Abu Bakr as-Siddique (also known as Abu Bakr) was the first Caliph (leader) of the Islamic community after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. He was born in Mecca in 573 CE and was one of the early converts to Islam. He was a close companion and trusted advisor of the Prophet Muhammad and was known for his wisdom and fairness.
After the death of Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr was elected as the leader of the Muslim community in a shura, or consultative assembly. He was known for his strong leadership, and during his rule, he was able to unite the Muslim community and expand the Islamic empire. He also compiled the Quran in its current form. He served as Caliph from 632-634 CE. He is considered one of the "Rashidun" or "Rightly Guided" Caliphs, and his rule is seen as a key period in the early history of Islam.
How Abu bakr was elected
The caliph, or leader of the Islamic community, was traditionally elected through a process known as shura, or consultative assembly. This process involved a council of Muslim leaders who would gather to discuss and elect the next caliph.
After the death of Prophet Muhammad, the leaders of the Muslim community gathered to elect a new caliph. At this meeting, known as the Saqifah, Abu Bakr was elected as the first caliph of the Islamic community. The election of Abu Bakr was not without controversy, as some members of the community felt that the leadership should have passed to one of the Prophet's relatives.
Abu Bakr was elected based on his close companionship and trustworthy to Prophet Muhammad, his wisdom and fairness, his strong leadership and his ability to unite the Muslim community. He was considered as the most suitable person to lead the Muslim community after the death of the Prophet.
It's worth noting that the concept of caliph as a political leader and the way of selecting one developed after the death of Prophet Muhammad, and the selection process evolved over time.
Opposition on his election
Abu Bakr's election as caliph was not without opposition. Some members of the Muslim community felt that leadership should have passed to one of the Prophet Muhammad's relatives, such as Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law. There were also some leaders from different tribes who felt that they should have been given more consideration for the role of caliph.
One of the most notable opposition to Abu Bakr's caliph position came from a group known as the "Shiatu Ali" or "Party of Ali". This group believed that Ali should have been the first caliph and that he was the rightful leader of the Muslim community. They felt that Abu Bakr's election was illegitimate and that Ali should have been given the opportunity to lead.
Another opposition came from a group called the "Kharijites" who rejected the idea of any human leader and believed that leadership should be based on piety and not on family or tribal ties. They rejected Abu Bakr's rule, and they later rebelled against the caliphates that followed.
Despite the opposition, Abu Bakr was able to establish his authority and maintain the unity of the Muslim community through his strong leadership and political acumen.
How Hazrat Umar Farooq helped him to become caliph
Umar ibn al-Khattab, also known as Umar Farooq, played a crucial role in supporting and consolidating Abu Bakr's position as caliph. He was a close companion of the Prophet Muhammad and was known for his military and administrative abilities.
When the Muslim community gathered to elect a new caliph after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, Umar was initially among those who supported the candidacy of Ali ibn Abi Talib. However, he later switched his support to Abu Bakr, recognizing his wisdom, fairness and his close companionship to the Prophet.
Umar's support was important because of his reputation as a strong leader and his ability to command the respect and loyalty of the Muslim community. His support helped to sway other leaders and community members to accept Abu Bakr as the new caliph.
After Abu Bakr's election, Umar played a key role in consolidating his authority. He supported Abu Bakr in his campaigns to expand the Islamic empire and to establish the authority of the caliph over the Muslim community. He also helped to organize the administration of the empire, and served as the chief advisor to the caliph.
Challenges Hazrat Abu Bakr faced
Abu Bakr faced several challenges after he was elected as the first caliph of the Islamic community. Some of the main challenges he faced included:
Consolidating his authority: Abu Bakr faced opposition from some members of the Muslim community who felt that leadership should have passed to one of the Prophet Muhammad's relatives. He had to work to establish his authority and gain the support of the community.
Maintaining unity: The Muslim community was still in the process of mourning the loss of the Prophet Muhammad and was facing internal divisions and rivalries. Abu Bakr had to work to maintain unity and prevent further divisions.
Managing the empire: The Islamic empire was rapidly expanding, and Abu Bakr had to manage the administration of the empire and ensure that the conquered territories were properly governed.
Riots and Rebellions: There were several riots and rebellions that broke out in the empire, particularly in the newly conquered territories, and Abu Bakr had to put them down with force.
Managing the economy: The empire was facing economic challenges, particularly related to the distribution of spoils of war, and Abu Bakr had to find ways to ensure the economy was stable.
Managing the relations with neighboring states: The newly established Muslim empire was facing threats from neighboring states, and Abu Bakr had to manage relations with them, and also had to prepare for potential military conflicts.
Despite these challenges, Abu Bakr was able to establish his authority, maintain unity, and expand the empire through his strong leadership and political acumen.
Empire expansion in his rule
During Abu Bakr's rule as caliph, the Islamic empire expanded significantly. After the death of the Prophet Muhammad, the empire consisted of the Arabian Peninsula and some parts of present-day Iraq. However, during Abu Bakr's rule, the empire expanded to include modern-day Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and parts of Syria.
Abu Bakr launched several military campaigns to expand the empire, including the Ridda Wars, which were fought against Arab tribes that had rebelled against the central authority of the caliph. He was successful in putting down the rebellion and bringing these tribes under the control of the Muslim empire.
He also launched military campaigns to conquer Iraq and Iran, which were known as the Persian and Byzantine campaigns. The Byzantine campaign was led by Khalid ibn al-Walid and resulted in the fall of several Byzantine fortresses and the conquest of many territories in Syria. The Persian campaign was led by Rabi'ah ibn Ziyad Al-Harithi, and resulted in the fall of several Persian fortresses and the conquest of many territories in Iran.
It's worth noting that the expansion of the empire was not only limited to military campaigns but also through peaceful means of negotiation and alliances with neighboring tribes and states.
In summary, during the two years of his rule, Abu Bakr expanded the empire from the Arabian Peninsula to include modern-day Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and parts of Syria.
When and How caliph died
Abu Bakr died on August 23, 634 CE, after serving as caliph for two years. He died at the age of 63 and was buried in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
The exact cause of his death is not known, but it is believed that he died of natural causes. He had been suffering from an illness for some time before his death, and it is thought that this may have contributed to his death.
Before his death, Abu Bakr had nominated Umar ibn al-Khattab as his successor, and the Muslim community accepted his nomination. Umar then became the second caliph of the Islamic empire.
Abu Bakr's death was met with great sadness by the Muslim community. He was widely respected and admired for his strong leadership, wisdom, and fairness. He is considered one of the "Rightly Guided" caliphs in Islamic history, and his rule is seen as a key period in the early history of Islam.
