His Mother’s Acceptance of Islam
Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) mother was among the early converts to Islam. There is mention of this in Sirat al-Halabiyyah that when the Holy Prophet (sa) went to Dar-e-Arqam in order for him and his companions to worship Allah the Almighty in secret, the number of Muslims at the time was 38. At the time, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) made a request to the Holy Prophet (sa) that they go to the Sacred Mosque.
The Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “O Abu Bakr, we are very few in number.” However, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) insisted until the Holy Prophet (sa), along with all his companions, went to the Sacred Mosque. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) addressed the people whilst the Holy Prophet (sa) was also present there and he called them to Allah and His Messenger (sa). So in this way, he was the second orator after the Holy Prophet (sa) to call the people towards Allah. Following this, the idolaters pounced upon Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and the other Muslims in order to attack them, and did so very brutally. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was trampled upon and was viciously beaten. Utbah bin Rabi‘ah was beating Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) with his shoes that had a double layer of leather. He used those to hit Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) in the face so much that his face became so swollen to the extent that his nose could not even be distinguished.
Then, the people of Banu Taym came and pushed the idolaters away from Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). They covered Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) in a cloth, picked him up and carried him home. They were almost certain of the demise of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) due to the extent to which he was beaten. The people of Banu Taym then returned to the Sacred Mosque, i.e. the Ka‘bah, and said, “By Allah, if Abu Bakr passes away, we will certainly kill Utbah (who beat him the most).”
They then returned to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). His father Abu Quhafah and the people of Banu Taym tried to speak to him but due to falling unconscious, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was unable to answer them. This continued till the night when he was finally able to speak, and the first thing he asked was, “How is the Messenger (sa) of Allah?” The people did not reply, yet he continued to ask the same question. His mother then said, “By God, I have no news regarding your Companion.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then said to his mother, “Go to Umm-e-Jamil bint al-Khattab, the sister of Hazrat Umar (ra)”. Umm-e-Jamil had already accepted Islam but was keeping her faith hidden. “Go to her and ask about the Holy Prophet (sa).”
Hence, his mother went to Umm-e-Jamil and said, “Abu Bakr enquires about Muhammad (sa) bin Abdillah.” She answered, “I do not know Muhammad (sa), nor Abu Bakr.” Umm-e-Jamil then said to the mother of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), “Do you wish for me to go with you?” to which she replied in the affirmative.
She therefore accompanied her to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), and when she saw him lying on the floor covered in wounds, she screamed and said, “Whoever has done this to you is indeed wicked and I hope Allah the Almighty punishes them for it.”
Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then enquired about the Holy Prophet (sa). Umm-e- Jamil said, “Your mother is also listening.” He replied, “She will not reveal your secret.” Thereafter, Umm-e-Jamil said, “The Holy Prophet (sa) is well.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then asked, “Where is he now?” Umm-e-Jamil replied, “In Dar-e-Arqam.”
Ponder over how great was Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) love for the Holy Prophet (sa), for when he heard this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, “By Allah, I shall not eat nor drink until I have first gone to the Holy Prophet (sa).” Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) mother narrates that they kept him (i.e. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)) for a short while until there was no longer anyone walking around outside and were resting. Thereafter they took him outside. He was walking with her support until he reached the Holy Prophet (sa) and was overcome with intense emotion.
Upon seeing his condition, the Holy Prophet (sa) knelt down to kiss Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and the Muslims also leaned over. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then said, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for your sake, I feel no pain other than the wounds the people caused on my face, and my mother here treats her son well.” This was what was said in brief. “Perhaps through you, Allah the Almighty protects her from the fire.”
Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said with regard to his mother that perhaps owing to the Holy Prophet (sa)’s grace, Allah the Almighty protected her from the fire, i.e. she became a believer. Following this, the Holy Prophet (sa) prayed for his mother and invited her to Islam, after which she accepted Islam.
(Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 1, Bab Istikhfa‘ihi wa Ashabihi fin Dar al-Arqam [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2002], pp. 418-419)
In this way, the mother of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) accepted Islam in the very early days.