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Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (Abdullah ibn Uthman) (RA)

أبو بكر الصديق

c. 573 CE - 13 AH / 634 CE; caliph 11-13 AH

The Prophet's closest companion and first adult free man to accept Islam, his companion in the cave during the Hijra (9:40), and the first Rightly Guided Caliph. He held the community together after the Prophet's death.

Biography

Abu Bakr of Banu Taym, a merchant known for integrity, accepted Islam at once and brought several of the ten to Islam. He spent his wealth freeing enslaved Muslims such as Bilal, and earned the title al-Siddiq for affirming the Isra' and Mi'raj. He accompanied the Prophet ﷺ in the cave of Thawr during the Hijra: 'the second of two, when they were in the cave' (9:40). The Prophet ﷺ said that if he were to take a khalil from his ummah he would take Abu Bakr (Sahih Bukhari), and appointed him to lead prayers during his final illness (Sahih Bukhari).

After the Prophet's death he steadied the community ('whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad has died...', reciting 3:144; Sahih Bukhari) and was chosen caliph at Saqifah Bani Sa'idah. During his two-year caliphate he sent Usamah's army, fought the Riddah (apostasy and zakat-refusal) wars, ordered the first compilation of the Quran into a single written collection, and began campaigns into Iraq and Syria. He died in 13 AH and is buried beside the Prophet ﷺ.

His daughter Aisha was a wife of the Prophet ﷺ; his daughter Asma' married al-Zubayr; his son Muhammad was later raised by Ali.

Sources & explanation

۞ Qur'an

9:40 92:17 92:18 92:19 92:20 92:21 24:22

Links open quran.com.

📜 Hadith verified on sunnah.com

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3662 Sahih

    'Amr ibn al-'As asked who was most beloved to the Prophet ﷺ: 'Aisha'; among men: 'her father (Abu Bakr)', then 'Umar.

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 4986 Sahih

    Compilation of the Qur'an: Zayd ibn Thabit collected it under Abu Bakr; the sheets stayed with Hafsah; 'Uthman later had copies made from them.

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3092, 3093 Sahih

    Fatimah asked Abu Bakr for her inheritance (incl. Fadak); he cited 'We (prophets) are not inherited; what we leave is charity' (the Fadak dispute).

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3671 Sahih

    Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah asked his father Ali who was best after the Prophet ﷺ; Ali said Abu Bakr, then 'Umar, and called himself just one of the Muslims.

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3656 Sahih

    'If I were to take a khalil (intimate friend) other than my Lord, I would take Abu Bakr.'

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3653 Sahih

    In the cave during the Hijrah Abu Bakr feared discovery; the Prophet ﷺ said 'What do you think of two of whom Allah is the third?'

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3667, 3668 Sahih

    At the Prophet's death Abu Bakr said 'Whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad has died...' and recited 3:144; then the Saqifah gathering with Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah and the Ansar.

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3675 Sahih

    Uhud shook while the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr, 'Umar and 'Uthman were on it: 'Be firm — on you are a prophet, a siddiq and two martyrs.'

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3674 Sahih

    Abu Musa at the well: glad tidings of Paradise given to Abu Bakr, 'Umar and 'Uthman (the latter with a calamity).

  • Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3747 Sahih (Darussalam)

    The Ten promised Paradise (al-'Ashara al-Mubashsharah) named in one hadith narrated by 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf.

  • Sunan Abi Dawud 4649 Sahih (Al-Albani)

    Sa'id ibn Zayd testified that the Prophet ﷺ named ten people in Paradise.

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3907 Sahih

    During the Hijrah Asma' tore her waist-belt in two to tie the provisions and was called Dhat al-Nitaqayn.

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3755 Sahih

    'Umar said: 'Abu Bakr is our master and he freed our master', meaning Bilal.

💬 Explanation Unverified

Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza's perspective

Methodological note (not a direct quote): Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza's widely known approach is to build narratives primarily on the Quran and Sahih Hadith, to set aside Israiliyat (Judeo-Christian lore absorbed into later tafsir) and weak or fabricated narrations, and to avoid sectarian framing. Applied to this node: Abu Bakr's merits are taken from the Quran (9:40) and Sahih Bukhari; the dataset presents the Rashidun order (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali) as held by Sunni consensus, while avoiding sectarian disparagement of any companion.

Empires in their lifetime

Further references

  • Quran 9:40
  • Sahih Bukhari ('if I were to take a khalil')
  • Sahih Bukhari (Abu Bakr's address, 3:144)
  • Sahih Bukhari (Quran compilation)
  • Jami' al-Tirmidhi (hadith of the ten promised Paradise, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf)
  • Sunan Abi Dawud (hadith of the ten, Sa'id ibn Zayd)

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