Brief Introduction To Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ

The respected name of the first caliph, the Leader of the Believers, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ is ‘Abdullah. His Kunniyah [patronymic appellation] is ‘Abu Bakr’ and his titles are Siddiq and ‘Atiq.

سُبْحٰنَ اللہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ ! The meaning of ‘Siddiq’ is ‘One who speaks the truth’. He was referred to by this title even in the period of ignorance because he always spoke the truth. The meaning of ‘Atiq’ is ‘freed’. The Holy Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم conveyed glad tidings to him saying:

اَنْتَ عَتِیْقٌ مِّنَ النَّارِ

You are freed from the fire of Hell.

This is why he رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ got this title. (Tarikh-ul-Khulafa, p. 29) He is ‘Quraishi’, and seven generations above, his genealogical tree joins with that of the Prophet of Rahmah, the Intercessor of Ummat, and the Owner of Jannah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم.

He رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ was born in Makkah زَادَھَا اللہُ شَرَفًا وَّ تَعْظِیْمًا, approximately two and half years after ‘‘Am-ul-Fil’. (The Year of the Elephant i.e. the year in which the ill-mannered and ill-fated King Abraha attacked the sacred Ka’bah with an army of elephants. To learn about the details of this incident, study the publication of Maktaba-tul-Madinah entitled ‘Ajaib al-Quran ma ‘Gharaib al-Quran’.) The Leader of the Believers Sayyiduna Siddiq Al-Akbar رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ is that companion who was the first to testify to the Prophethood of the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم among all the people. He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم possesses noble virtues and excellences to such a great extent that, leaving the Prophets عَلَیْھِمْ السَّلَام he is the greatest and most highly ranked of all mankind.

Amongst all the free men, he رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ was the first to embrace Islam, and he participated in all Jihad’s (Islamic battles) with full devotion and velour, and being an advisor to the Holy

Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم in every decision in war and in peace, he proved his loyalty and allegiance by supporting the Prophet of Rahmah, the Intercessor of Ummat, the Owner of Jannah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم at every step of life. He passed away on 22 Jumadil Akhir, in the 13th year after Hijrah (migration to Madinah) on the blessed day of Monday, after a splendid reign of caliphate which lasted two years and seven months. The Leader of the Believers, Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ led the funeral prayer and Sayyiduna Siddiq Al-Akbar رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ was buried inside the blessed tomb beside the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم.

(Al-Kamal-fi-Asma-ur-Rijal, p. 387; Tarikhul- Khulafa, pp. 27-62)