WHI-Chap14-Abu Bakr

Main Page (WHI Second Semester)

Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr (R. 632-634) was a close friend to the Prophet Muhammad.(for more information on Muhammad Identify Muhammad, discuss his background, and explain his teachings) He is believed to be the first convert to Islam. He also traveled along with Muhammad when they went to Medina in 622. Abu Bakr also recorded the teachings of Muhammad into the Quran.

"Abu Bakr participated in all of Muhammad's expeditions and supported his decisions, however controversial. He was appointed to lead the pilgrimage in 630 and to lead the prayers during Muhammad's last illness. After Muhammad's death, he was selected as the first caliph, though not without controversy." His election as caliph caused the Sunni-Shia split and was the beginning of a large amount of turmoil. In his two years as caliph, he accomplished many things. He unified Arabia and confronted the grand empires of Byzantium and Persia and he conquered parts of Iraq and Syria. His conversion was said to be "the greatest guarantee of the sincerity of Muhammad". He liberated the slaves who were tortured for converting to Islam. Not only did Abu Bakr help the Islamic State but he also contributed a lot to Islam and protected the Holy Prophet, as well as financing and donating everything he had to the cause of Islam. "When a political crisis threatened the Muslim community in the matter of the successor to the Holy Prophet, Abu Bakr was able to persuade the Ansar to relinquish the caliphate in favor of the Quraish." Overall, Abu Bakr was a highly influential character and contributed a great amount to Islam.

References

Created by Andre Gras