Stories
The Prophet's closest friend
Makkah mocked. His oldest friend said: if he said it, it is true.
4 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 3
A merchant of Makkah, Abu Bakr had been the Prophet's friend since youth. He believed him at once. Others mocked the Night Journey. He said: if he said it, it is true. He became known as al-Siddiq.
Lesson
Abu Bakr spent his wealth freeing the persecuted.
Part 2 of 3
On the Hijrah, Abu Bakr travelled with the Prophet. Three nights they hid in the cave of Thawr. The Qur'an recalls it: he was "second of the two in the cave", saying to his companion, "Do not grieve; Allah is with us."
Qur'an 9:40
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.
A long ayah: scroll within the card.
Lesson
In the cave, the Prophet told Abu Bakr: do not grieve, God is with us.
Part 3 of 3
The Prophet died, and some refused to believe it, 'Umar among them. Abu Bakr told the crowd: whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad has died; whoever worships God, God is alive and never dies. Then he recited 3:144.
Qur'an 3:144
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.
Lesson
On the day the Prophet died, Abu Bakr kept the community's eyes on God.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
Makkah mocked. His oldest friend said: if he said it, it is true.