- 9/25/2024
Biography of the First Caliph Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Part 4
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00:00Biography of the First Caliph Abu Bakr al-Siddiq
00:06The First Rightly Guided Caliph Abdullah bin Abi Khafa
00:09His Characteristics and Morals Since the Beginning of the Islamic Message and its Spread in the
00:13World
00:14Part 4
00:16We continue to narrate a stage in the life of the Rightly Guided Caliph Abu Bakr al-Siddiq.
00:23Military Campaigns Under Muhammad – Battle of Badr
00:26In 624, Abu Bakr was involved in the first battle between the Muslims and the Quraysh
00:31of Mecca, known as the Battle of Badr, but did not fight, instead acting as one of the
00:36guards of Muhammad's tent.
00:39In relation to this, Ali later asked his associates as to who they thought was the bravest among
00:44men.
00:45Everyone stated that Ali was the bravest of all men.
00:49Ali then replied, No.
00:51Abu Bakr is the bravest of men.
00:54In the Battle of Badr we had prepared a pavilion for the Prophet, but when we were asked to
00:58offer ourselves for the task of guarding it none came forward except Abu Bakr.
01:04With a drawn sword he took his stand by the side of Prophet of Allah and guarded him from
01:08the infidels by attacking those who dared to proceed in that direction.
01:12He was therefore the bravest of men.
01:15In Sunni accounts, during one such attack, two discs from Abu Bakr's shield penetrated
01:20into Muhammad's cheeks.
01:23Abu Bakr went forward with the intention of extracting these discs but Abu Ubaidah ibn
01:27Al-Jarrah requested he leave the matter to him, losing his two incisors during the process.
01:34In these stories subsequently Abu Bakr, along with other companions, led Muhammad to a place
01:39of safety.
01:41Battle of Ahud In 625, he participated in the Battle of Ahud,
01:46in which the majority of the Muslims were routed and he himself was wounded.
01:51Before the battle had begun, his son Abd al-Rahman, at that time still non-Muslim and
01:56fighting on the side of the Quraysh, came forward and threw down a challenge for a duel.
02:01Abu Bakr accepted the challenge but was stopped by Muhammad.
02:05In the second phase of the battle, Khalid ibn al-Walid's cavalry attacked the Muslims
02:10from behind, changing a Muslim victory to defeat.
02:14Battle of the Trench In 627 he participated in the Battle of the
02:18Trench and also in the invasion of Banu Qurayza.
02:22In the Battle of the Trench, Muhammad divided the ditch into a number of sectors and a contingent
02:26was posted to guard each sector.
02:29One of these contingents was under the command of Abu Bakr.
02:33The enemy made frequent assaults in an attempt to cross the ditch, all of which were repulsed.
02:39To commemorate this event a mosque, later known as Masjid-i-Siddiq, was constructed
02:44at the site where Abu Bakr had repulsed the charges of the enemy.
02:48Battle of Khaybar Abu Bakr took part in the Battle of Khaybar.
02:53Khaybar had eight fortresses, the strongest and most well-guarded of which was called
02:57al-Qamas.
03:00Muhammad sent Abu Bakr with a group of warriors to attempt to take it, but they were unable
03:04to do so.
03:06Muhammad also sent Umar with a group of warriors, but Umar could not conquer al-Qamas either.
03:12Some other Muslims also attempted to capture the fort, but they were unsuccessful as well.
03:18Finally, Muhammad sent Ali, who defeated the enemy leader, Marhab.
03:24Military campaigns during final years of Muhammad main articles.
03:28Expedition of Amr ibn al-Az, Conquest of Mecca, and Expedition of Tabuk.
03:33In 629 Muhammad sent Amr ibn al-Az to Zat ul-Salasal, followed by Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah in response
03:41to a call for reinforcements.
03:44Abu Bakr and Umar commanded an army under al-Jarrah, and they attacked and defeated
03:48the enemy.
03:50In 630, when the Muslims conquered Mecca, Abu Bakr was part of the army.
03:56Before the conquest of Mecca his father Abu Khafa converted to Islam.
04:02Battles of Hunayn and Taif.
04:03In 630, the Muslim army was ambushed by archers from the local tribes as it passed through
04:08the valley of Hunayn, some 11 miles northeast of Mecca.
04:13Taken unaware, the advance guard of the Muslim army fled in panic.
04:18There was considerable confusion, and the camels, horses and men ran into one another
04:22in an attempt to seek cover.
04:24Muhammad, however, stood firm.
04:28Only nine companions remained around him, including Abu Bakr.
04:32Under Muhammad's instruction, his uncle Abbas shouted at the top of his voice,
04:36O Muslims, come to the Prophet of Allah.
04:40The call was heard by the Muslim soldiers and they gathered beside Muhammad.
04:45When the Muslims had gathered in sufficient number, Muhammad ordered a charge against
04:49the enemy.
04:51In the hand-to-hand fight that followed the tribes were routed and they fled to Adas.
04:56Muhammad posted a contingent to guard the Hunayn Pass and led the main army to Adas.
05:02In the confrontation at Adas, the tribes could not withstand the Muslim onslaught.
05:07Believing continued resistance useless, the tribes broke camp and retired to Taif.
05:13Abu Bakr was commissioned by Muhammad to lead the attack against Taif.
05:18The tribes shut themselves in the fort and refused to come out in the open.
05:23The Muslims employed catapults, but without tangible result.
05:27The Muslims attempted to use a testudo formation, in which a group of soldiers shielded by a
05:31cover of cowhide advanced to set fire to the gate.
05:35However, the enemy threw red-hot scraps of iron on the testudo, rendering it ineffective.
05:42The siege dragged on for two weeks, and still there was no sign of weakness in the fort.
05:48Muhammad held a council of war.
05:50Abu Bakr advised that the siege might be raised and that God make arrangements for the fall
05:54of the fort.
05:56The advice was accepted, and in February 630, the siege of Taif was raised and the Muslim
06:02army returned to Mecca.
06:04A few days later Malik bin Auf, the commander, came to Mecca and became a Muslim.
06:10Abu Bakr as Amir al-Hajj In 630-631 AH 9, Muhammad assigned Abu Bakr
06:18as the Amir al-Hajj to lead around 300 pilgrims from Medina to Mecca.
06:23In 631 AD, Muhammad sent from Medina a delegation of 300 Muslims to perform the Hajj according
06:29to the new Islamic way and appointed Abu Bakr as the leader of the delegation.
06:35The day after Abu Bakr and his party had left for the Hajj, Muhammad received a new revelation,
06:40Surah Taba, the ninth chapter of the Quran.
06:44It is related that when this revelation came, someone suggested to Muhammad that he should
06:48send news of it to Abu Bakr.
06:52Muhammad said that only a man of his house could proclaim the revelation.
06:56Muhammad summoned Ali and asked him to proclaim a portion of Surah Taba to the people on the
07:01Day of Sacrifice when they assembled at Mina.
07:04Ali went forth on Muhammad's slit-eared camel and overtook Abu Bakr.
07:09When Ali joined the party, Abu Bakr wanted to know whether he had come to give orders
07:13or to convey them.
07:16Expedition of Abu Bakr as Siddiq Abu Bakr led one military expedition, the
07:21Expedition of Abu Bakr as Siddiq, which took place in Najd, in July 628, third month 7AH
07:28in the Islamic calendar.
07:30Abu Bakr led a large, vague, company in Najd on the order of Muhammad.
07:36Many were killed and taken prisoner.
07:38The Sunni hadith collection Sunan Abu Dawud mentions the event.
07:43Expedition of Usama bin Zayd In 632, during the final weeks of his life,
07:49Muhammad ordered an expedition into Syria to avenge the defeat of the Muslims in the
07:52Battle of Mutah some years previously.
07:56Leading the campaign was Usama ibn Zayd, whose father, Muhammad's erstwhile adopted son Zayd
08:01ibn Haritha, had been killed in the earlier conflict.
08:05No more than 20 years old, inexperienced and untested, Usama's appointment was controversial,
08:11becoming especially problematic when veterans such as Abu Bakr, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah
08:16and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas were placed under his command.
08:20Nevertheless, the expedition was dispatched, though soon after setting off, news was received
08:25of Muhammad's death, forcing the army to return to Medina.
08:30The campaign was not re-engaged until after Abu Bakr's ascension to the caliphate, at
08:35which point he chose to reaffirm Usama's command, which ultimately led to its success.
08:41Death of Muhammad There are a number of traditions regarding
08:44Muhammad's final days which have been used to reinforce the idea of the great friendship
08:48and trust which has existed between him and Abu Bakr.
08:52In one such episode, as Muhammad was nearing death, he found himself unable to lead prayers
08:57as he usually would.
09:00He instructed Abu Bakr to take his place, ignoring concerns from Aisha that her father
09:05was too emotionally delicate for the role.
09:08Abu Bakr subsequently took up the position, and when Muhammad entered the prayer hall
09:12one morning during Fajr prayers, Abu Bakr attempted to step back to let him to take
09:17up his normal place and led.
09:19Muhammad, however, allowed him to continue.
09:23In a related incident, around this time, Muhammad ascended the pulpit and addressed the congregation,
09:29saying, God has given his servant the choice between this world and that which is with
09:33God and he has chosen the latter.
09:36Ali said that he had not come to replace Abu Bakr as Emir ul-Hajj, and that his only mission
09:41was to convey a special message to the people on behalf of Muhammad.
09:45At Mecca, Abu Bakr presided at the Hajj ceremony, and Ali read the proclamation on behalf of
09:51Muhammad.
09:52The main points of the proclamation were.
09:55Henceforward the non-Muslims were not to be allowed to visit the Kaaba or perform the
09:59pilgrimage.
10:01No one should circumambulate the Kaaba naked.
10:04Polytheism was not to be tolerated.
10:07Where the Muslims had any agreement with the polytheists such agreements would be honored
10:11for the stipulated periods.
10:13Where there were no agreements a grace period of four months was provided and thereafter
10:17no quarter was to be given to the polytheists.
10:21From the day this proclamation was made a new era dawned, and Islam alone was to be
10:25supreme in Arabia.
10:28Expedition of Abu Bakr as Siddiq Abu Bakr led one military expedition, the
10:33Expedition of Abu Bakr as Siddiq, which took place in Najd, in July 628, third month 7AH
10:40in the Islamic calendar.
10:42Abu Bakr led a large, vague, company in Najd on the order of Muhammad.
10:48Many were killed and taken prisoner.
10:50The Sunni hadith collection Sunan Abu Dawud mentions the event.
10:55Expedition of Usama bin Zayd.
10:57In 632, during the final weeks of his life, Muhammad ordered an expedition into Syria
11:03to avenge the defeat of the Muslims in the Battle of Muda some years previously.
11:08Leading the campaign was Usama ibn Zayd, whose father, Muhammad's erstwhile adopted
11:12son Zayd ibn Haritha, had been killed in the earlier conflict.
11:17No more than 20 years old, inexperienced and untested, Usama's appointment was controversial,
11:23becoming especially problematic when veterans such as Abu Bakr, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah
11:28and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas were placed under his command.
11:32Nevertheless, the expedition was dispatched, though soon after setting off, news was received
11:38of Muhammad's death, forcing the army to return to Medina.
11:42The campaign was not re-engaged until after Abu Bakr's ascension to the caliphate, at
11:47which point he chose to reaffirm Usama's command, which ultimately led to its success.
11:53Death of Muhammad.
11:54There are a number of traditions regarding Muhammad's final days which have been used
11:58to reinforce the idea of the great friendship and trust which has existed between him and
12:02Abu Bakr.
12:04In one such episode, as Muhammad was nearing death, he found himself unable to lead prayers
12:09as he usually would.
12:11He instructed Abu Bakr to take his place, ignoring concerns from Aisha that her father
12:16was too emotionally delicate for the role.
12:19Abu Bakr subsequently took up the position, and when Muhammad entered the prayer hall
12:23one morning during Fajr prayers, Abu Bakr attempted to step back to let him to take
12:28up his normal place and led.
12:30Muhammad, however, allowed him to continue.
12:34In a related incident, around this time, Muhammad ascended the pulpit and addressed the congregation,
12:40saying, God has given his servant the choice between this world and that which is with
12:44God and he has chosen the latter.
12:47Abu Bakr, understanding this to mean that Muhammad did not have long to live, responded,
12:52Nay, we and our children will be your ransom.
12:55Muhammad consoled his friend and ordered that all the doors leading to the mosque be closed
13:00aside from that which led from Abu Bakr's house, for I know no one who is a better friend
13:04to me than he.
13:06Upon Muhammad's death, the Muslim community was unprepared for the loss of its leader
13:10and many experienced a profound shock.
13:14Umar was particularly affected, instead declaring that Muhammad had gone to consult with God
13:19and would soon return, threatening anyone who would say that Muhammad was dead.
13:24Abu Bakr, having returned to Medina, calmed Umar by showing him Muhammad's body, convincing
13:30him of his death.
13:32He then addressed those who had gathered at the mosque, saying, If anyone worships Muhammad,
13:37Muhammad is dead.
13:39If anyone worships God, God is alive, immortal, thus putting an end to any idolizing impulse
13:45in the population.
13:47He then concluded with verses from the Quran, O Muhammad, verily you will die, and they
13:52also will die.
13:5439-30, Muhammad is no more than an apostle, and indeed many apostles have passed away.
14:02He then concluded with verses from the Quran, O Muhammad, verily you will die, and they
14:07also will die.
14:0939-30, Muhammad is no more than an apostle, and indeed many apostles have passed away,
14:15before him, if he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels?
14:20And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah and Allah will
14:25give reward to those who are grateful.
14:283-144, Caliphate, Saqifah.
14:32In the immediate aftermath of Muhammad's death, a gathering of the Ansar took place in the
14:37Saqifah, courtyard, of the Banu Sa'ida clan.
14:41The general belief at the time was that the purpose of the meeting was for the Ansar to
14:44decide on a new leader of the Muslim community among themselves, with the intentional exclusion
14:50of the Muhajirun, migrants from Mecca, though this has later become the subject of debate.
14:55Nevertheless, Abu Bakr and Umar, upon learning of the meeting, became concerned of a potential
15:01coup and hastened to the gathering.
15:04Upon arriving, Abu Bakr addressed the assembled men with a warning that an attempt to elect
15:08a leader outside of Muhammad's own tribe, the Quraysh, would likely result in dissension,
15:14as only they can command the necessary respect among the community.
15:18He then took Umar and Abu Ubaidah by the hand and offered them to the Ansar as potential
15:23choices.
15:24Habab ibn Mundir, a veteran from the Battle of Badr, countered with his own suggestion
15:29that the Quraysh and the Ansar choose a leader each from among themselves, who would then
15:34rule jointly.
15:36The group grew heated upon hearing this proposal and began to argue amongst themselves.
15:41The moment was critical.
15:43The unity of the faith was at stake.
15:45A divided power would fall to pieces, and all might be lost.
15:50The mantle of the Prophet must fall upon one successor, and on one alone.
15:55The sovereignty of Islam demanded an undivided caliphate, and Arabia would acknowledge no
16:00master but from amongst Quraysh.
16:03Umar hastily took Abu Bakr's hand and swore his own allegiance to the latter, an example
16:08followed by the gathered men.
16:10The meeting broke up when a violent scuffle erupted between Umar and the chief of the
16:14Banu Sa'idah, Sa'd ibn Ubadah.
16:18This event suggests that the choice of Abu Bakr was not unanimous, with emotions running
16:22high as a result of the disagreement.
16:25Abu Bakr was near universally accepted as head of the Muslim community, under the title
16:30of caliph, as a result of Saqifah, though he did face contention because of the rushed
16:34nature of the event.
16:37Several companions, most prominent among them being Ali ibn Abi Talib, initially refused
16:42to acknowledge his authority.
16:44However, after six months the group made peace with Abu Bakr and Ali offered him his allegiance.
16:51Accession.
16:52After assuming the office of caliph, Abu Bakr's first address was as follows, I have been
16:57given the authority over you, and I am not the best of you.
17:01If I do well, help me, and if I do wrong, set me right.
17:07Sincere regard for truth is loyalty and disregard for truth is treachery.
17:11The weak amongst you shall be strong with me until I have secured his rights, if God
17:16wills, and the strong amongst you shall be weak with me until I have wrested from him
17:21the rights of others, if God wills.
17:24Obey me so long as I obey God and His Messenger.
17:28But if I disobey God and His Messenger, you owe me no obedience.
17:33Arise for your prayer, God have mercy upon you.
17:36Al-Badaya wa-Nihaya 6-305, 306.
17:42Abu Bakr's reign lasted for 27 months, during which he crushed the rebellion of the Arab
17:47tribes throughout the Arabian Peninsula in the successful Ridda Wars.
17:51In the last months of his rule, he sent Khalid ibn al-Walid on conquests against the Sassanid
17:57Empire in Mesopotamia and against the Byzantine Empire in Syria.
18:02This would set in motion a historical trajectory, continued later on by Umar and Uthman ibn
18:07Affan, that in just a few short decades would lead to one of the largest empires in history.
18:13He had little time to pay attention to the administration of state, though state affairs
18:17remained stable during his caliphate.
18:20On the advice of Umar and Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, he agreed to draw a salary from
18:25the state treasury and discontinue his cloth trade.
18:28I stop at this point today.
18:31Until next time, stay curious.
18:33Stay informed, and keep exploring the world's incredible stories.
18:39Soon we will publish.
18:41Part.
18:425.
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