Caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr
Caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr
Caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr
Election as Caliph
As soon as the Prophet passed away the question of the next leader came as a big threat to the solidarity of the Muslim
community
Ansar insisted the leader should be from them due their service to Islam
Quraish insisted the leader should be from them as the Prophet was from the Quraish
Ansar suggested two leaders
Hazrat Umar said that would split the muslims
He grasped Hazrat Abu Bakrs hand and swore loyalty & allegiance to him as the next leader
Muahijireen and Ansar both followed in batches and did the same
Abu Bakrs inaugaration speech: "O people, I swear by Allah that I never coveted the caliphate either by day or by night, nor
had I any inclination towards it. I never prayed to God openly or in secrecy to confer the office on me. I merely accepted this
office lest some mischief might arise at this critical juncture in the history of the Muslims and thereby adversely affect the
interests of Islam. In fact a big task has been assigned to me which is beyond my power to fulfil except with the help of the
Almighty Allah and your whole hearted cooperation. I wished to see the strongest of men in my place this day.
Now, it is beyond doubt that I have been elected your Amir, although I am not better than you. Help me, if I am in the right;
set me right if I am in the wrong. Truth is a trust; falsehood is a treason. The weak among you will be strong with me till, God
willing, his rights have been vindicated; and the strong among you shall be weak with me till, if the Lord wills, I have taken
what is due from him. Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Prophet, when I disobey Him and His Prophet, then obey me
not. And now rise for prayers; may God have mercy on you."
Expedition to Syria
In the last few days of the Prophets life he dispatched an army, under the leadership of Usama bin Zaid, to fight the
Byzantine empire
After the death of the Prophet many tribes apostised from Islam
Madinah was surrounded by hostile tribes
Everyone suggested to Abu Bakr that he should call back the army of Usama which had hardly left the city
Abu Bakr refused to do so
He said, ‘How can I as the Caliph of the Holy Prophet cancel an order made by the Holy Prophet?’
1. Rebellions
Many states rebelled after the death of the Prophet
Bahrain, Oman, Mahrah, Hadramaut & Yemen
In all these place Abu Bakr undertook military campaigns and subdued the rebellions and crushed any disorder
All the states were bought back under the banner of Islam
Refusal to pay Zakaat
Some tribes refused to pay zakaat (Banu Assad, Ghatafan etc)
Abu Bakr called a majlis-e-shura (Advisory Council)
Most sahabah were not in favour of action
However, Abu Bakr was firm on taking action
He declared he will fight who so ever doesn’t pay zakaat
The tribes attacked Madinah unsuccessfully
The caliph ultimately recived zakaat
3. False Prophets
Musailama: Most dangerous false Prophet belonged to Central Arabia (Banu Hanifa)
Aswad Ansi: An ugly man who kept his face veiled arose in Yemen. Nicknamed the veiled Prophet
Tulaiha: A wealthy chief and great warrior of Northern Arabia- Later became Muslim and fought for the Muslims during the
time of Umer
Sajjah: Christian woman- Married Musailama and in later days accepted Islam
(iii) Tulaiha
Belonged to Banu Asad in Northern Arabia
Claimed prophethood during the Prophet PBUH’s life
The Prophet PBUH died before he could take any action against him
Abu Bakr sent an army battalion under khalid bin Waleed who was successful at punishing him and gained victory
Tulayha escaped after his loss to Syria as a refugee
He later accepted Islam and fought under the second caliph Hazrat Umer
(iv) Sajjah
Christian woman who claimed to be a prophetess
Belonged to Bani Tamim/taghlib tribe in Iraq
Musailama invited her to Yamama
Musailama proposed and they married
They both decided to join forces and overpower the Muslims
Her marriage undermined her position as so called prophetess
After three days Sajjah returned to her people in Iraq and lived an obscure life
She later accepted Islam with the rest of her tribe when Muslims conquered Iraq
Conquest of Persia
Arabian peninsula surounded by two great empires
From the North Eastern side: Persian empire
From the North: Byzantine empire (Eastern Roman)
Persians had helped the rebels against Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr wanted to spread the message of Islam
There was already unrest in the Persian empire
Muslims took advantage of this and attacked Eastern Iraq in 633AD under the command of Muthanna bin Haritha &
Khalid bin Waleed
Battle of Chains
Khalid bin Waleed invited Hurmuz (commander of the Persian army) to accept either Islam, or pay Jizya or be ready
for war
Hurmuz opted for option three
Hurmuz forces at Kazima (Present day Kuwait)
Persian forces were linked via chains hence the Battle of Kazima became known as the Battle of Chains
Muslims attacked and defeated the Persians in 633AD
Thousands killed and thousands taken prisoners
After the Battle of Chains, small skirmishes took place at Mazar, Walaja, Ullis, Anber & En-at-Tamr
Muslims defeated the Persians one after the other
Services to Islam
One of the earliest followers and supporters of Islam.
Great missionary and preacher.
Saved many newly converted slaves from their cruel masters.
Participated in almost every battle of Muhammad (PBUH).
At Hunain, when everyone had deserted Muhammad (PBUH), he stayed at his side.
One of the very few Muslims who supported the Treaty of Hudaybia immediately after it was signed.
Donated everything he had for the Tabuk Expedition.
Kept himself in control when everyone panicked after Muhammad (PBUH)‘s death.
Dissuaded the Ansar from starting a civil war.
Suppressed rebels and apostates which saved the state of Madinah from internal disintegration and collapse.
Added a large amount of territory to the Islamic State of Madinah
Took steps to compile the scattered revelations of the Holy Quran after the Battle of Yamama.