The Attributes of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه - Shaykh Ahsan Hanif

The Attributes of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

In what is collected in Sahih al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu al-Darda' رضي الله عنه, that he said that we were once sitting with the Prophet ﷺ when Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه approached us. And the Prophet ﷺ saw him coming — so well did he know his closest and dearest of companions — that he said:

As for your companion — meaning Abu Bakr — then he is upset. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3661)

He came and he said, "O Messenger of Allah, I had a misunderstanding with Umar. Me and Umar had a dispute, a misunderstanding. And I said something to him that I later regretted. But when I asked him to say back to me so that we would be equal, he refused and he left and he went home. So I've come to you, O Messenger of Allah."

As he's having this discourse with the Prophet ﷺ, Umar رضي الله عنه decides that he should go back and reconcile with Abu Bakr. So he leaves his home and he goes to the house of Abu Bakr and he asks for him. But he's told he's not there. So then he comes upon this gathering of the Prophet ﷺ.

And as the Prophet ﷺ sees Umar approaching, he becomes angry. And as the companions used to say, when the Prophet ﷺ became angry, you could tell in his face — you could see in his facial features, in the color of his face, that he was upset ﷺ. So when Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه saw these signs, he saw these facial features changing, he understood that the Prophet ﷺ was going to be upset. But rather than directing his anger at Abu Bakr — the one who came and said "I was the one who wronged Umar" — he's instead upset with Umar.

So Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه goes down upon his knees and he says:

"I was the one who wronged him, O Messenger of Allah. I was the one in the wrong, not him."

The Prophet ﷺ then said to Umar, to the companions gathered around him — and it was a lesson for each and every single one of us by extension:

"When Allah sent me to all of you, all of you said: 'You are a liar.' But Abu Bakr stood and said: 'He speaks the truth.' And he sacrificed for me his life and his wealth. So will you not leave my companion alone?" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3661)

Abu al-Darda' رضي الله عنه said:

"He was never harmed again" — meaning Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه.

This is one hadith of the many ahadith that you will find in the Sunnah that speak about the virtue of this amazing companion of the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه.

If I was to stand here and begin his life story, speak about his seerah, his biography, speak about his virtues and the many accomplishments that he has to his name رضي الله عنه — it would take me many, many khutbahs. We could spend the whole year, every single khutbah of this Jumu'ah, and we still wouldn't exhaust the many lessons from the life of this companion.

And it is enough to know that it is from the foundations of our aqidah — from the belief that me and you have as Muslims — that the greatest person in this ummah after his Messenger and Prophet ﷺ is none other than Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. The aqidah of the salaf, the aqidah of the Muslim, is based upon core principles that they have to believe in. And it is also based upon the core principles that differentiate them from other Muslim groups that have erred in those principles. And from those principles is the station of the companions and in particular who the greatest of them were.

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه is someone who has many, many accolades to his name. But what I want to share with you in this brief time that we have before us today is some of the attributes that make Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه who he was. Some of the main characteristics that he possessed in his personality, in his character, in the way that he conducted himself — that gave him the station that Allah gave to him. Perchance, even though none of us can reach that status and that level, if we were to take some of those lessons — even if we could reach only a tenth of what Abu Bakr reached, even if we could only take a small amount and attain what Abu Bakr attained — it would be for us sufficient by Allah's permission, by His grace and by His mercy.

First Attribute: Knowledge of the Religion

The first thing that made Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه the greatest of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ is the knowledge that he possessed of this religion. When you think of the name of Abu Bakr, you don't think "knowledge." When I say knowledge to you amongst the companions, perhaps the people that come to your mind are the likes of Ibn Abbas, or Ibn Mas'ud, or Aisha, or Abu Huraira رضي الله عنهم. Abu Bakr is not from amongst the most prolific narrators of hadith. Nor was Abu Bakr known for his many fatawa, his many judgments or edicts. You don't have much of the knowledge of Abu Bakr in the books of hadith. But amongst the companions, he was the most knowledgeable of them.

His knowledge was one that gave him understanding of the sharia. His knowledge is what allowed him to attain the highest levels of iman. He had knowledge — even though perhaps you don't read it in the books that you have before you. But amongst the companions, he was known and accepted as being the most knowledgeable from amongst them.

And we have snippets of this within the sharia. From them is a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه, when he said that the Prophet ﷺ, towards the end of his life, sat amongst his companions one day and said in a khutbah:

"Indeed, Allah gave to a person a choice between the life of this world and between that which Allah has. And that servant chose what Allah has." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3904)

Ibn Mas'ud said that this made Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه cry. And they were amazed — surprised. Why is he crying? Surely any person in that position, given that choice, would choose Allah and they wouldn't choose this dunya. But then he said: we realized something that only Abu Bakr realized. And that is that the Prophet ﷺ was speaking about himself. He was the one given the choice and he's the one who made the choice. And what he's telling them — but they didn't understand — is that his days left upon this dunya are limited.

And so Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه said:

"And Abu Bakr was the most knowledgeable from amongst us" — from amongst the companions. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3904)

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه had knowledge of the Qur'an and he had knowledge of the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. By virtue of being close to the Prophet ﷺ, by sitting with him and understanding this religion, it gave him wisdom and an ability to come close to Allah. And that is how any person comes closer to Allah. If you have sincerity and you seek knowledge of this religion and you come and you learn — it doesn't mean that you have to be the famous imam standing upon the minbar. It doesn't mean you have to be the person that everyone knows. It doesn't mean that you have to be the name that everyone's familiar with. Everyone can seek knowledge. And that knowledge, for many people, perhaps it remains between them and between Allah.

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was known for his knowledge because at the key points within the seerah of the Prophet ﷺ — and the key points after the death of the Prophet ﷺ and during his khilafah — he stood and he took a stance. And the stance that he took, more often than not, was the correct stance. And that is why, when the Prophet ﷺ — in the first year that Hajj was obligated, before he went to perform his own Farewell Hajj the following year — he chose Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه to lead the pilgrims. He chose him to be the imam of Hajj. And as Ibn Taymiyyah and others said, the reason being that Abu Bakr was the most knowledgeable. In Hajj you have hundreds of issues. Every person has a different question, a different circumstance and scenario. Everyone has their issues in Hajj. You need someone who has a wide understanding of the sharia and understanding of all of the rulings of fiqh. And the Prophet ﷺ chose Abu Bakr for that position. He is the most knowledgeable of the companions, رضي الله عنهم أجمعين.

Second Attribute: Unshakeable Trust in Allah

From the attributes of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, connected to his knowledge, was his trust in Allah, his iman in Allah. That at every key moment in the life of the Prophet ﷺ — when other people would question, when other people would have to have an internal debate, when other people would be unsure — Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was like a mountain, like a rock. So stable and so firm that even in those things that other people would think perhaps are beyond the realms of understanding, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه would stand and he would say: I believe and I accept what the Prophet ﷺ said.

So sure was the Prophet ﷺ of the knowledge and the iman of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه that sometimes the Prophet ﷺ would say in his absence: "I believe in this, and Abu Bakr and Umar believe in this." He didn't need them to be there. He didn't need to ask them. He was so sure of the iman of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه.

And that is why we have that famous incident — when after the night journey, after the Prophet ﷺ had his Isra and Mi'raj and he went to the heavens and back in a single night, and this news became widespread in Makkah — Abu Bakr had yet to hear it from the mouth of the Prophet ﷺ. So when some of the Quraysh came to him and said, "O Abu Bakr, do you know what your companion is claiming? That he went in a single night from Makkah to Jerusalem — and not only there, but to the heavens and back in a single night. Do you think this is something which is possible?" He said:

"I already believe in something which is greater than this. I already believe that Allah, every day and every night, gives him revelation from the seven heavens. So what is one single journey compared to what I have already accepted?"

That is the iman of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. In every single place, every single situation, he's looking at that which will be pleasing to Allah. His strong iman, his firm iman — the place that he has in this religion — is because he never wavered, رضي الله عنه وأرضاه.

And that is why even after the death of the Prophet ﷺ — when the Prophet ﷺ had instructed an army just before his death to set out under the general Usama ibn Zayd رضي الله عنهما, that they would go and fight the Romans — the army, as it was preparing to set out, stopped because they heard that the Prophet ﷺ was severely ill, and then he died ﷺ. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه becomes the khalifa. People have now refused to give zakah. People from amongst the Arabs have apostated from Islam. There are people claiming to be false prophets, some of whom had already emerged before the Prophet's death and more of whom were cropping up now. Some of the senior companions came to Abu Bakr and said: "This army of Usama is all of the Muslims. This is the strength of Medina. If they go out, there is no one left. So why don't you delay the army? Pull them back, let things settle down, and then you can send them at a different time."

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said: "I will never undo a knot that was tied by the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ commanded this army to leave — it will leave." That was the iman of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. The army went out, it was victorious by Allah's permission, and it returned. That is the iman of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه.

I don't have the time to go through the countless examples that we have within the seerah. But you will find in every single moment and in every single place, you will find that the Prophet ﷺ is saying something or doing something or taking a position, and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه is the one who is there first and foremost. And that is why the Prophet ﷺ said what he said as I mentioned at the beginning: "Indeed Allah sent me. Everyone else said you are a liar. But Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه stood and said: you speak the truth."

Third Attribute: Seeking What Is Most Pleasing to Allah

From the attributes of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه is that he would always look for that which was most pleasing to Allah. Where can I gain the most reward? What can I do that is most pleasing to Allah — even if it is difficult for me, even if I have to make some personal sacrifice, even if in this there is pain for me — I will do it to please Allah.

And perhaps one of the greatest examples that we have from his life is in the story of the slander of our mother Aisha رضي الله عنها, the daughter of Abu Bakr. From amongst those people who spread those rumors and were partaking in that slander was one of the relatives of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, a companion by the name of Mistah. And Mistah was a companion from the people of Badr who participated in the Battle of Badr, but he got caught up in this issue of the slander. So Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, after the innocence of his daughter was declared by Allah in the Qur'an, said: "As for Mistah, I will never spend upon him again." Mistah was a poor man, a relation to Abu Bakr, so Abu Bakr would give him sadaqa and charity to help him. He said: "I won't spend upon him anymore." As we know — every single one of us has the right to give our sadaqa wherever we choose. You don't want to give your sadaqa somewhere, you don't have to give it there; give it somewhere else. Abu Bakr said: I don't want to give it to this man anymore because of what he said about my daughter.

Allah revealed the following verse in the Qur'an:

"Those from amongst you that have been given virtue and have been given wealth — when they would spend upon their family and upon the weak and the poor and the muhajireen in the path of Allah — don't let them stop doing what they were doing. Rather they should pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you in return?"

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said: "By Allah, I love that Allah should forgive me." So he went back and he spent upon this very man, Mistah رضي الله عنه. That is Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. He hears a verse. He's told that this is something more pleasing to Allah. He does it for the sake of Allah.

In the hadith of Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi, Umar رضي الله عنه said: "There came a time when the Prophet ﷺ was asking for sadaqah. Never in my life did I have more wealth than at that point. So I thought to myself: today I will best Abu Bakr. So I came and I brought half of my wealth to the Prophet ﷺ. And he said to me: 'What did you leave behind, O Umar?' I said: 'I left a similar amount behind for my family.' But then Abu Bakr came and he brought everything. And the Prophet ﷺ asked him: 'What did you leave behind for your family, Abu Bakr?' He said: 'As for me, I left behind for them Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.'"

(Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 1678; Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3675)

That is the iman of Abu Bakr. That is his trust in Allah and his certainty in Allah's promise. That is the knowledge of Abu Bakr. Everyone else in that situation would think that they should leave a smaller amount behind, save for a rainy day. But Abu Bakr stands and he says: "As for me, Allah is sufficient, and His Prophet ﷺ is sufficient."

Fourth Attribute: Noble Character and Humility

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was known for his amazing character. His knowledge of this religion, his trust in Allah, his seeking of Allah's pleasure made him from amongst the greatest of the companions in character. The most generous of people, the kindest of people, the most patient of people, the most gentle of people. رضي الله عنه وأرضاه.

And from his characteristics that I want to conclude upon today is that he was also extremely humble. Someone who knew — despite the many promises that he was given by the Prophet ﷺ that he would attain Jannah, that he was guaranteed Jannah, that he would be from the people of Jannah — he never lost that humbleness before Allah. He was still afraid for himself.

In the hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه — from the few ahadith narrated by him — said: "I came to the Prophet ﷺ and I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, teach me a du'a that I can make in my salah.' And the Prophet ﷺ replied and said to him: 'Say:'"

"O Allah, indeed I have oppressed myself a great deal — and in another wording: a great oppression — and no one forgives sins except You. So forgive me and have mercy upon me. Indeed, You are the Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 834)

That is Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. A man of ibadah, a man of knowledge, a man who always looks for that which is most pleasing to Allah.

Conclusion

These attributes are important for every single Muslim. And even if we don't have them to the level of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, we should have a portion of them in our lives — that we may take from the example of these companions and that we may try our best to emulate them in the way that they were.

Ask Allah that He makes us from amongst those people who follow in their example. And that Allah makes us from amongst those people who will be reunited with them, who will be united with them in their company on Yawm al-Qiyamah. Ask Allah that He keeps us firm upon this religion, that He showers His mercy and His forgiveness and His blessings upon us and upon our communities. And that Allah makes this time easy for us. And that Allah relieves us from the hardship and the difficulty that we are in.