Abu Bakr, the Truthful (part 2 of 3)
- Categories: Stories of the Companions -
Prophet Muhammad, may God shower him with praises, and his close
companion Abu Bakr were less then three years apart in age. Both
were born into the same Arab tribe, Quraish, but were from
different clans. Most of Prophet Muhammad's early life was spent in
relative poverty while Abu Bakr came from a reasonably well off
family. Both men lived and behaved in a quiet and dignified manner
and both men had shunned idolatry all of their lives. When Prophet
Muhammad received his mission to spread the message of Islam the
first man he turned to was his friend Abu Bakr. Without a moments
hesitation Abu Bakr accepted Islam and began a journey of
dedication and love that was to last the rest of his life.
Abu Bakr loved his friend dearly and was ready and able to accept
the truth of Islam easily. When he heard the message that God was
One, he was ready to accept what he already new to be true. His
daughter Aisha narrated that in all of his life, Abu Bakr never
prostrated to an idol. Abu Bakr himself relates that when he was a
child, his father took him to the place of idols and left him there
amongst the statues. The young boy looked at the inanimate objects
surrounding him and asked them of what benefit they could be to
him. When the idols were unable to respond Abu Bakr decided that he
would not worship something that could not hear or see. He innately
understood that statues and idols were not worthy of worship.
Abu Bakr's love for the One True God and his support for his friend
Muhammad meant that in the early days of Islam, he was often
persecuted and mercilessly beaten. The majority of Meccans hated to
hear Muhammad's message of reform and reckoning. They were the
guardians of idolatry and a great deal of revenue was made from the
pilgrims visiting one or more of the idols worshipped in and around
Mecca. If Muhammad succeeded in uniting the people in the worship
of One God and if their ways of corruption were eradicated, their
lives would be irreversibly changed.
The
Migration
The shocking treatment, torture and brutality directed against the
Muslims meant that Prophet Muhammad sent many of them away for
their own protection. The second of two migrations was to the
nearby city of Yathrib, later to be named Madina. Although often
called a flight, it was in reality a carefully planned migration.
Two tribes from Yathrib had negotiated a treaty with Prophet
Muhammad and offered him their allegiance and protection but at
this stage, Prophet Muhammad had not been given permission by God
to leave Mecca. He did however send his followers to Yathrib in
groups small enough not to attract the attention of the
Meccans.
One day in the heat of the noonday sun, Prophet Muhammad visited
the home of his friend Abu Bakr. The streets of Mecca were deserted
and Abu Bakr knew this visit of great importance, this time of day
was reserved for rest. Prophet Muhammad asked Abu Bakr to "empty
your house", meaning that he had something important and private to
discuss. Abu Bakr replied, "This is your family." Prophet Muhammad
went inside and revealed to his friend that God had given him
permission to leave Mecca. Aisha narrates that her father wept when
he heard that he was to be Prophet Muhammad's companion on the
journey.
Abu Bakr wept not from fear, although the journey would be fraught
with danger, but from sheer joy. This was an opportunity for him to
spend more than ten days travelling alone with his dearest
companion. It was an opportunity to spend many days and nights
drinking from the fountain of Prophethood. Abu Bakr announced that
he had camels prepared and ready to go, for he too had been waiting
for his companion Muhammad to be given the permission to leave.
That night the two friends left through the back door and walked
into the black desert landscape.
The
Search
When the Meccans realised that Prophet Muhammad had escaped Mecca,
thereby eluding their plans to kill him, they were furious. Search
parties immediately began to scour the surrounding areas. Although
they suspected that prophet Muhammad was heading for Yathrib, they
sent scouts in every direction. Abu Bakr and Prophet Muhammad spent
three days hiding in a cave south of Mecca.
At one stage, a search party came so close to the entrance of their
cave Abu Bakr could see their shoes above him. He was filled with
fear and trepidation, not for himself, for he was a courageous man,
but for his beloved friend. Abu Bakr whispered, "Messenger of God,
if they look down towards their feet they will see us!" Prophet
Muhammad replied, "Abu Bakr, what do you think of two people with
whom God is the third?" God revealed the following verse of Quran
in response to this poignant moment.
{If you help him (Muhammad) not (it
does not matter), for God did indeed help him when the disbelievers
drove him out, the second of two, when they were in the cave, and
he (Prophet Muhammad ) said to his companion (Abu Bakr),"Be not sad
(or afraid), surely God is with us." Then God sent down His Sakînah
(calmness, tranquillity, peace, etc.) upon him, and strengthened
him with forces that you saw not, and made the word of those who
disbelieved the lowermost, while it was the Word of God that became
the uppermost, and God is All-Mighty, All-Wise.} [Quran
9:40]
{إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ
اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ
هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ
اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ
وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا ۗ
وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ} [التوبة:٤٠]
Transliteration: 'Illā Tanşurūhu Faqad Naşarahu
Allāhu 'Idh 'Akhrajahu Al-Ladhīna Kafarū Thāniya Athnayni 'Idh Humā
Fī Al-Ghāri 'Idh Yaqūlu Lişāĥibihi Lā Taĥzan 'Inna Allāha Ma`anā
Fa'anzala Allāhu Sakīnatahu `Alayhi Wa 'Ayyadahu Bijunūdin Lam
Tarawhā Wa Ja`ala Kalimata Al-Ladhīna Kafarū As-Suflá Wa
Kalimatu Allāhi Hiya Al-`Ulyā Wa Allāhu `Azīzun
Ĥakīmun
The angry and frantic Meccans stood outside the cave but did not
enter. A spider had spun a delicate web across the entrance to the
cave making it appear that no one had entered the cave in a very
long time. Abu Bakr understood from his beloved friend's words that
the power of God is often found manifest in the least expected
places. A tiny, fragile spider spinning a web of concealment was
mightier than an army. Abu Bakr, the first man to enter Islam
became one of two. Two friends united on a mission, bound by their
love for each other and for the fledgling Muslim nation,
strengthened by their love of the One True God.
By Aisha Stacey
IslamReligion.com