The Order of the First People to Accept Islam
There is a difference of opinion among historians regarding the first male to accept the Holy Prophet (sa); as to whether it was Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Ali (ra), or Hazrat Zaid bin Haritha (ra).
(Subul Al-Huda Wa Al-Rishad, Vol. 2, pp. 300-304, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, 1993) (Tarikh Al-Tabari, Vol. 1, pp. 537-540, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut)
Some present the solution that Hazrat Ali (ra) was the first child, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was the first adult and Hazrat Zaid (ra) was the first slave. Allama Ahmad bin Abdullah reconciles these various points views as follows:
“The very first to accept Islam was Hazrat Khadija (ra) bint Khuwailid. The first to accept Islam from among the men was Hazrat Ali (ra), who was only a child”, as has been mentioned previously that he was only 10 years old, “and had kept his belief in Islam hidden. The first adult from among the Arabs to accept Islam and to express his belief was Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) bin Abi Quhafa. The first from among the freed slaves to accept Islam was Zaid (ra) bin Haritha. All agree on this unanimously and there is no doubt about this.”
(Al-Riyadh Al-Nadira Fi Manaqib Al-Ashara, Vol. 1, p. 89, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2014)
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib’s (ra) Narration
The following is what Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) has said regarding this debate:
“When the Holy Prophet (sa) began the propagation of his mission, the first to believe was Hazrat Khadija (ra), who did not hesitate, even for a moment. There is a disagreement among historians in reference to who the first convert among the men was after Hazrat Khadija (ra). Some name Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) Abdullah bin Abi Quhafah, while others say Hazrat Ali (ra) […] or Hazrat Zaid (ra) bin Harithah”.
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) says:
“However, to us, this argument is useless. Hazrat Ali (ra) and Zaid (ra) bin Harithah were among the house-folk of the Holy Prophet (sa) and lived with him as his own children. They were to follow whatever was said by the Holy Prophet (sa)”, as they were children – whatever the Holy Prophet (sa) said, they accepted it. It is possible that they accepted this in the same way as well. “Thus, their names need not be included. Among the rest, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) is unanimously accepted as the first and foremost in his acceptance of Islam. Therefore, with regard to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hassan (ra) bin Thabit Ansari, the court poet of the Holy Prophet (sa), says:
اِذَا تَذَكَّرْتَ شَجْوًا مِنْ اَخِيْ ثِقَةٍ فَاذْكُرْ اَخَاكَ اَبَابَكْرٍ بِمَا فَعَلَا خَيْرَ الْبَرِيَّةِ اَتْقَاهَا وَ اَعْدَلَهَا بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ وَ اَوْفَاهَا بِمَا حَمَلَا اَلثَّانِيَ التَّالِيَ الْمَحْمُوْدَ مَشْهَدُهٗ وَاَوَّلَ النَّاسِ مِنْهُمْ صَدَّقَ الرُّسُلَا
“Meaning, ‘Whenever a compassionate reminiscence of any of your noble brethren rises in your heart, remember your brother Abu Bakr (ra) as well, on account of his virtues – worthy of remembrance. After the Holy Prophet (sa), he was the most righteous and most just of all men and the greatest of those who fulfil their responsibilities. Indeed, it was Abu Bakr (ra) who was the second individual with the Holy Prophet (sa) in the Cave of Thaur, who had effaced himself in the obedience of the Prophet (sa). Whatever task he would undertake, he would make it beautiful, and he was the first of all people to believe in the Messenger.’
“Due to his nobility and abilities, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was greatly honoured and respected by the Quraish, and in Islam he acquired a status which no other companion has attained. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) did not, even for a moment, doubt the claim of the Holy Prophet (sa); rather, he accepted him instantaneously. Then he devoted his entire interest and his entire life and wealth in the service of the religion brought by the Holy Prophet (sa). Among his companions, the Holy Prophet (sa) held Abu Bakr (ra) most dear to himself. After the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa) he became his first Caliph. During the time of his Caliphate, he furnished evidence of his unparalleled ability.
“Regarding Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), a renowned European orientalist named Sprenger writes, ‘The faith of Abu Bakr is, in my opinion, the greatest guarantee of the sincerity of Mohammad in the beginning of his career. Even though Mohammad himself may have been misled, he would not deceive anyone. In fact, he believed himself to be the prophet of God with full sincerity of heart’.”
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) further writes that Sir William Muir was also in agreement with the opinion held by Sprenger.
(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 121-122)