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Bravery and courage are attributes usually associated with Sayyiduna Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). However, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was the most courageous and bravest personality amongst the blessed Companions. He was so brave and courageous that even Hazrat Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) regarded him to be the bravest person.
He sacrificed everything for the sake of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and often demonstrated that his own life meant nothing when it came to the protection of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
When Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) migrated from Makkah Mukarramah and departed at night, Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was with him and would sometimes walk in front of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), sometimes behind him, sometimes on his right and sometimes on his left. Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) asked him, “O Abu Bakr! What is this? Sometimes you walk in front of me, sometimes behind me; you have never walked like this before.” Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) replied, “Ya Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), when I fear that the enemy is waiting to ambush you from the front then I start walking in front of you, and when the thought occurs to me that someone is following us and might attack from behind then I start walking behind you.”
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) then said, “O Abu Bakr! Do you prefer that if something were to happen, the difficulty should come to you and nothing should happen to me?” Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) replied, “Yes! Ya Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Oath on the Glorious Rabb, Who sent you with the Truth! I prefer that if there is any difficulty and hardship then it must come to me and nothing must happen to you!” {Dalaailun Nubuwwah}
Hazrat Sayyiduna Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) once questioned the people as to who the most courageous person amongst them was. The people answered that they thought that he was the most courageous person. He replied in the negative and informed them that the most courageous and bravest person amongst them was Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) as was proven in the Battle of Badr. He said to the people, “We had all set up a shelter for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) so that he could be protected from the dust and sunlight. A discussion then took place as to who would accompany Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) (to protect him). By Allah not one of us stepped forward except for Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). He took a sword in his hand and stood beside Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). After that, the enemy did not dare attempt to come close to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and if anyone desired to do so, Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) would attack them immediately.” {Taareekh-ul-Khulafa}
Hazrat Sayyiduna Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates another incident, which he witnessed himself and says, “One day I saw that the disbelievers of the Quraish had surrounded Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and were tormenting him. One person was getting violent with Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) while another person was manhandling the Beloved Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). They kept tormenting him and saying that he is the one who has left all the gods and has claimed that there is only one God. By Allah! At that moment no one stepped forward to protect Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) besides Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). He beat up one person, pushed another and used force to move all of them back and kept saying to them, “Shame on you, you are tormenting that personality who bears witness that there is only one God, Allah.””
After saying this Sayyiduna Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) lifted his shawl and started to cry uncontrollably. He cried so much that his blessed beard became soaked with his tears. Thereafter he said, “I am asking you for the sake of Allah, tell me, was the Muslim man of the People of Firaun more excellent or was Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh)?” Everyone was quiet and did not respond. He asked them again, “Why are you not answering me?” And then he said to the Companions, “By Allah! One moment of the life of Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) is more excellent than thousands of moments of a personality like the Muslim man of the People of Firaun; that personality used to hide his Imaan whereas Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) used to openly express his Imaan.” {Taareekh-ul-Khulafa}
The person that Sayyiduna Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) referred to in the Hadith above is referred to as the ‘Mu’min of Aale Firaun’ in the Holy Qur’an. He lived in the time of Firaun and was from the Qibti nation. He had brought Imaan on Hazrat Moosa (Alaihis Salaam) but he hid his faith and did not reveal it to his nation. When he heard that Firaun and his companions were planning to kill Hazrat Moosa (Alaihis Salaam), he tried to defend Hazrat Moosa (Alaihis Salaam) and indirectly persuade Firaun against committing such an action, without revealing his faith, as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in the following verse:
وَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ مِّنْ اٰلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَكْتُمُ اِيْمَانَهٗ
اَ تَـقْـتُلُوْنَ رَجُلًا اَنْ يَّقُوْلَ رَبِّىَ اللهُ وَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ بِالْبَيِّنٰتِ مِنْ رَّبِّكُمْط وَاِنْ يَّكُ كَاذِبًا فَعَلَيْهِ
كَذِبُهٗ ج وَاِنْ يَّكُ صَادِقًا يُّصِبْكُمْ بَعْضُ الَّذِىْ يَعِدُكُمْط اِنَّ اللهَ لَا يَهْدِىْ مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ كَذَّابٌ ط
“And said a Muslim man from the people of Firaun, who used to hide his faith, “You want to kill a man just because he says, ‘Allah is my Lord’ whereas he has indeed brought clear signs to you from your Lord? And hypothetically if he is speaking incorrectly, then the calamity of wrongful speech is upon him; and if he is truthful, then part of (the calamity) that he promises you, will reach you; indeed Allah does not guide any transgressor, excessive liar.” {Surah 40:28}
At a time when people used to hide and conceal their beliefs, Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was the only one who used to openly express his beliefs and openly protect Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). {Taareekh-ul-Khulafa}
From these few narrations we can understand the level of courage and bravery of Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and how he spent his entire life willing to sacrifice everything for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Such was the love and dedication of Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh).
Furthermore we understand that Sayyiduna Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) himself held Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) in such high regard and had utmost honour and respect for him. Therefore we must not listen to nor even sit in the company of any vile person who utters even the slightest disrespect towards Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). If a person truly honours and respects Hazrat Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) then that person will follow in his footsteps and also honour and respect Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh).
May Allah Ta’ala increase our love, honour and respect for Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), Allahumma Ameen.
