Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr: the cards as text

Stories. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.

  1. Card 1

    Makkah mocked. His oldest friend said: if he said it, it is true.

  2. Card 2

    Al-Siddiq: the one who affirms

    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.

  3. Card 3

    Lesson: Abu Bakr spent his wealth freeing the persecuted.

  4. Card 4

    The second of two in the cave

    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."

  5. Card 5

    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.

  6. Card 6

    Lesson: In the cave, the Prophet told Abu Bakr: do not grieve, God is with us.

  7. Card 7

    "Muhammad has died"

    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.

  8. Card 8

    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.

  9. Card 9

    Lesson: On the day the Prophet died, Abu Bakr kept the community's eyes on God.

  10. Card 10

    Reflect: What did Abu Bakr say when the Prophet died?

    Answer: Whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad has died; God never dies. Whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad has died; whoever worships God, God is alive and never dies.

  11. Card 11

    The end of Abu Bakr.

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