THE LIFE OF ABU BAKR By: Zanib Majeed

MAIN TOPICS Who was Abu Bakr The loyal companion The closest of friends The unifying leader

WHO WAS ABU BAKR Abu Bakr was the prophet Muhammad PBUH Sahabah. He was also the As- Siddiqi – the Most Honored. He was always their for the prophet and he never left his side when the prophet when he needed his help. He was a merchant in Makkah a city in Saudia Arabia. For years he has been seeking a better religion and way of life than he found among his relatives and tribe. He was not satisfied with Judaism and Christianity. He refused to believe in idol worship. So he found a religion named Islam and started to believe in that religion.

THE LOYAL COMPANION Along with the other early sahabah,Abu Bakr life was so closely intertwined with the prophet that his story is one long history of the growth of Islam. Abu Bakr is remember for being a gentle man, polite and generous. He is also remembered for his unshakable love of Rasulullah and even more of Allah ( SWT). Abu Bakr used to read the Quran in public. His reading heartfelt and sincere that it brought people to Islam. As a result, the leaders of the Quraish forced him to confine his reading to his own garden beside his house. However, people could hear over the garden wall, greatly frustrating the Quraish.

THE CLOSEST OF FRIENDS Once Rasulullah ( PBUH ) said, “ The person who had favored me most of all, both with his companionship and wealth, is Abu Bakr. If I were to take a closest friend other than my lord, I would take Abu Bakr, but what connects us in Islamic brotherhood and friendliness. All the gates of the masjid should be closed except the gate of Abu Bakr. Likewise, when a woman asked him and found him gone (dead). He replied, “ If you should not find me, go to Abu Bakr.”

THE UNIFYING LEADER Abu Bakr’s even compassionate manner often saved the people of extremes. This was best demonstrated on the day Rasulullah (PBUH) passed away. All of Madinah was in turmoil, and the people did not know what to do. Abu Bakr was at the other end of the city when Rasulullah who had seemed to be better, died. He came quickly on horseback and found Umar insisting that Rasulullah is not dead.

SAFE KEEPER OF THE QUR’AN Abu Bakr was called the safe keeper of the qur’an. He was called that because he never let the Quran go in the wrong hands of anyone. He always read the Quran and put it in a safe place. During the days of Rasulullah most people knew the Quran without looking at it. In all these wars many of these Huffaz Muslims were killed. Umar became worried of the Quran and its safety. He went to Abu Bakr and suggested to write it down. At first Abu Bakr protested because the prophet did not write it down. But Umar convinced him it had to be done other wise it might be lost to future generations. They in turn convinced Zaid ibn Thabit to collect all the pieces and put it into the form of a book.