Stories
Abu Bakr
The Prophet's closest friend
4 min, Intro
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq was the Prophet's oldest friend, and by most reports the first free adult man to accept Islam. On the Hijrah he was the Prophet's companion in the cave. Later he was the first caliph. Sunni Muslims honour him as the greatest of the Companions.
Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
The thread
Abu Bakr, the Prophet's friend since youth, believes him at once. And he keeps on believing. When Makkah mocks the Night Journey. In the cave of Thawr, while Quraysh search for them. And on the day the Prophet dies, when he steadies a shocked Madinah and becomes the first caliph.
Al-Siddiq: the one who affirms
It starts with a friendship. Abu Bakr was a respected cloth merchant, and a friend of Muhammad ﷺ from youth.
When the message came, Abu Bakr believed. Most reports count him as the first free adult man to accept Islam, and he brought others with him, including 'Uthman.
Then came a test of that trust. The Prophet spoke of his Night Journey to Jerusalem, and many mocked. Abu Bakr is reported to have said: if he said it, then it is true. He became known as al-Siddiq, the one who affirms the truth.
His belief cost him money too. He spent his wealth freeing enslaved Muslims, Bilal among them.
Abu Bakr spent his wealth freeing the persecuted.
The second of two in the cave
When the Prophet ﷺ left Makkah for Madinah, he had one companion on the road: Abu Bakr.
Picture the two of them in the cave of Thawr. Three nights they hide there, while Quraysh search for them.
The Qur'an recalls the moment: he was "second of the two in the cave", saying to his companion, "Do not grieve; Allah is with us."
إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدۡ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذۡ أَخۡرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ثَانِيَ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ إِذۡ هُمَا فِي ٱلۡغَارِ إِذۡ يَقُولُ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَاۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيۡهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودࣲ لَّمۡ تَرَوۡهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ٱلسُّفۡلَىٰۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِيَ ٱلۡعُلۡيَاۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ٤٠
40 If you do not support the Prophet, Allah has already supported him when the disbelievers forced him out; when he was second of the two in the cave – saying to his companion, “Do not grieve; Allah is with us.” Thereupon Allah sent down His tranquility upon him, supported him with soldiers that you did not see, and rendered the word of the disbelievers the lowest, whereas the Word of Allah is supreme. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.
In the cave, the Prophet told Abu Bakr: do not grieve, God is with us.
"Muhammad has died"
Then came the hardest day. The Prophet died in 632, and Madinah was in shock. 'Umar refused to accept it.
Abu Bakr comes, and kisses the Prophet's face. Then he goes out to the people: whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad has died; whoever worships God, God is ever-living and does not die.
He recites: Muhammad is only a messenger; messengers have passed away before him. People said it was as if they had never heard the ayah before.
He then led the community for two years as the first caliph. Not every Muslim sees that the same way. Shi'a Muslims believe the Prophet had named 'Ali as his successor, and so view Abu Bakr's caliphate very differently.
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولࣰ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُۚ أَفَإِيْن مَّاتَ أَوۡ قُتِلَ ٱنقَلَبۡتُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَعۡقَٰبِكُمۡۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبۡ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيۡهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ ٱللَّهَ شَيۡـࣱٔاۚ وَسَيَجۡزِي ٱللَّهُ ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ ١٤٤
144 Muhammad is no more than a messenger; there were messengers who passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? Anyone who turns back on his heels will not harm Allah in the least, but Allah will reward those who are grateful.
On the day the Prophet died, Abu Bakr kept the community's eyes on God.