The Election as Khalifa and the Trials that Followed

With regards to the Khilafat of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), it is mentioned that when the noble companions learnt of the Holy Prophet’s (sa) demise, they gathered in the Saqifah [courtyard] of the Banu Sa‘idah. In this gathering, they were discussing the issue of Khilafat. The Ansar gathered in favour of Sa‘d bin Ubadah (ra), the leader of the Khazraj.

(Muhammad al-Salabi, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) aur Karname [Pakistan: Maktabat al-Furqan], p. 174)

At the time, Hazrat Sa‘d bin Ubadah (ra) was unwell. After mentioning his considerable sacrifices and services for Islam, the Ansar declared him to be worthy of Khilafat. Nonetheless, after declaring him to be worthy of Khilafat, the Ansar had not yet pledged allegiance to him when a person from among the Ansar posed the question that what would happen if the Muhajirin did not accept their Khilafat. Upon this, a person suggested that there ought to be one Khalifa from among the Ansar and one Khalifa from among the Muhajirin. However, Hazrat Sa‘d bin Ubadah (ra) brushed this aside declaring it to be a weakness on part of the Aus tribe.

The Ansar were still debating the issue of Khilafat in the courtyard of the Banu Sa‘idah when Hazrat Umar bin al-Khattab (ra), Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah (ra) and other prominent companions were gathered in Masjid Nabawi, coming to terms with the tragic loss of the Holy Prophet (sa). Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Ali (ra) and other members of the Holy Prophet’s (sa) family were occupied with making the funeral preparations. No one had even thought about the matter of Khilafat and were unaware that the Ansar had gathered together to deliberate on the matter and wished to elect a leader from among them.

(Siddiq Akbar, Muhammad Husain Haikal, translated by Anjum Sultan Shahbaz, pp. 85, 86, Shirkat Printing Press Lahore)

In al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, it is written that Hazrat Umar (ra) came to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (ra) and said, “Extend your hand so that I can pledge allegiance. For you have been declared the ‘Custodian of the Faith’ by the Holy Prophet (sa) himself.” Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) said to Hazrat Umar (ra): “Ever since you have accepted Islam, I have never seen an oversight on your part like this. Will you pledge allegiance to me, whilst we have ‘Siddiq’ and ‘One of the two’ (i.e. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)) present among us?”

(Ibn Sa‘d, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Dhikr Bai’at Abi Bakr (ra) [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1990], p. 135)

During this conversation, they learnt about the gathering of the Ansar. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) sent a message to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) informing him that there was an important matter to resolve. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) refused to come outside since he was preoccupied with ensuring the funeral arrangements. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) sent another message inside saying, “There is an urgent matter for which your presence is vital.” Upon this Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) came outside and asked Hazrat Umar (ra) what could be more important than the burial arrangements of the Holy Prophet (sa) for which he was calling him. Hazrat Umar (ra) said, “Do you know the Ansar have gathered in the courtyard of the Banu Sa‘idah, and have decided to elect Hazrat Sa‘d bin Ubadah (ra) as the Khalifa. A person from among them said that there ought to be one leader from among them and one leader from among the Quraish.” Upon hearing this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra) and Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) reached the courtyard of the Banu Sa‘idah, where they were in the midst of the debate. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra) and Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) went and sat among them.

(Muhammad Husain Haikal, Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (ra) [Lahore, Pakistan: Shirkat Printing Press, 2007], pp. 86-87), (Al-Hajj Hakeem Ghulam Nabi, Sayyiduna Siddiq Akbar (ra) [Lahore, Pakistan: Adabiyyat], p. 72-73)

In one narration, Hazrat Umar (ra) stated:

“We went to the Ansar. When we reached near to them, we met with two righteous people, Uwaim bin Sa‘idah and Ma‘an bin Adi. They both informed us of the intentions of the Ansar. They then asked, ‘Where are you headed to?’ to which we said, ‘We are going to see our Ansar brothers.’ They said, ‘You do not need to go to them, you can solve the matter amongst yourselves.’ We said to them, ‘By God, we will certainly go to them.’”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Hudud, Bab Rajam al-Hubla min al-Zina…, Hadith 6830), (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Maghazi, Hadith 4021)

Nonetheless, they went to them. Hazrat Umar (ra) further says:

“We reached the Ansar. In my mind, I thought of a speech that I would deliver before the Ansar. Thus, when we reached there and I was about to say what I had thought, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said to me, ‘Wait until I have spoken. After that, say whatever you wish to say.’ Then Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) began speaking and said everything that I had wanted to say, in fact, he said even more.”

(Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 2 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1987], p. 242)

With regards to what Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said in his speech, it is recorded briefly in the following narration; Abdullah bin Abdir Rahman states:

“After praising Allah and glorifying Him, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said: ‘Verily Allah sent Muhammad (sa) as a messenger and a guardian towards His creation so that they can worship Allah and affirm His Oneness. Prior to this, they would worship various gods, and would say that these gods would intercede on their behalf and bestow benefit on them, even though they were carved from wood and stone.’ Then Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) recited the following verse:

وَيَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللّٰهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمۡ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمۡ وَيَقُولُونَ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شُفَعَـٰٓؤُنَا عِندَ اللّٰهِ ۚ

“‘And they worship, instead of Allah, that which neither harms them nor profits them; and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’

مَا نَعۡبُدُهُمۡ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَآ إِلَى اللّٰهِ زُلۡفَىٰٓ

“‘We serve them only that they may bring us near to Allah in station.’”

“He then stated, ‘Arabs would dislike it if someone abandoned the faith of their forefathers. Thus, from among the Holy Prophet’s (sa) tribe, Allah the Almighty primarily bestowed the opportunity upon the Muhajirin to attest to the truthfulness of Holy Prophet (sa) and accept his message and support him in time of need. They remained steadfast with the Holy Prophet (sa) throughout the terrible persecution and rejection by his own people.’

“Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) further said:

“‘Despite the fact that everyone opposed them and persecuted them. Yet, in spite of them being fewer in numbers, they never feared the oppression and the united front of their own people. They [i.e. the Muhajirin] were the first people on the face of the Earth to worship Allah [in Islam] and profess belief in Allah and His Messenger (sa). They are the friends and relatives of the Holy Prophet (sa) and after him, they are the worthiest of being granted this station. Except for a transgressor, no one would quarrel with them in this matter. O people of the Ansar! Your eminence and your acceptance of Islam first [collectively] cannot be denied. Your assistance of Allah’s faith and His Messenger (sa) is the reason why Allah was pleased with you. Furthermore, it was ordained for the migration of Allah’s Messenger (sa) to take place towards you. The majority of his wives and companions live here. After the initial Muhajirin, there is no equal to you in rank and status. The leader is from among us and you are the viziers. You will be consulted in every important matter and we will not make any important decision without consulting you first.’”

(Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 2 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1987], p. 242)

The speech delivered by Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) in the courtyard of Banu Sa‘idah has been mentioned in Sirat al-Halabiyyah as follows:

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) stated:

“As far as the matter of Khilafat is concerned, the Arabs will not accept anyone other than from among the Quraish. The Quraish, in terms of their lineage and tribe and in their land, which is Mecca, have always occupied a lofty and high status. Through our lineage we are connected with all the Arabs because there is not a single tribe which does not have a close relation in some way or another with the Quraish. We, the Muhajirin, were the first to accept Islam and belong to the same clan and family of the Holy Prophet (sa) and have close ties with him. We are from the family of the Prophet (sa) and thus have a greater right to Khilafat.”

(Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, Bab ma yudhkaru fi Muddat Maradih… [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2002], pp. 504-505)

Whilst mentioning these same incidents, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal writes in his Musnad about the role played by Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). After mentioning about Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) arriving on the occasion of the Holy Prophet’s (sa) demise and delivering a speech to the Muslims and announcing the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), it narrates as follows:

“After delivering his speech and announcing the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Umar (ra) quickly left for the courtyard of the Banu Sa‘idah. Upon reaching there, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) initiated the conversation and recited whatever had been revealed in the Holy Quran regarding the Ansar and did not leave anything out. He also mentioned all the excellences the Holy Prophet (sa) had said about the Ansar.

“Thereafter, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) stated, ‘You all recall that the Messenger (sa) of Allah stated that if all the people walked through a valley and the Ansar walked through another valley, he would walk through the valley of the Ansar.’ Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then turned towards Hazrat Sa‘dra and stated, ‘O Sa‘d! Do you recall the time when you were also sat there and the Holy Prophet (sa) stated that the Quraish have a greater right to Khilafat and that the pious people will be led by the pious people of the Quraish and the rebellious ones will be under the rule of the rebellious people of the Quraish?’ Upon this, Hazrat Sa‘dra replied, ‘Yes, you indeed have spoken the truth. We are the viziers and you are the leaders.’”

(Ahmad bin Hanbal, Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 1, Musnad Abi Bakr (ra), Hadith 18 [Cairo, Egypt: Dar al-Hadith, 1994], p. 185, 189)