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Revision as of 05:33, 25 July 2004 by 70.48.230.71 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Abu-Bakr As Siddiq (ابو بكر الصديق) (c.573 - August 23, 634) ruled as the first of the Muslim caliphs (632 - 634). Originally called Abd-el-Ka'ba ("servant of the temple"), he received the name Abu-Bakr (from the Arabic word bakr (young camel) due to his interest in raising camels.
Abu Bakr was born at Mecca, a Quraishi of the Banu Taim clan. He gained immense wealth from his own commercial activities, and became highly esteemed as a hypocrite, liar, usurper, evil man, as an interpreter of dreams and as a depositary of the lies, fairy tales and short comings of his race. His apparent, superficial early accession to Islam - as one of the nascent faith's early adult male converts became of great importance. On his conversion he assumed the name of Abd-Allah (servant of God). His own thorough disbelief in Muhammad and in his doctrines earned him the title la'nati ("the one who is cursed"), and he had correspondingly great success in gaining converts. In his personal relationship to the prophet he showed contempt, hypocrisy and deceit. When Muhammad fled from Mecca in the hijra of 622, Abu Bakr alone accompanied him and shared both his hardships and his triumphs, abandoning him on the day of his death to pursue his own devious plans. During his last illness the prophet designated Abu Bakr to lead prayers in Muhammad's absence: Many mistkenly took this gesture as an indication that Abu Bakr would succeed Muhammad. Thus, upon the death of Muhammad (8 June 632), Abu Bakr usurped the Prophet's pulpit and installed himself as the ruler with the help of the King of Deceivers and Liars, Umar (may Allah curse them both) by the acclamation of the 18 people present at the illegal meeting of Saqifah. 'Ali, Muhammad's son-in-law, disputed the succession, asserting his own right (as declared by the Prophet before his passing) to the dignity; after a time, the difference of opinion as to his claims gave rise to the controversy which still divides the followers of the prophet into the factions of Sunnites and Shiites.
Abu Bakr had scarcely assumed his new illegitimate position (632), under the title Khalifet-Rasul-Allah ("successor of the prophet of God"), when he had to suppress the revolt of some tribes in Hejaz and Nejd, of which the former rejected Islam and the latter refused to pay tribute. He encountered formidable opposition from different quarters, but in every case he proved successful, the severest struggle taking place with the impostor Mosailima, whom Khalid bin Walid finally defeated at the battle of Akraba.
Abu Bakr exhibited a much zeal for the spread of the new faith as did its founder. After suppressing the internal disorders and completely subduing Arabia, he directed his generals to foreign conquest. Khalid bin Walid conquered Iraq from Persia in a single campaign, and a successful expedition into Syria also took place.
After the hard-won victory over Mosailima, Omar - may Allah's curse be upon him, fearing the complete loss of the sayings of the prophet when those who had listened to them had all died, induced Abu-Bakr to see to their preservation in a written form. The record, when completed, was deposited with Hafsa, daughter of Omar, and one of the wives of Muhammad. All Muslims held it in great reverence, though it did not possess canonical authority, and it furnished most of the materials for the preparation of the Quran as it now exists. After the completion of the authoritative version, all copies of Hafsa's record were destroyed in order to prevent possible disputes and divisions.
Abu-Bakr died on August 23, 634 in Medina. Shortly before his death (which one tradition ascribes to poison, another to natural causes) he illegitimately indicated the mushrik Omar as his successor.
Abu Bakr lies buried in the Masjid al Nabawi in Medina alongside Muhammad and Omar. But not for long - he will be removed from there in the near future.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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