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Hazrat Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was the most courageous and bravest personality amongst the Companions. His love for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was unparalleled and there was no one more sincere and devoted to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) than him.
During the early period of Islam, people would conceal their faith and the Messenger of Allah advised them to do so in order to preserve them from oppression. When the amount of Muslims reached forty, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) requested that Islamic propagation now take place openly. Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was reluctant to permit this as it would create a volatile situation in Makkah but he eventually accepted due to the continual insistence of Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh).
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) accompanied his Companions to Masjid-al-Haraam where Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) delivered a sermon that was the first public sermon on the topic of Islam. The uncle of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Sayyiduna Hamzah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) accepted Islam on the same day that this event took place. As soon as the sermon began, the Mushrikeen (polytheists) broke upon the Muslims, surrounding them from all four corners. In spite of the virtue and greatness of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) being famous in the city of Makkah, the disbelievers beat him and injured him so badly that his face (including his nose and ears) were covered with blood. The severity of the injuries caused him to become unconscious.
When the tribe of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), Banu Tameem, became aware of the tyranny that had occurred, they lifted Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and returned him to his home. They had lost hope that he would survive due to the severity of the injuries. An announcement was made by the tribe in the vicinity of the Holy Ka’bah that in the case of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) dying due to the injuries afflicted upon him, Utba bin Rabia would be killed due to his huge involvement in the assault.
Until the evening, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) remained unconscious. When he eventually gained some consciousness, his first reaction was to ask about the condition of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). The people reprimanded him and said to him that he had found himself in this situation due to being in the company of the Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) but yet he was still inquiring about the Messenger. The immense love of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) did not allow him to feel comfortable as he was not yet aware of Rasoolullah’s (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) condition.
Some people were disheartened and therefore left Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) whilst others were leaving due to their contentment that he would survive. Whilst leaving, they advised Sayyiduna Abu Bakr’s mother, Ummul Khair (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) (as she later became a Muslim) to prepare food and nourishment for Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). She prepared food and placed it before Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) encouraging him to eat, but he was anxious to know the condition of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
Ummul Khair (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) told her son that she was not aware of the condition of the Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) insisted that his mother ask the sister of Sayyiduna Umar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), Sayyidah Umm Jameel (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha), and find out about the condition of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Upon seeing her son so restless, Sayyidah Ummul Khair (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) rushed to Sayyidah Umm Jameel (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) and inquired with regard to the condition of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
Sayyidah Umm Jameel (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) had not revealed her belief in the Islamic faith and therefore she attempted to evade the question and did not give a clear answer. She nevertheless offered to accompany Sayyidah Ummul Khair (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) in order to view the condition of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). When Sayyidah Umm Jameel (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) saw the condition of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) she was shocked and began to cry uncontrollably. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) questioned her with regard to the condition of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Sayyidah Umm Jameel (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) signalled towards his mother in order to make him aware that she was fearful of revealing her faith in front of his mother. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) assured her that there was no need to fear and thereafter Sayyidah Umm Jameel (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) informed him that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was in good health. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) asked her about the whereabouts of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). She informed him that he was residing in the house of Sayyiduna Arqam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) swore by Allah that he would neither eat nor drink until he had seen the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
The mother of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was anxious to see her son eat and drink especially due to his weak condition but Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was not prepared to do so until he had seen Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Sayyidah Ummul Khair (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) waited until the passing of people had subsided, due to the fear of another attack. Later in the night, she took Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) to the house of Sayyiduna Arqam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) to see Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). As soon as Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) saw Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), he embraced the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) clung to Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and he began to cry. Upon seeing the state of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), everyone present in the gathering also began to cry. [Taareekh-ul-Khulafa] This was the immense love that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) possessed for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that he could not feel at ease, even in such a condition, unless he had seen Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq to have sincere love for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and to sacrifice our lives for him the way Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) did, Ameen.
