O-Level Islamiyat (2058) notes by Hassaan Mian – LGS JT, Beaconhouse, SICAS, Newlands, The City School
First Islamic Community
Ten Blessed Companions
Hazrat Abu Bakr RA (Abdullah bin Abu Quhafa)
Abu Bakr Siddiq RA was the first Caliph after the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, one of the first people to
accept Islam and one of the Ten Blessed Companions (Ashra Mubashra). He was born in Makkah
in the year, 573 AD, 2 years and some months after the birth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, in a
highly respected family of Banu Tamim of the tribe of Quraish in Makkah. He was a childhood friend
of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. His original name used to be Abdullah Ka’aba (servant of Ka’aba) but was
changed to Abdullah bin Abi Quhafa, by Holy Prophet ﷺ. Later the more widely spoken name of his
became, Abu Bakr, meaning father of young camels, since he was quite fond of them.
In his early life, Abu Bakr Siddiq RA was a merchant in Makkah and he was well known for his honesty
in dealings due to which people used to keep their belongings with him having faith in his
trustworthiness. He earned a considerable amount of wealth through this commerce, which was
made possible with the help of his great character. It is said that Abu Bakr RA gave more material
support to Muhammad ﷺthan anyone else, and it was immensely beneficial to the cause of Islam.
Abu Bakr RA is said to have personality traits like that of the Holy Prophet ﷺas he was also truthful,
honest, kind, and compassionate. Regarding his compassionate behaviour towards others, the
Prophet Muhammad ﷺis narrated by Anas Ibn Malik, to have said: “The most merciful of my Ummah
towards my Ummah is Abu Bakr.” His empathy for others reached such an extent that he used to
free slaves from his own earnings, the most prominent one being Hazrat Bilal RA.
Before the beginning of Islam, Abu Bakr RA was already in search of the true religion. He not only
questioned the religion his father and forefathers practiced, but he never once worshipped any
idol. For most of their early lives, Hazrat Abu Bakr RA and Prophet Muhammad ﷺwere close friends
and were mostly in each other’s company so when the Holy Prophet ﷺinvited him to Islam, Abu
Bakr RA became the first free, adult, male to embrace Islam and their steadfast friendship grew into
a beautiful companionship. The Holy Prophet ﷺwas overjoyed as Abu Bakr RA could aid him in
preaching Islam to the Quraish and soon Usman bin Affan RA, Abdul-Rahman bin Awf RA, Talha bin
Ubaidullah RA, Sa’ad bin Abi Waqas RA, Al-Zubair bin Al-Awwam RA, and Abu Ubaydah bin AI-
Jarrah RA accepted Islam after consulting him. About the acceptance of Islam of Hazrat Abu Bakr
RA, The Prophet ﷺonce said: ''Whenever I offered Islam to anyone, he always showed
reluctance….Abu Bakr was the only person who accepted Islam without any reluctance”.
He too faced persecution from the Quraish and his own family after converting to Islam; he was
pulled by his beard and beaten in public. Moreover, he was also once tied with Hazrat Talha RA
while praying with a rope which mysteriously untied by the help of Allah. After the event of the Night
Journey of Prophet ﷺ-Isra and Miraj, no one believed Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, but Hazrat Abu Bakr
RA did not only believe, but insisted to others that the Holy Prophet ﷺis not lying about this incident.
Due to his unwavering faith in the Holy Prophet ﷺand the message of Islam, Muhammad ﷺgave
him the title of As Siddiq. During the boycott of the Banu Hashim tribe, Hazrat Abu Bakr RA provided
material support to the clan of the Holy Prophet ﷺuntil he had no more to give. During the migration
to Madinah, Abu Bakr RA was constantly with the Holy Prophet ﷺ, protecting him from hundreds of
Makkans who were hunting the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He spent 3 days with the Prophet ﷺin the
cave of Thaur. His son brought news from Makkah, his daughter brought food and water, while his
servant walked a flock to erase their footprints. The Quran says about Abu Bakr RA and Prophet ﷺ:
"...He had no more than one companion: they two were in the cave, and he said to his companion
"Have no fear, for Allah is with us"” (9:40).
In the first battle against the Quraish, the battle of Badr, Hazrat Abu Bakr RA shared a horse with
Umar RA and Abdur Rehman bin Auf RA. In the battle of Uhad, he was one of those companions
