Trials & Difficulties Faced for the Propagation of Islam

With regard to the trials and difficulties Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) had to endure for the sake of propagating the message of Islam, it is written in Usd al-Ghabah that upon the advent of Islam, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was the very first to accept the message of Islam. An entire community of people accepted Islam through him owing to the love and affinity they had with him (i.e. for Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)); so much so that five of the Ashra Mubashra [10 companions given the glad-tidings of Paradise in their lifetime] embraced Islam through Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra).

(Usd al-Ghabah Fi Ma‘rifat al-Sahaba, Vol. 3, p. 205, Abdullah bin Uthman, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2003)

Those who entered the fold of Islam owing to the preaching efforts of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) were Hazrat Uthman (ra) bin Affan, Hazrat Zubairra bin Al-Awam, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf, Hazrat Saad (ra) bin Abi Waqas and Hazrat Talha (ra) bin Ubaidullah.

(Sirat Ibn Hisham, Vol. 1, p. 166, Dar-ul-Kitab Al-Arabi, Beriut, 2008)

In relation to this, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) writes in his book Sirat Khatam-ul-Nabiyyin:

“After Hazrat Khadija (ra), Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Ali (ra) and Zaid (ra) bin Harithah, five more individuals accepted Islam, by the preaching of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). All of these individuals acquired such eminence and dignity, that they are considered the greatest of companions. These are their names:

“First was Hazrat Uthman (ra) bin Affan who belonged to the dynasty of the Banu Umaiyyah. When he accepted Islam, his age was approximately 30 years. After Hazrat Umar (ra), he became the Third Caliph of the Holy Prophet (sa). Hazrat Uthman (ra) was remarkably modest, loyal, soft-hearted, beneficent and affluent. He served Islam financially in many instances. The love of the Holy Prophet (sa) for Hazrat Uthman (ra) can be measured by the fact that he gave him two of his daughters in marriage, one after another, due to which he is known as Dhu al-Nurain.

“Second was Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf who belonged to the dynasty of the Banu Zuhrah – the dynasty of the Holy Prophet (sa) mother. He was a man of extraordinary understanding and experience. It was he who settled the issue of the Caliphate of Hazrat Uthman (ra). When he accepted Islam, he was approximately 30 years of age. He died in the reign of Uthman (ra).

“Third was Saad (ra) bin Abi Waqas who, at that time, was in the prime of his youth – that is to say, 19 years of age. He was also from the Banu Zuhrah and was astonishingly brave and courageous. In the reign of Hazrat Umar (ra), Iraq was conquered at his hands. He died in the time of Amir Mu‘awiyah.

“Fourth was Zubairra bin al-Awam, who was a cousin of the Holy Prophet (sa). He was the son of Safiyyah bint Abdil-Muttalib and later became the son-in-law of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). He belonged to the Banu Asad and when he accepted Islam, he was only 15 years old. On the occasion of the Battle of the Ditch, the Holy Prophet (sa) endowed him the title of Hawari [Disciple] due to an exceptional service performed by him. He was martyred in the reign of Hazrat Ali (ra) after the Battle of the Camel.

“Fifth was Talha bin Ubaidullah who was from the tribe of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), the Banu Taym. During that time, he was at the prime of his youth. Talha was also amongst the distinctive devotees of Islam. He was martyred in the reign of Hazrat Ali (ra) during the Battle of the Camel.

“All of these five companions are amongst the Ashrah Mubasharah; in other words, they are included amongst those 10 companions who were especially given glad tidings of entrance into Paradise from the blessed tongue of the Holy Prophet (sa) himself, and who were regarded as his utmost intimate companions and advisors.”

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 122-123)

The disbelievers of Mecca perpetrated all kinds of cruelty and injustice against those who accepted Islam. It was not just the weak and enslaved Muslims who were a target of their oppression, but even the Holy Prophet (sa) himself and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) were not safe from them either. History bears testimony to the fact that they were also made a target of all kinds of injustices and cruelties, i.e. the Holy Prophet (sa) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra).

Narration 1

There is an incident mentioned in Sirat al-Halabiyyah that when Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Talha (ra) openly expressed their acceptance of Islam, Naufal bin Adawiyyah took hold of both of them. This person was referred to as the “Lion of the Quraish” and he tied both of them with one rope. Even the people of their own tribe, Banu Taym did not come and save them. That is why both Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Talha (ra) are also known as “qarinain”, i.e. two friends joined together. Owing to Naufal bin Adawiyyah’s strength and cruelty, the Holy Prophet (sa) stated:

اَللّٰهُمَّ‭ ‬اكْفِنَا‭ ‬شَرَّ‭ ‬ابْنِ‭ ‬الْعَدَوِيَّةِ‬‬‬‬

“O Allah! Be sufficient for us against the evil of Ibn Adawiyyah.”

(Al-Sirat al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 395, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002)

Narration 2

Urwah bin Zubair narrates that he once asked Hazrat Abudullah bin Amr bin al-Aas to tell him the mot heinous act committed by the idolaters against the Holy Prophet (sa). He replied that once, the Holy Prophet (sa) was offering his prayer in the Hateem of Masjid Al-Haram when Uqbah bin Abi Muait came and put a cloth around the Holy Prophet (sa) neck and then began to strangle him. During this time, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) came and took hold of Uqbah’s shoulder and pulled him off the Holy Prophet (sa) and stated:

أَتَقْتُلُوْنَ‭ ‬رَجُلًا‭ ‬أَنْ‭ ‬يَّقُوْلَ‭ ‬رَبِّيَ‭ ‬اللّٰهُ‬‬‬‬‬

“Do you seek to kill a person because he says that Allah is his Lord?”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib Al-Ansar, Hadith no. 3856)

Narration 3

In another narration, it states that the idolaters once asked the Holy Prophet (sa) whether he had said such and such thing about their idols. The Holy Prophet (sa) replied in the affirmative, upon which the idolaters surrounded the Holy Prophet (sa). Meanwhile, someone informed Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) to enquire about his companion. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) left and went to Masjid al-Haram. There he saw the Holy Prophet (sa) in a state whereby people had surrounded him. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then stated:

أَتَقْتُلُوْنَ‭ ‬رَجُلًا‭ ‬أَنْ‭ ‬يَّقُوْلَ‭ ‬رَبِّيَ‭ ‬اللّٰهُ‬‬‬‬‬

“Do you seek to kill a person because he says that Allah is his Lord even though he has brought manifest signs from your Lord?”

Following this, they let the Holy Prophet (sa) go and instead pounced upon Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and began to attack him. Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) daughter, Hazrat Asma (ra) states that Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) returned in such a state that when he would touch his hair, they would fall into his hands and he would continue to repeat:

تَبَارَكْتَ‭ ‬يَا‭ ‬ذَا‭ ‬الْجَلَالِ‭ ‬وَ‭ ‬الْاِكْرَامِ‬‬‬‬‬

“O Possessor of Majesty and Honour! Holy art Thou.”

Narration 4

In another narration, it is mentioned that these people grabbed hold of the Holy Prophet (sa) blessed head and beard with such force that most of his blessed hair came out. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) stood up to save him and he was saying:

أَتَقْتُلُوْنَ‭ ‬رَجُلًا‭ ‬أَنْ‭ ‬يَّقُوْلَ‭ ‬رَبِّيَ‭ ‬اللّٰهُ‬‬‬‬‬

“Do you seek to kill a person because he says that Allah is his Lord – Do you seek to kill a person because he says that Allah is his Lord?”

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was crying whilst saying this. Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “O Abu Bakr! Leave them. I swear by Him in Whose hands is my life, I have been sent to them so I may be sacrificed [in this way].”

Following this, the disbelievers let the Holy Prophet (sa) go.

(Al-Sirat al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 417, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002)

Narration 5

On one occasion, Hazrat Ali (ra) asked the people, “O people! Who is the bravest among everyone?” People replied, “O Leader of the Faithful! You are the bravest.” Hazrat Ali (ra) replied, “As for me, whoever came up against me in combat, I did full justice.” In other words, he killed them. “However, the bravest was Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). When we erected a tent for the Holy Prophet (sa) on the day of the Battle of Badr and thereafter we announced, ‘Who is it that shall stay with the Holy Prophet (sa), so that no one from among the idolaters will be able to get to him?’ I swear by God, no one went close to the Holy Prophet (sa) except Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), who went and stood next to the Holy Prophet (sa) with his sword drawn out. In other words, none of the idolaters would have been able to get to the Holy Prophet (sa) unless they did not first come up against Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). Thus, he was the bravest of all.”

Hazrat Ali (ra) states:

“On one occasion, I saw the Quraish had caught hold of the Holy Prophet (sa); one person was taking out all his anger on him, while another person was troubling him. They were saying, ‘You say that there is only One God and forsake all others.’ By Allah, whoever would approach the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) would strike them and they would flee or he would reproach them and move them away. He would say, ‘May you be ruined!’

أَتَقْتُلُوْنَ‭ ‬رَجُلًا‭ ‬أَنْ‭ ‬يَّقُوْلَ‭ ‬رَبِّيَ‭ ‬اللّٰهُ‬‬‬‬‬

“‘Will you slay the man because he says, “My Lord is Allah?”’”

Hazrat Ali (ra) then pulled his cloak and cried so profusely that his beard became drenched. Hazrat Ali (ra) then said, “I ask you in the name of God, was the believing man from among the people of Pharaoh better or Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)?”

Perhaps Hazrat Ali (ra) referred to the believing man from among the people of Pharaoh because this verse of the Quran refers to that person from among the people of Pharaoh who had concealed his faith. In the court of Pharaoh, he said:

أَتَقْتُلُوْنَ رَجُلًا أَنْ يَّقُوْلَ رَبِّيَ اللّٰهُ

Upon this, everyone fell silent. Hazrat Ali (ra) then said, “By Allah! Even one hour of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was better than the virtuous deeds of the believer from among Pharaoh’s people, even if his deeds filled the entire earth. This is because that individual concealed his faith, but he (i.e. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)) openly announced his faith.”

(Abu Bakr Siddiq Shakhasiyyatahu Asarahu, Dr Muhammad Ali Al-Sallabi, p. 38, Dar-e-Ibn Kathir, Beirut, 2003)

The Promised Messiah’s (as) Narration

The Promised Messiah (as) states:

“Once, the enemies found the Holy Prophet (sa) alone and tied a belt around his neck and began tightening it. He was on the brink of death when coincidentally Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) came there and with great difficulty he managed to release him. Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was beaten so severely that he fell to the ground and lost consciousness.”

(Chasma-e-Ma‘rifat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, pp. 257-258)

Hazrat Musleh Mau’d’s (ra) Narration

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) states:

“When we ponder over the incidents in the life of the Holy Prophet (sa), this claim that the Holy Prophet (sa) had an extraordinary amount of love and sympathy for mankind becomes a manifest reality, and at each step we can see proofs of this. For years on end the Holy Prophet (sa) endured such horrific persecution for the sake of the One God that is difficult to describe. One day, whilst the Holy Prophet was in the Ka‘bah, the disbelievers tied a belt around the neck of the Holy Prophet (sa) and fastened it so tightly that his eyes became red and began to bulge. When Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) heard this, he came running and upon seeing the treatment of the Holy Prophet (sa), tears began to flow from Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) eyes. Pushing the disbelievers away, he said, ‘Fear Allah! Will you persecute someone just because he says that Allah is his Lord?’”

(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 7, pp. 63-64)