Acceptance of Islam

There are many narrations recorded that mention how Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) accepted Islam. Some instances are very detailed whilst others are brief; however, I will make mention of some of them. Hazrat Aisha (ra) relates, “Ever since I can remember, my mother and father were followers of Islam. There was never a day when the Holy Prophet (sa) did not visit us in the morning and evening.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Kafalah, Bab Jawar Abi Bakr fi Ahd al-Nabisa wa Aqdih, Hadith 2297)

There are various narrations about Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and his acceptance of Islam.

Narration 1

In Sharah Zarqani, the incident of Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) acceptance of Islam is mentioned as follows:

“One day, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was in the home of Hakim bin Hizam. One of his housemaids came and said, ‘Your aunt, Khadija, is saying that her husband claims to be a prophet just like Moses (as).’ On hearing this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) quietly departed, went to meet the Holy Prophet (sa) and accepted Islam.”

(Sharh Zurqani ala al-Mawahib al-Laduniyyah, Vol. 1, pp. 447-448, Dhikr Awwal min Aamana billah wa Rasulih, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1996)

Narration 2

In the commentary of Sirat Ibn Hisham, known as Al-Raud al-Unf, the incident surrounding Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) acceptance of Islam as well as one of his dreams is mentioned as follows:

“Before the advent of the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) saw a dream. He saw that the moon had descended in Mecca and broke into small pieces, spreading to all the places and dwellings of Mecca. A piece [of that moon] entered each and every household, and it seemed as though all the pieces were gathered into his lap. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) mentioned this dream to some scholars among the People of the Book and they interpreted it to mean that the time of the awaited prophet was nigh and that he”, i.e. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), “would accept him and owing to this he would become the most fortunate among all the people. Following this, when the Holy Prophet (sa) invited Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) to accept Islam, he immediately accepted him without any hesitation.”

(Ibn Hisham, Al-Raud al-Unf fi Tafsir al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 1, Islam Abi Bakr (ra) [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2013], p. 431)

Narration 3

In Subul al-Huda, there is also mention of the incident of Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) acceptance of Islam. Kaab relates that Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) accepted Islam as a result of the revelation he received from the heavens. The details are as follows:

“Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was away on a business trip to Syria. While he was there, he saw a dream and told Bahira the Monk about it. Upon hearing about the vision, Bahira asked, ‘Where are you from?’ Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) replied that he was from Mecca. Bahira asked which tribe in Mecca he belonged to. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) replied that he belonged to the Quraish. Bahira then asked what he did to make a living. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) replied that he was a merchant. Upon this, Bahira said, ‘If Allah the Almighty fulfils your dream, then there will be a prophet raised from among your people. You will be subservient to him during his life, and will become his caliph after his demise.’ Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) kept this matter hidden until the advent of the Holy Prophet (sa), and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, ‘O Muhammad (sa), what is the proof of your claim?’” In all other narrations about this, there is no mention that he ever asked for proof. Nonetheless, it is mentioned in this narration. “The Holy Prophet (sa) responded, ‘The dream you saw whilst in Syria is my proof.’ Upon hearing this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) embraced the Holy Prophet (sa) and kissed him between the eyes, saying, ‘I bear witness that you are the Messenger (sa) of Allah.’”

(Mustafa Abd al-Wahid, Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad fi Sirat Khair al-Ibad, Vol. 1, Chapter 9, fi ma Akhbara bihi al-Ahbar… [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1993], p. 124)

In this narration, there was mention of a dream of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), but there were no details recorded about what he saw in that dream. However, according to the account in Sirat al-Halabiyyah it seems to be the same dream in which Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) saw the moon falling and breaking into pieces, which has already been mentioned. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) told Bahira the Monk about this dream.

(Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 1 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2001], p. 391)

In any case, biographers have mentioned various narrations and, insha-Allah, they will be mentioned in the future.

Accounts related to Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) acceptance of Islam were previously being narrated. There are some more narrations in this regard. Certain accounts have been mentioned in different perspectives, but they all seem to be one incident. I will now mention a few more of these details.

Narration 4

Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) acceptance of Islam has been recorded in Usd al-Ghabah as follows:

Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Mas‘ud relates that Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) said:

“Prior to the advent of the Holy Prophet (sa), I once went to Yemen and stayed with an elderly gentleman belonging to the tribe of Azd. He was a scholar and had studied divine scriptures. He was also an expert in genealogy. When he saw me, he said, ‘I believe that you are a resident of the Haram.’ I replied that this was correct and I was indeed from the Haram. Following this, he said, ‘I believe that you belong to the Quraish.’ I replied that this was correct and I was from the Quraish. He then said, ‘I believe you to be from the tribe of Taym.’ I replied that this was correct and I belonged to the tribe of Taym bin Murrah. I stated, ‘My name is Abdullah bin Uthman and I am the offspring of Kaab bin Saad bin Taym bin Murrah.’ He said, ‘I only have one thing left to say to you.’”

Here, he mentioned his name to be Abdullah bin Uthman. However, I believe that the Holy Prophet (sa) had not yet changed his name to Abdullah. Nevertheless, this is what is in the narration.

“The elderly man said, ‘I only have one thing left to say to you.’ I asked what it was. He said, ‘Lift the shirt from your stomach and show me.’ I replied that I would not do so unless he told me why he asked this of me. He said, ‘Based on true and authentic knowledge, a prophet will be appointed in Haram and a young man and an elderly individual will support him in his task. As far as the young man in concerned, he will throw himself into difficulties and dispel worries and concerns. And as far as the elderly individual is concerned, he will be slim and of a fair complexion. He will have a birthmark on his stomach and a mark on his left thigh.’ He further said, ‘It is not necessary for you to show me what I ask of you. For me, all the other signs have been fulfilled in you, apart from that which is hidden from me.’”

Hazrat Abu Bakrsa said, “I removed the shirt from my stomach and he saw a black birthmark above my navel. Upon this, he said, ‘By the Lord of the Ka‘bah! It is you! I will now present a matter before you and you should listen carefully.’”

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, “What is it?” He replied, “Be cautious of not deviating from the guidance; hold firmly on to this exemplary and lofty path. Remain fearful of God in relation to the wealth and prosperity that He will endow you with!”

Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) says, “I completed my work in Yemen and met the elderly gentleman once more in order to bid farewell to him. Upon this, he said, ‘Will you remember some verses of mine, which I have composed in honour of that prophet?’ I replied that I would do so. Hence, he recited a few couplets.”

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) says, “I then went to Mecca and the Holy Prophet (sa) had already made his claim. Following this, Uqba bin Abi Mu‘ayt, Shaybah, Rabi‘ah, Abu Jahl, Abu Bakhtari and various other chiefs of the Quraish came to me. I asked them whether some form of affliction had befallen them, or whether something had happened for all of them to come there together. They said, ‘O Abu Bakr! A grave incident has taken place! Abu Talib’s orphan claims to be a prophet. If it were not for you, we would not delay in this matter, but seeing as you have now come, you are the one we turn to and you are sufficient for us to deal with this matter.’”

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) further says, “I politely avoided the subject, and when I enquired about the Holy Prophet (sa), I was told that he was at the home of Khadija[ra]. I went and knocked on the door. When he came outside, I said, ‘O Muhammad (sa), you have left the home of your family, and you have abandoned the religion of your forefathers.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, ‘O Abu Bakr, I am the Messenger of Allah unto you and to all people, so believe in Allah.’ I asked, ‘What proof do you have of this?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) answered, ‘That elderly man whom you met in Yemen.’ I then said, ‘There were many elderly men in Yemen whom I met.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘The elderly man who recited couplets to you.’ I then said, ‘My dear friend, who informed you of this?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, ‘The same Archangel did, who appeared to the prophets before me.’ I then stated, ‘Extend your hand so that I may bear witness that there is no god besides Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah.’”

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) states, “I then returned and no one between the mountains of Mecca was more pleased upon my acceptance of Islam than the Holy Prophet (sa).”

(Usd al-Ghabah Fi Ma‘rifat al-Sahaba, Vol. 3, pp. 312-313, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008)

This was a narration of Usd al-Ghabah. It may well be that some aspects are exaggerated for the sake of narrating the account; nevertheless, many aspects will be correct as well.

Narration 5

The following account of Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) acceptance of Islam has been mentioned in Riyad al-Nadirah in the following manner:

Umm al-Mominin, Hazrat Umm Salamahra relates, “Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) was a close and sincere friend of the Holy Prophet (sa). When he was commissioned as a prophet, the people of the Quraish went to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) saying, ‘O Abu Bakr, your companion has gone mad’”, God forbid. “Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) asked, ‘What has happened to him?’ They answered, ‘He calls the people towards the unity of God at the Sacred Mosque and says that he is a prophet.’ Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) said, ‘Is this what he claimed?’ The people replied, ‘Yes, and he is saying this in the Sacred Mosque!’ Therefore, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) went to the Holy Prophet (sa), knocked on his door and called him outside. When the Holy Prophet (sa) came outside, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, ‘O Abul-Qasim, what is this I hear of you?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) replied by asking, ‘O Abu Bakr! What is it that you heard about me?’ Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, ‘I have been informed that you call towards the unity of God, and you say that you are the Messenger of Allah.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) stated, ‘Yes, Abu Bakr. My Lord, the Exalted and Majestic has indeed sent me as a bearer of glad tidings and as a warner, He has made me the [fulfilment of] the prayer of Abraham (as), and sent me for the whole of mankind.’ Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said to the Holy Prophet (sa), ‘By Allah, I have never heard you utter a lie. You safeguard trusts, show kindness to your relatives and perform other good deeds, you are most worthy of prophethood. Extend your hand so that I may pledge my allegiance to you.’ So the Holy Prophet (sa) extended his hand and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) pledged his allegiance to him, testified to his truthfulness and declared that what he had been sent with was indeed the truth. Hence, by Allah, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) did not delay nor hesitate in the slightest when the Holy Prophet (sa) invited him to Islam.”

(Al-Riyadh Al-Nadira, Vol. 1, pp. 84-85, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2014)

Narration 6

In one narration, it is mentioned that the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “Whoever I called to Islam either stumbled, hesitated or waited, except for Abu Bakr. The moment I spoke to him about Islam, he neither moved away, nor hesitated.”

( Usd al-Ghabah Fi Ma‘rifat al-Sahaba, Vol. 3, pp. 205-206, Abdullah bin Uthman, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2003)

Narration 7

The Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “O people, Allah has sent me to you but you said that I am a liar. However, Abu Bakr said that I am truthful and he has expressed his support for me with his life and with his wealth.” This was a narration of Sahih al-Bukhari.

(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Kitab Fazail Al-Sahab-ul-Nabi, Hadith no. 3661)