Articles

The function of friendship is necessary for human life — we are persistently dependent on each other as a social species. Beyond establishing kinship, our bond of fellowship in Islam adds value to our spiritual survival, in our strive for Allah ﷻ.

Introduction

A true friend exhibits strength through iman and love for the Deen, drawing us away from the vanities of this world and bringing us closer to the Hereafter. When life charges at us with its challenges and sorrows, we may hinge upon such a counterpart to keep us grounded in our faith.

We see this type of friendship exemplified through the noble Companions of the Prophet ﷺ. They were the gems of iman that magically affected the hearts of many. Through the stories of their great sacrifices and devotion in Allah’s path, we aspire to live in the mold of their lives.

The Chosen Ones

Befitting of His honor, Allah ﷻ selected the prophets as His elite slaves to deliver His message, and He elevated their status as the most noble of mankind. Then, He hand-picked for them companions, among His most pure-hearted of slaves. Every single one reached a status in the sight of Allah ﷻ based on the level of their dedication, sincerity and consistency in fulfilling their covenant with Him.

The Prophet ﷺ was honored above all the prophets and his companions were honored above the companions of the other prophets. Among the greatest reasons the companions were held in high esteem is that to which Allah ﷻ bore witness to their pious hearts.

Ibn Mas’ud said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ نَظَرَ فِي قُلُوبِ الْعِبَادِ فَوَجَدَ قَلْبَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَيْرَ قُلُوبِ الْعِبَادِ فَاصْطَفَاهُ لِنَفْسِهِ فَابْتَعَثَهُ بِرِسَالَتِهِ ثُمَّ نَظَرَ فِي قُلُوبِ الْعِبَادِ بَعْدَ قَلْبِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَوَجَدَ قُلُوبَ أَصْحَابِهِ خَيْرَ قُلُوبِ الْعِبَادِ فَجَعَلَهُمْ وُزَرَاءَ نَبِيِّهِ يُقَاتِلُونَ عَلَى دِينِهِ فَمَا رَأَى الْمُسْلِمُونَ حَسَنًا فَهُوَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ حَسَنٌ وَمَا رَأَوْا سَيِّئًا فَهُوَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ سَيِّئٌ

“Allah looked into the hearts of His slaves, and He saw that the heart of Muhammad was the best of people’s hearts, so He chose him for Himself and sent him with His Message. Then He looked into the hearts of His slaves after the heart of Muhammad, and He found that the hearts of his Companions were the best of people’s hearts. So, He made them the supporters of His Prophet, who fought for His Religion. Therefore, whatever the Muslims (the Companions) view as good, is good before Allah, and whatever they view as evil, is evil before Allah.” (Musnad Ahmad)

The Prophet ﷺ himself commended the merits of his Companions and acknowledged their high standing over all humanity. One companion in particular, was superior amongst the rest, and sanctified above and beyond all the followers of the Prophet’s ummah — his name is Abdullah ibn Uthman, also known as Abu Bakr as-Siddiq.

One True Friend

A beautiful concept that elegantly encapsulates true friendship is embodied in the bond that Abu Bakr and the Prophet ﷺ shared. Abu Bakr had a unique and profound connection with the Prophet ﷺ, and he was our beloved’s one true confidant — their characteristics were even described as alike. Their unadulterated bond began before Islam, and never fazed until his passing, continuing into the everlasting.

Abu Bakr not only had a significant impact in the Prophet’s life as his closest friend, but he was an important figure that contributed everything he had in helping spread the divine message and laying the foundation for the ummah. The exclusivity of Abu Bakr’s companionship was such that the Prophet ﷺ held him in high regard by announcing:

‏ "‏ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ، أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَلَكِنْ أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي ‏"‏‏.‏

“If I were to take a Khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr, but he is my brother and my companion (in Islam).”

A khalil denotes more than just a close friendship, but a heartfelt closeness with an unbreakable connection formed with someone. Though Abu Bakr carried such a dignified status, the Prophet ﷺ stated that the Most Merciful had already taken him as His khalil — and therefore, that position is no longer vacant.

Prior to embracing Islam, Abu Bakr expressed his concern to the Prophet ﷺ. He said, “O Abul-Qasim, why is it that you are no longer present in the gatherings of our people anymore? Why do people accuse you of speaking ill about their forefathers?” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “I am the Messenger of Allah and I invite you to Allah.” These two short phrases were enough for Abu Bakr to recognize the truth. The same day Abu Bakr became the first man to heed the message, he brought six others into the fold of Islam, and a few others the following day.

The sweetness of faith entered Abu Bakr’s heart without hesitancy, and when the Prophet ﷺ recounted this moment to the Companions, he would praise Abu Bakr’s immediate acceptance to the call. He said, “I have not invited anyone towards Islam except that he experienced some type of hesitation, wavering or uncertainty, except for Abu Bakr. He neither hesitated when I invited him to Islam, nor did he waver in his decision to accept Islam.”

Their beautiful friendship evolved even deeper after Islam. When everyone laid low concealing their faith in the early stages, Abu Bakr openly declared his shahada in the compounds of Masjid al-Haram. In fury, the Quraysh attacked him until his face could not be distinguished, and left him unconscious. Some of his tribesmen presumed he had died, so they picked up his lifeless body. In an effort to revive him, his mother treated his wounds. But as soon as he regained consciousness, he asked of the Prophet’s whereabouts and would not relax until he saw his beloved with his very own eyes. In his battered state, Abu Bakr was carried to his beloved, and at once, he was instantaneously calmed at the sight of him.

Abu Bakr laid his life on the line and put the Prophet ﷺ first before himself in everything that he did. Among the many virtues of Abu Bakr was his bravery. Ali RA once asked his comrades, “Tell me who is the bravest of men?” They responded, “You.” He said, “Abu Bakr”, referring to all the times Abu Bakr came to the Prophet’s defense at the Battle of Badr. Then Ali said, “By Allah, an hour of Abu Bakr is better than a thousand hours of the likes of a believer of the people of Fir’awn. He was a man who concealed his iman, and this was a man who was open about his iman.”

As times grew tougher for the Muslims, Abu Bakr prepared for the migration to Madinah — but the Prophet ﷺ told him to wait, so he postponed his departure. When the Prophet ﷺ was finally commanded to leave Makkah, tears of joy streamed down Abu Bakr’s face as he found out that he was chosen to accompany his beloved on a journey he had well-prepared for. Aishah RA related, “By Allah, I have never seen anyone weeping out of joy until I saw my father on that day weeping out of joy.”

Abu Bakr grew anxious every step of the way along their journey. He greatly feared for the Prophet’s safety that he walked for some distance in front of him and at other times, behind him. When the Prophet ﷺ noticed his peculiar behavior, he inquisitively asked, “O Abu Bakr, do you prefer yourself over me to face any incident that may occur?” Abu Bakr admitted, “By the One who has sent you with the Truth, it is a fact.”

Days after, they arrived at the cave of Thawr where they took cover — and the significance of the events that occurred that very day was a virtue that unquestionably set him apart from all the other companions. When Umar RA became the Caliph, he himself acknowledged the greatness of his precursor, “By Allah, one night of Abu Bakr is better than all the life of Umar’s family; and one day of Abu Bakr is better than all the life of Umar’s family. The day which is better than the life of Umar’s family is the day when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to the cave with Abu Bakr.”

Abu Bakr was not only a trusted friend but a devoted servant of Allah ﷻ. He never wavered in his support for the Prophet ﷺ and his faith was unshakable. He was a forerunner in all aspects of the Deen, significantly sacrificing his life as equally as his wealth — giving up everything for Allah’s sake. The Prophet ﷺ once remarked that only Allah ﷻ would be able to repay him, while declaring:

‏ مَا نَفَعَنِي مَالٌ قَطُّ مَا نَفَعَنِي مَالُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ‏

“No one's wealth has benefited me as Abu Bakr's wealth has benefited me.”

That day, the tender-hearted Abu Bakr wept and said, “I and my wealth are only for you, O Messenger of Allah.” As time went on, Abu Bakr’s reason to weep became more severe. This time, it was out of immense grief for the one he deeply loved. The dimmest day of Abu Bakr’s life began after the Prophet’s passing — unveiling him, he glanced one last time at the shining face of his beloved, and kissed him between the eyes. Then, in the emotionally filled moment for the ummah, he rose to the occasion and uplifted their spirits with his powerful reminder:

مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ حَىٌّ لَمْ يَمُتْ وَمَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ مُحَمَّدًا فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا قَدْ مَاتَ

“Whoever used to worship Allah, Allah is alive and will never die. Whoever used to worship Muhammad, Muhammad is dead.”

Despite Abu Bakr holding the fort for the ummah and assuming his pivotal role as a praiseworthy leader of the Muslims after the demise of his beloved, deep down, his frail heart was truly mourning the loss of his one true companion. He never ceased to remember the Prophet ﷺ, that one day during his umrah, upon hearing the pilgrims greeting him, “Welcome, O Caliph of Rasulullah”, Abu Bakr burst into tears, and sadness overcame his soul.

Abu Bakr could no longer bear the agony and solitude in his heart —  he yearned to be with his beloved once again. Nearing the end of his life, the longing that he felt for the Prophet ﷺ was unmatched. For who would even begin to understand the pain of losing a dear friend, a beloved one and a Messenger of Allah ﷺ, more than the closest one to him? It is said that this state of crying out of sorrow over the departure of his beloved made Abu Bakr’s condition worsen overtime. Abdullah ibn Umar claimed it to be the true cause behind his death. 

Blessings to Abu Bakr, the one true friend, the first and foremost of the Companions who was greatly loved by our beloved Prophet ﷺ, and the best of mankind after him. May Allah be pleased with him and all the other Companions.

The Trusted Friend 

A poem written in honor of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq:

Abu Bakr was called Atiq, better known as Siddiq,

Because of his excessive manumission, and absolute faith and submission, 

Soft, kind and gentle was the Siddiq yet never capricious, equivocal or weak. 

He accepted Islam in the earliest days, sacrificing everything from the earliest phase,

He brought with him many a man into the fold of Islam and taught them to be humble but bold, 

When he announced his faith he was beaten unconscious in front of the Ka’aba by people of no conscience,

He only voiced one desire when he awoke, “I need to see Muhammad” is what he spoke.

He was a scholar of Arab bloodlines and roots, well-versed in the origins of tribes, their branches and shoots, 

He would introduce his Prophet ﷺ at the time of Hajj, who gave them da’wah and let them be the judge

About the Oneness of the absolute that they should now be resolute, in abandoning falsehood and acts of shame and customs that only incur them blame. 

Abu Bakr was a pillar of society well-known for his wisdom and sobriety, 

When he started migrating to Abyssinia, he was confronted by a chief named Ibn Ad-Daghna 

Who said, you cannot go or be made to go and I'll be sure to let everyone know your generosity, nobility, your services and capability, 

From today, you are under my protection, as an act of due respect and affection, 

But when they warned him not to pray because he may lead their women and children astray,

He went back to that chief to reject the offer he had made to protect, and chose the way of the free knowing whose slave he must be. 

When the Prophet ﷺ came back from the ascension, Abu Bakr was neither in confusion nor apprehension, 

He simply listened and affirmed, and his status of Siddiq was confirmed,

Overjoyed to accompany the Prophet ﷺ in migration, he had prepared for that day with no delay or hesitation, 

He stood by his beloved like a rock, spoke very little but walked the walk, 

He joined in every good deed and expedition, steadfast in every trial and condition. 

When the Prophet ﷺ had the doors of houses closed because they led into the Masjid and imposed, 

He exempted Abu Bakr from that instruction, and told him there was no need for reconstruction, 

He appointed him the Imam in his presence because he had captured the true prophetic essence. 

When the beloved left this realm, Abu Bakr was asked to take the helm, 

When the ummah's hearts were shattered, he said what truly mattered, 

He carried out the Prophet's instructions for Usama, and dealt with Musaylama at Yamama, 

He swiftly quelled the insurrection and gave the Muslims a clear direction, 

Never hindered by people of jealousy, he upheld the Prophet's legacy. 

Soft, kind and gentle was the Siddiq, yet never capricious, equivocal or weak, 

When death began to spread its cloak, “I need to see Muhammad” is what he spoke.

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