Abu Bakr: Difference between revisions

The most significant event in the life of Abu Bakr in [[Mecca]] was his company with the [[Prophet (s)]] during [[immigration to Medina]] and hiding in the [[Cave of Thawr]]. This event happened on in the eve of Thursday, [[Rabi' I 1]], [[1 AH]] (14 years after beginning of the Prophet's (s) mission, September 13, 622 CE). The famous report is that when the Prophet (s) became aware about the plot of his assassination through revelation, went out of Mecca with Abu Bakr who was already prepared for immigration and went toward [[Yathrib]] through a detour until they arrived at the cave. No one was aware about immigration of the Prophet (s) except his family, Abu Bakr and his family. Immigration of the Prophet (s) began from the house of Abu Bakr who prepared the provisions for the journey.

[[Shi'a]] [[exegetes]] and some Sunni scholars have explained about the address "Grieve not" that when Quraysh chased the Prophet's (s) track after they found out about his journey and arrived at the cave, they began speaking there and Abu Bakr was frightened. [[Muhammad b. Jarir b. Yazid al-Tabari|al-Tabari]] clearly mentions the fear and distress of Abu Bakr. Sunni people also about the reference in "upon him" in "Then Allah caused His peace of reassurance to descend upon him" believe that the references for pronouns before and after this verse such as "you help him", "helped him", "expelled him", "he said", "to his companion" and "strengthened him" are about the Prophet (s). Thus, it is impossible that without any reason or explicit evidence, pronoun in "upon him" refers to anyone else (i.e. Abu Bakr).

After immigration to Medina, Abu Bakr resided in Sunkh, a neighborhood around [[Medina]]. According to some sources, he was with the Prophet (s) everywhere in Medina and 8 months later that the Prophet (s) established brotherhood contract among the [[Immigrants]] and the [[Helpers]], he (s) called Abu Bakr and [['Umar b. al-Khattab|'Umar]] brothers; however, in Rafi' al-Din Hamadani's Persian translation of ''[[Sira Ibn Ishaq]]'', it is mentioned that "Abu Bakr…became brother with Kharija b. (Zayd b. Abi) Zuhayr who was among the Helpers."

[[Al-Waqidi]] has explicitly mentioned the presence of Abu Bakr in the battles of [[Battle of Badr|Badr]], [[Battle of Uhud|Uhud]], [[Battle of Hamra' al-Asad|Hamra' al-Asad]], [[Battle of Banu Nadir|Bani al-Nadir]], [[Battle of Badr al-Maw'id|Badr al-Maw'id]], [[Battle of Muraysi'|Muraysi']], [[Battle of Khandaq|Khandaq]], [[Battle of Bani Qurayda|Bani Qurayda]], [[Battle of Bani Lihyan|Bani Lihyan]], [[Hudaybiyya Peace Treaty|Hudaybiyya]], [[Battle of Khaybar|Khaybar]], [[Conquest of Mecca]], [[Battle of Hunanyn|Hunayn]], [[Battle of Ta'if|Ta'if]], [[Battle of Tabuk|Tabuk]] and also [[Sariyya|Saraya]] of [[Sariyya of Najd|Najd]] and [[Sariyya of Dhat al-Salasil|Dhat al-Salasil]]. But, according to [[Ibn Abi al-Hadid]]'s quotation from his teacher Abu Ja'far al-Iskafi, "Abu Bakr neither threw an arrow, draw a sword nor spilt any blood."

One of the controversial mission of Abu Bakr was leading [[hajj]] in [[9]]/631 and delivering [[Sura al-Bara'a]] to people. According to Ibn Ishaq, after the [[Battle of Tabuk]], the [[Prophet (s)]] sent Abu Bakr in [[Dhu al-Hijja]] 9 AH to [[Mecca]] as the [[Amir al-Hajj|leader of hajj]]. When he went out of [[Medina]], Sura al-Bara'a was revealed to the Prophet (s) and saying that "only a man from my relatives delivers this message to people", he (s) sent [['Ali (a)]] riding his the Prophet's (s) camel to Mecca to deliver the message. There are different opinions among the exegetes and historians about the number of verses recited in hajj, their reciting place, time of their revelation (before moving of Abu Bakr or after it) and removing Abu Bakr from leading hajj and appointment of 'Ali (a) in his place.

The last mission of Abu Bakr, [['Umar b. al-Khattab|'Umar]], [[Abu 'Ubayda b. al-Jarrah]] and some others among the elders of the [[companions]] before the demise of the [[Prophet (s)]] was participating in the army of [[Usama b. Zayd|Usama]] heading [[Mu'ta]] of [[Syria]]. According to [[al-Waqidi]] and [[Muhammad b. Sa'd|Ibn Sa'd]], on Monday, 4 days before the end of month of [[Safar]], after [[Hajjat al-Wida']], and few days before his demise, the [[Prophet (s)]] ordered that they prepare for the battle with Romans. The next day, he (s) called Usama and appointed him as the commander of the army, but the movement of this army regardless of the prophet's (s) great emphasis did not take place. First, they delayed due to the objection of some of the companions about Usama's youth and then with the excuse of preparation of the provisions of the journey and then due to receiving the news of the aggravation of the illness of the Prophet (s) and Usama's return to [[Medina]]. Regardless of the explicit orders of the Prophet (s), Abu Bakr, 'Umar and some others returned to Medina from Jurf camp.

When the [[Prophet (s)]] was trying to send the army of [[Usama b. Zayd|Usama]] to [[Syria]], his illness so aggravated that when [[Bilal]] called for the prayer, he (s) could not get up for prayer and attend the mosque, so he (s) decide to send someone instead of himself for the prayer. There are disagreements regarding the way of holding this prayer, its leader, the number of prayers held without the presence of the Prophet (s), and that if a complete prayer was ever held by Abu Bakr or not.

With all such differences in reports, it is said that Abu Bakr stood to lead the prayer instead of the Prophet (s). However, the reaction of the Prophet (s) about this prayer has been reported differently. There is a report from [['Ayisha]] that when Abu Bakr was in the middle of this prayer, the Prophet (s) got better, got up and while he (s) leaned on two people and his feet were being dragged on the ground, came to the mosque. As soon as Abu Bakr found that the Prophet (s) was there, stood aside, but the Prophet (s) pointed that he should stay where he was. Then the Prophet (s) came and sat on his left. So, the Prophet (s) prayed while sitting and Abu Bakr prayed normally. Abu Bakr followed the Prophet's (s) prayer and people followed Abu Bakr's.

[[Shi'a]] scholars have questioned different aspects of the story of Abu Bakr's prayer in the days of the Prophet's (s) illness. They believe that although 'Ayisha's reports are unanimous about this issue, but this report does not reach frequency and they cannot provide justification. On the other hand, there is a possibility that 'Ayisha has made a use of this report for herself.

The news about the [[Event of Saqifa Bani Sa'ida|Event in Saqifa]] and the dialogues between the [[Immigrants]] and the [[Helpers]] are famous. Sources clearly state that choosing Abu Bakr happened with a lot of arguments and disputes, so much that [[Habab b. Mundhir]] from the Helpers draw a sword against the Immigrants and [[Sa'd b. 'Ubada]] was about to be trampled underneath the crowd and got a hold of [['Umar b. al-Khattab|'Umar]] and was pulling. Finally, the tribe of [[Banu Aslam]] came to Medina and their allegiance with Abu Bakr eased the allegiance of people with him. It is narrated from 'Umar that allegiance with Abu Bakr was something unjustified and hurried, may God keep people safe from its evil.

* That 'Ali (a) was busy with the rituals of the Prophet's (s) body

* [[Banu Hashim]]'s distance from the Event of Saqifa due to the tragedy they had faced

* Disagreement of the Helpers

One day after the [[Event of Saqifa]], Abu Bakr went to the mosque and after praising God said that he was not the best of people and asked people to help in good works and if he makes any mistake, they guide him. He also said that he was not an inventor and in his caliphate, he would follow the [[Prophet (s)|Prophet's (s)]] method.

According to [[Shi'a]] narrations and trustable Sunni reports, 'Ali (a) avoided giving allegiance to Abu Bakr for 6 months. Even according to some reports, none of [[Banu Hashim]] gave allegiance until 'Ali (a) gave allegiance and a group of his followers and supporters such as [[Hudhayfa b. al-Yaman]], [[Khuzayma b. Thabit]], [[Abu Ayyub al-Ansari]], [[Salman al-Farsi|Salman]], [[Abu Dhar al-Ghifari|Abu Dhar]], [[Khalid b. Sa'id]] and others gave allegiance with Abu Bakr after Imam 'Ali (a) or little before him and upon their allegiance, each of them expressed their beliefs about Imam 'Ali (a) and his caliphate.

[[Shi'a]] researchers, based on Sunni sources, have shown that since the time Fadak was confiscated by the order of Abu Bakr, many times before her short life, Lady Fatima (a) argued against him for her rights before the eyes of the people of [[Medina]]. Manner and also treatment of the agents of Abu Bakr upon attacking the house of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] for taking his allegiance made Fatima (a) so angry of him that she never again talked to Abu Bakr and forbade [['Ayisha]] and Abu Bakr's attendance upon her body for funeral.

Like other reports of that time, reports about choosing and appointment of [['Umar]] for successorship are different. Although in most of such reports, there is a mention of Abu Bakr's consultation with some of the companions such as [['Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf]] and [[Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas]] and others and also his wife and daughter [['Ayisha]] and his sons, from the collection of these reports, it can clearly be understood that Abu Bakr was determined about appointment of 'Umar for the caliphate, because he rejected all objections of his counselors about 'Umar. There are other evidences available showing that Abu Bakr had decided it since the beginning, including the following:

Referring to a report from [[al-Baladhuri]], he believes that the [[Prophet (s)]] had the same opinion about Abu Bakr and had called [['Ayisha]] in aggression "true daughter of her father". Lammens believed that Abu Bakr not only due to higher age, but also due to a calmer, milder, more insightful and more tolerant appearance was superior to 'Umar and on the day of [[Saqifa Bani Sa'ida|Saqifa]] led him like a student; and also, in the story of suppressing apostate rebels, having a determined decision despite the opinion of the elders of the companions, he did not fear about the invasion of rebels to [[Medina]].

According to some historical reports, Abu Bakr performed a ritual bath ([[Ghusl]]) on Monday, [[Jumada II]] 7 of [[13 AH]]/August 11 of 634 which was a cold day and then had a fever and went to bed and could not lead the prayer. During this illness which lasted 15 days, 'Umar led the prayer instead of him and people went to visit him in his house until the eve of Tuersday 22nd/26th of the same month, he died at the age of 62 after being caliph for 2 years, 3 months and 22 days. According to the will of Abu Bakr, his wife [[Asma' bt. 'Umays|Asma']] washed his body and the same night, [['Umar]] prayed at his body at the [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]] and according to his will to [['Ayisha]], with the help of [['Uthman b. Affan|'Uthman]], [[Talha]] and others was buried beside the grave of the [[Prophet (s)]].