)]]. Shortly after the Prophet (s) passed away, Abu Bakr and some other companions of the Prophet (s) gathered in [[Saqifa Bani Sa'ida]] to choose the [[caliph]] of Muslims against the will of the Prophet (s) regarding the caliphate of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]].

Those present in Saqifa Bani Sa'ida finally gave [[allegiance]] to Abu Bakr as the caliph of the Prophet (s). He is the first caliph of [[Rashidin caliphs]] in the view of [[Sunni]] people. According to the famous views of historians, he immigrated with the Prophet (s) and hid in the [[Cave of Thawr]]. During his short rule, controversial events happened, including the event of [[Fadak]], [[Radda Battles]], and beginning of the conquests.

In some sources, there are some poems quoted from some infidels slandering Abu Bakr, in one of which Bakr is mentioned as the son of Abu Bakr, but in none of the references where the names of the children of Abu Bakr have been listed, no name of Bakr has been mentioned. His opponents such as [[Abu Sufyan]] have altered Abu Bakr ("Bakr" meaning as "young camel") to "Abu Fusayl" ("Fusayl" meaning "baby camel kept from his mother's milk") in order to mock him.

The name of Abu Bakr at the [[Age of Ignorance]] was 'Abd al-Ka'ba and after Islam, the [[Prophet (s)]] called him 'Abd Allah. In some [[Sunni]] traditions, his name is mentioned as 'Atiq, but most Sunni traditions have regarded 'Atiq a title for him and have said that the Prophet (s) called him 'Atiq due to the beauty of his face. According to a narration from [['Ayisha]], the Prophet (s) called Abu Bakr "'Atiq Allah min al-nar" [meaning "God kept him away from fire"]. There are other causes mentioned as well for calling him 'Atiq.

[[Shi'a]] scholars not only reject the title "Siddiq" for Abu Bakr, but referring to Sunni sources, say that "[[Siddiq]]" and "[[Faruq]]" have been titles of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] and believe that these titles must have been given to Abu Bakr the early days of Islamic history because Imam 'Ali (a) claimed them during his [[caliphate]] and on the pulpit of [[Basra]].

* Umm Ruman, daughter of 'Amir b. 'Uwaymar (or 'Amir b. 'Amir) from Banu Kinana who was the mother of 'Abd al-Rahman and [['Ayisha]]

* Qutayla daughter of 'Abd al-'Uzza b. As'ad from Bani 'Amir b. Lu'i, who was the mother of 'Abd Allah and Asma' (mother of [['Abd Allah b. Zubayr]])

* [[Asma' bt. 'Umays|Asma' daughter of 'Umays]], mother of [[Muhammad b. Abi Bakr]]

* Habiba daughter of Kharija b. Zayd b. Abi Zuhayr mother of Umm Kulthum

== Conversion to Islam ==

It seems the claim that he was the first who became Muslim has been made after the martyrdom of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]], and apparently [[Mu'awiya]] ordered to create that and promote in all Islamic territories. Sayyid Ja'far al-Murtada rejects this claim supporting with many proofs. [[Abu Ja'far al-Iskafi al-Mu'tazili]], also, said: "If Abu Bakr was the first Muslim, why he never stated that as one of his virtues, even in the [[Event of Saqifa|Day of Saqifa]], and none of his supporters from the [[companions]] claimed that?"

In some [[Sunni]] books, it is stated that due to the social position of Abu Bakr among [[Quraysh]], some people in [[Mecca]] became Muslim after him including [['Uthman b. 'Affan]], [[Zubayr b. 'Awam]], [['Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf]], [[Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas]] and [[Talha b. 'Ubayd Allah]]; however, some have questioned the validity of this report and that this group became Muslim following the invitation of Abu Bakr and believe that the age difference of some of them (Zubayr, Sa'd and Talha) with Abu Bakr was about 20 years and they could not be his associates. Moreover, from comparison of the reports of Ibn Sa'd, it can be understood that 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf was among those who became Muslim together with [['Uthman b. Maz'un]], not with Abu Bakr.

It can also be possible that their membership in [['Umar b. al-Khattab|'Umar]]'s [[Council of Six]] and some other considerations made later narrators take their acceptance of Islam following the guidance of Abu Bakr and prior to others.

With the beginning of the enmity of polytheists and annoying Muslims, Abu Bakr also received sufferings. Sunni sources have reported that he was injured by the polytheists. When such annoying escalated, he took permission from the [[Prophet (s)]] and left [[Mecca]] to [[Ethiopia]], however, by the suggestion of Jiwar and support of Ibn al-Dughunna (an influential person from Quraysh), he returned to Mecca and when once again began preaching openly, annoying him also began.

Although in his sermon on the pulpit of [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]], [['Umar b. al-Khattab]] admitted to 'Ali's (a) avoidance and joining of some of his companions, except few, [[Sunni]] historians do not want to mention or explain this issue. However, details of this event have been reported in different places. Since every report about that have been recorded separately and irrelevant to other reports and the order of events is not known, it is not clear that the request of allegiance from Imam 'Ali (a) and his followers has been made just after the gathering in [[Saqifa Bani Sa'ida|Saqifa]] and coming to the mosque, after the allegiance of people or after burial of the Prophet (s).