The
Caliphate and Spiritual Guidance as a Profession
Some people are of the opinion that
the caliphate referred to in Sûrat An-Nur deals with the system of spiritual
guidance as a profession. To me it is an utterly wrong belief. Although a spiritual
guide rules over his disciples, he has no power to enforce the Islamic code and
Divine order. The Quran has left nothing to guesswork by referring in clear
terms to the caliphates of Adam and Dâwud. We are ordained to follow the Quran
in all walks of life.
Abu
Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) His Name and
Genealogy:
His family lineage is Abdullah bin
Abu Quhâfah bin Âmir bin Amr bin Ka'b bin Saad bin Tamim bin Murrah bin Ka'b
bin Luai bin Ghâlib bin Fihr bin Mâlik bin Nadr bin Kinânah. Murrah serves as
the meeting ground for the lineage of the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) and Abu Bakr (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم), and both of them have a distance of 6
generations.
His mother was Salma bint Sakhr bin
Ka'b bin Saad. She was the cousin of Abu Quhâfah and was widely known as
Umm-ul-Khair. The name of his father, Abu Quhâfah was Uthmân. Abu Bakr (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was called Abd
Ka'bah in the Days of Ignorance. The Prophet (صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم) named him Abdullah, and his name was Atiq also. However,
Jalâluddin Suyuti writes in his book Târikh Al-Khulafa: "The majority of
Ulama' (religious scholars) is of the opinion that Atiq was his surname, not
his name." To some, he was called Atiq because of his being handsome and
graceful while others argue that since his genealogy was spotless, he was known
as Atiq.
There is a complete consensus among
the true followers of Islam that his surname was Siddiq, for he testified to
the Prophethood without any hesitation and fear and took it upon himself to
follow the truth. When the event of Mi'râj (Ascension) occurred, he showed his
unshakable firmness and conviction to lend his support to it and did it in the
face of all opposition. He was younger than the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) by two years and two months. He was born
and brought up in Makkah. He would go on journeys with trade caravans. He
migrated to Al-Madinah along with the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) and embraced death in the same city.
Age
of Ignorance:
During the Age of Ignorance, the
power and nobility of the Quraish were shared by ten clans: (1) Hâshim, (2)
Umayyah, (3) Naufal, (4) Abdud-Dâr, (5) Asad (6) Taim, (7) Makhzum, (8) Adi,
(9) Jumh and (10) Sahm. These clans were entrusted with different jobs to do.
Banu Hâshim had it as their right to provide water to the pilgrims. Banu Naufal
had the right to give provisions to those who happened to be in need of it.
Banu Abdud-Dâr had the key of the Ka'bah along with guarding it. Banu Asad had
to give counsel and maintain Dar An-Nadwah (the House of Assembly). Banu Taim
decided about blood money and penalties. Banu Adi had intertribal
ambassadorship responsibilities, Banu Jumh had the arrows of omen and Banu Sahm
managed offerings to idols.
Abu Bakr (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) would give his judgment about blood money
and penalties on behalf of Banu Taim and the entire Quraish had to abide by his
decision. Besides, Abu Bakrصلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) )
was the chief of his clan and wielded deep influence as a man of substance.
Among the Quraish, he commanded distinction for his wide responsibilities and
for entertaining guests on a large scale. They took his counsel in their
important affairs and he was regarded highly for his prudence, patience and
firmness. He was well-versed in the art of genealogy. He naturally kept away
from evil and depravity. When asked if he had ever drunk wine, he curtly
replied, "Allâh forbid, never!" "Why not?" the person
asked. "I hated that my body would emit foul smells and happen the loss of
good manners." When the matter was stated in the presence of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), he said twice,
"Abu Bakr is true."
Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was the embodiment of good and was spotless, just and
righteous. It is because of this that when the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) invited him to accept Islam, he embraced
it without delay and promised to lend all help and total support, which he
fulfilled in the face of all opposition and extreme hardship and misery. The Prophet
once said, "The sun never rose over anyone better than Abu Bakr except the
Prophets." Since he attributed such great respect, many including Uthmân
bin Affân, Talhah bin Ubaidullah and Saad bin Abu Waqqâs (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) accepted Islam under his direct
influence.
Islamic
Era:
Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was the first to believe in the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and was the first to perform prayers led
by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).
Somebody asked Maimun bin Mehrân, "Who is better in your opinion, Abu Bakr
or Ali?" He became angry and very indignantly uttered, "I never knew
that I would remain alive until the day these two would be compared with each
other. They were, in fact, like the head of Islam. Abu Bakr was the first to
accept Islam among the adults, Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) among the boys and Khadijah among the women."
The religious scholars are unanimous
that Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
never left the company of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم) without his permission. He migrated for the sake of his love
for Allâh and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
leaving his wife and children alone and stayed with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) in the cave and
accompanied him in every battle. In the battle of Badr, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said about Abu Bakr
and Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), "One has Jibril (Gabriel) and
another Mikâ'il (Michael) with them." In the battle of Badr, his son
Abdur-Rahmân bin Abu Bakr had joined the polytheist army. Once after accepting
Islam, he said to his father, "Several times on the day of Badr you came
within the range of my arrows but I held my hand back." Thereupon Abu Bakr
(رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) replied, "If I
had to face you, I would have made you the target of my arrow."
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