Bai‘at Saqifah (II)

In reference to the pledge of allegiance at Saqifah Banu Sa‘idah, it is further reported that the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa) took place on a Monday. The people began pledging allegiance at the hands of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra). The remainder of that Monday, and on the morning of Tuesday, the collective bai‘at took place in the mosque.

Hazrat Anas (ra) bin Malik reports:

“The day after the (initial) bai‘at took place at Saqifah Bani Sa‘idah, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was seated in the mosque when Hazrat Umar (ra) stood to speak prior to him. He praised and glorified Allah, and then said, ‘O People, yesterday I said something to you’”, i.e. that the Holy Prophet (sa) had not passed away, “‘which is not mentioned in Allah’s book anywhere, nor did the Holy Prophet (sa) disclose this to me. However, I believed that the Holy Prophet (sa) would watch over us.’”

The narrator continues, “Hazrat Umar (ra) said, ‘I thought that we would pass away before the Holy Prophet (sa) and that he would be the last of us. Undoubtedly, Allah the Almighty has left you such a thing [the Holy Quran] through which he guided the Holy Prophet (sa), and if you are resolute in adhering to it, then Allah the Almighty will also guide you as just He guided the Holy Prophet (sa). Allah the Almighty has now entrusted your matters to a man who is the best among you, and who was the companion of the Holy Prophet (sa); it was he about whom it was said:

ثَانِيَ‭ ‬اثۡنَيۡنِ‭ ‬إِذۡ‭ ‬هُمَا‭ ‬فِي‭ ‬الۡغَارِ

“‘“i.e. he was one among the two, when they were in the cave”. Therefore, hearken and pledge allegiance to him.’ And thus, following this, the people pledged allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra).”

Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) delivered an address on the day that the collective bai‘at took place. After praising and glorifying Allah, he stated:

“O People! Surely, I have been appointed as a guardian over you, but I am not the best among you. If I perform good works, then cooperate with me, and if I stray, then set me right. Upholding the truth is a trust, and falsehood is a breach of that trust. In my view, the weak among you are strong until I am able to afford them their rights from others. And the strong among you are weak in my sight until I am able to secure from them the rights of others – God willing. A nation that abandons jihad (struggle) for the sake of Allah is disgraced by Him, and a nation in which wrongdoings become prevalent is stricken with strife by Allah Himself. If I am obedient to Allah and His Messenger (sa), then follow me in obedience. However, if I am disobedient to Allah and His Messenger (sa), then it is not compulsory for you to be obedient to me. Now, stand for prayer. May Allah have mercy on you all.”

(Ibn Kathir, Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, Vol. 6, Sanah 11 AH, Khilafat Abi Bakr (ra) [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2001] pp. 298-299)