Beautiful
Living:
Ata' bin Sâ'ib (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) states: "The day after the oath of
allegiance (Bai'ah), Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
was seen going to the market with two sheets.'Where are you going?' Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) inquired of him. 'To
the market,' he replied. 'You should leave this business for you have now
become the Leader of the believers,' Umar (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) argued. 'From where will my wife and children and myself eat?'
Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) asked. 'Leave it to
Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ),'
Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said. Following
this, both of them called on Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
said to him, 'Collect from the Muhâjirin a maintenance allowance for me and my
wife and children. Everything should be very ordinary. Garments for summer and
winter will be needed and they are to be returned when worn out before the demand
for new ones are made'."
Abu Bakr bin Hafs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) states that Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said to Âishah (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) before his death, "I was only benefited from the service
done to the Muslims by eating and wearing whatever rough and coarse clothes
were available. I have nothing of the public funds with me except a slave, a
dromedary and an old sheet. Send all of these to Umar when I am no more."
Hasan bin Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) relates that on the eve of his death, Abu
Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said to Âishah
Siddiqah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), "After my
death you will send to Umar this she-camel whose milk we drank, this big bowl I
ate from and these sheets. I had taken these articles from the Bait-ul-Mâl
(public funds) in my capacity as the caliph." When these things reached
Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) he remarked,
"May Allâh show mercy on Abu Bakr, how terribly he suffered for us."
Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) never kept wealth
and goods deposited with the Bait-ul-Mâl. He spent on the Muslims whatever came
to the public treasury. At times he purchased horses and weapons to be given in
the way of Allâh and sometimes he bought clothes for the poor and the bedouins.
When Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), along with some
Companions, examined the Bait-ul-Mâl after Abu Bakr's death, it was empty. The
little girls of the locality would come to him with their goat to be milked and
he would do it for them. Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) used to sit among people in a manner that nobody could
recognize who was the caliph.
Important
Events of the Siddiqi Caliphate | Hall of Banu Sâ'idah and the Pledge of
Caliphate
When Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came to know of the
congregation of the Ansâr in the Hall of Banu Sâ'idah to choose an Amir (Chief)
from the Ansâr, he hurried to the spot accompanied by Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). It was a crucial moment in Islamic
history. A little delay or neglect might have disrupted the unity between the
Muhâjirin and the Ansâr causing the Muslims immense harm. But since Allâh the
Almighty had decided otherwise, He infused in Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) the courage and determination necessary
to face the troubled situation and by his wisdom the situation was resolved.
The Prophet of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
had unified the Muslims in a manner that the idols of tribal and national
arrogance and discrimination had been broken to pieces. Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) saved the situation
and stopped the trouble in its beginning.
Although the number of the Muhâjirin
in Al-Madinah was less than the Ansâr, the Ansâr were divided in two large
sections, the Aus and the Khazraj, who had been rivals from the pre-Islamic
days. Thus the Muslims of Al-Madinah could possibly be divided along their old
tribal lines into three large sections, the third being the Muhâjirin or the
people of Quraish.
Bai'ah
(Pledge)
Shortly after the demise of the
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), all the Muhâjirin
assembled in the Prophet's Mosque because the majority of the Muhâjirin lived
in the vicinity of the Mosque while the Ansâr were much less in number. Another
Muslim gathering in Saqifah Banu Sâ'idah consisted of the Ansâr and a Muhâjir
or two. With Islam still in its beginning, its growth, the hostile endeavors of
its opponents, turbulence and turmoil created by battles and expeditions, the
extermination of polytheism and the Muslims bowing their will before the Islamic
codes made it tremendously important for the Muslims as a whole to choose for
themselves an Amir without any delay.
The loving sentiments of Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) gave the people no
opportunity to think over the issue of the caliphate. Had Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) not hurried to the
spot on hearing the terrible news of the Prophet's demise, nobody can say how
long the people in the Prophet's Mosque would have been in the grip of that
distressing situation. The congregation held at the sitting place of Saad bin
Ubâdah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was different. They
were comparatively peaceful and were seriously deliberating the issue of choosing
a successor of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
in temporal affairs. This congregation belonged to the Ansâr and was held at
the place of Saad bin Ubâdah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
who was the chief of the Khazraj. This section of the Ansâr were superior to
the Aus in number and wealth, it was only natural that the majority of them
would be in favor of the Khazraj chief.
Although the Muhâjirin numbered less
in Al-Madinah, they were so influential and in command of the affairs that an
Ansâri got up to say how could the Muhâjirin be forced to accept a caliph from
the Ansâr. Another Ansâri rose to suggest that a caliph from Muhâjirin and
another from the Ansâr was the best and the most reasonable solution. "But
it will be a show of weakness on our part," Saad bin Ubâdah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said objecting to
the dual system. In response to this plea, an Ansâr rose to say, "In case
they reject our caliph, we shall drive them out from Al-Madinah at the point of
our swords." However, the few Muhâjirin in the assembly protested against
this attitude and this led to a dispute and disorder of a serious nature and a
fight between the Muhâjirin and the Ansâr seemed possible.
When the situation took this ugly
turn, Mughirah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
bin Shubah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
left the trouble spot and came to the Prophet's Mosque to relate what was going
on in Saqifah Banu Sâ'idah. The situation on this side was that Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) had just finished
his speech and was now engaged in making arrangements for the burial. But on
hearing this awful news he left everything to go to the Ansâr and bring the
situation under control.
He took with him Umar and Abu
Ubaidah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and left Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and others to make
arrangements for the burial of the Prophet (صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم). In a situation packed with confusion, disorder, anger and
emotion only a man like Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) could do what was necessary. When Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) made an attempt to say something, Abu
Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) put a check on him
for he knew that an emotionally charged Umar (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) could mishandle the already deteriorating situation.
Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) himself rose to speak and said in a tone filled with
confidence and firmness, "The first among the chiefs will be from the
Muhâjirin, and the Ansâr will be their advisors." Thereupon Hubâb bin
Al-Mundhir (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
said, "It seems reasonable that there should be one Amir (chief) from us
and another from you." Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) replied, "You remember very well that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) had exhorted the
Muhâjirin to take care of the Ansâr and did not ask the Ansâr to make
concessions to the Muhâjirin. This will of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) goes in favor of the Muhâjirin to be at
the helm of affairs."
Hubâb bin Al-Mundhir (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) tried to answer back
but Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
pacified both of them. Meanwhile Bashir bin An-Numân bin Ka'b Ansâri (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) got up and expressed
his feeling, "The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله
وسلم) most certainly belonged to the Quraish tribe so the people of
the Quraish alone deserve the caliphate. We, no doubt, lent our help and
support to Islam, but our efforts were meant solely for seeking the Pleasure of
Allâh, and we don't want its compensation in this world nor do we want to pick
a quarrel with he Muhâjirin."
Following this, Hubâb bin Al-Mundhir
(رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said, "You have
showed utmost timidity and undid our position as a whole." Bashir (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) replied, "I
have not showed any timidity and I have preferred not to bicker over the
caliphate with the people who really deserve it. Have you not heard O Hubâb
that the Prophet of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
had said, 'Imams will come from the Quraish.'?" These utterances of Bashir
(رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) received support
from some other Ansâr too. Hubâb bin Al-Mundhir (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) also kept silent and changed his opinion. In this way the
religious and spiritual considerations prevailed over the material and temporal
ones.
Now the entire congregation plunged
in deep silence and the growing conflict between the Muhâjirin and the Ansâr
over the issue of the caliphate disappeared. In this state of perfect peace, Abu
Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
said, "Umar and Abu Ubaydah are here, choose anyone of them." Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said, "No, Abu
Bakr is the most excellent among the Muhâjirin. He has been the Companion of
the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
in the cave; the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
asked him to officiate in leading the Muslims in prayers, and prayer is the
most superior of all other Articles of Faith. Therefore, none is entitled to
assume the duties of the caliphate in the presence of Abu Bakr." Saying
this Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) stretched his hand
first of all to take Bai'ah (oath of allegiance) at the hand of Abu Bakr Siddiq
(رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) followed by Abu
Ubaidah and Bashir bin Saad Ansâri (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ). After that the people on all sides of Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came to take Bai'ah.
As the news spread, all the believers rushed to pledge their allegiance to the
caliph.
Saad bin Ubâdah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) from the Ansâr and those from the
Muhâjirin who were engaged in making arrangements for the burial, did not take
the Bai'ah in Saqifah Banu Sâ'idah. However, Saad (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) took the Bai'ah with Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) later the same day. Ali, Zubair and Talhah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) didn't take Bai'alt for 40 days or
according to some narratives for six months with the complaint that they were
not included in the consultations that were held at Saqifah Banu Sâ'idah
concerning the Bai'ah.
One day Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came to Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and said, "I don't refuse to admit
that your virtues entitle you to the caliphate. My sole complaint is that we
are the close relatives of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم), why did you then take Bai'ah at Saqifah Banu Sâ'idah without
consulting us. Had you called us there, we would have taken Bai'ah at your hand
ahead of everyone." Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) said in reply, "To treat the relatives of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) well is dearer and
more desirable to me than to do so for my own relatives. I went to Saqifah Banu
Sâ'idah not for the taking of Bai'ah but for putting an end to the dispute
arising between the Muhâjirin and the Ansâr, which had caused a difficult
situation. I did not seek their support, they rather took their oath of
allegiance to me on their own and demonstrated their complete unanimity in this
matter. Had I delayed the matter, it would have posed a greater danger to the
unity, integrity and solidarity of Islam. How could I send for you when there
was no time." Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
listened to what Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) said with rapt attention and withdrew his complaint
gracefully. The next day he pronounced his allegiance to Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) before a large
congregation in the Prophet's Mosque.
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