Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) – The First Ever Khalifa!

What is a Khalifa?

A Khalifa is a successor who continues the mission of a Prophet by leading the community in every aspect of life. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was the first chosen Khalifa after the Holy Prophet (sa) passed away. He kept stability and unity within the Muslim community. Let’s take a deep dive into the Khilafat of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and role in Islam.

The Demise of the Holy Prophet (saw)

In 632 CE, after the Holy Prophet (saw) demise, there was an extreme sadness in the Muslim community. Many Muslims were unsure on what to do next, because their leader had now passed, and they did not know who to turn to. It was important to appoint a leader to unite the Muslims and continue to spread the message of Islam to the corners of the world. Hazrat Abu Bakr (sa) was now elected as the first Khalifa of Islam, he was chosen because of his closeness to the Holy Prophet (sa), his wisdom and his strong faith throughout his life.

Problems Faced

However, it was not as simple as it seemed. He faced great problems throughout his Khilafat. Firstly, some of the followers of Islam decided to abandon their religion, due to their tribal chiefs not feeling it necessary to follow the successors of the Holy Prophet (sa). Not only did they leave Islam – but also planned an attack on the new institution of Hazrat Abu Bakr (sa).

Secondly, not all Muslims agreed to pay Zakaat, which was something Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) had vowed to collect from all Muslims, to fulfil the needs of the poor.

But the biggest issue of all was that many ambitious people started to pretend to be prophets and started a rebellion against the Islamic state. Large armies were raised and some of the Muslim lands were captured. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) with no hesitation and full belief in Allah the Almighty, fought against those persons and was victorious, despite having very few essentials.

His Legacy

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) served as Khalifa for approximately 2 years and 3 months. Although his time as the leader of the Muslim community was brief, it was filled with some of the most important challenges and achievements. One of his many key achievements during his time was the unity of the Muslim ummah, he worked day and night to bring rebellious tribes back to Islam after they did not agree to pay Zakaat or follow some of the Muslim teachings. Another achievement of his was the battling against false prophets. He protected Islam by defeating false claims to prophet hood. Another key achievement of his was that he ordered for the Holy Quran to be compiled into one book, in order to preserve its beautiful teachings.

Some of the key lessons from the life of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) are that he had full trust in Allah the Almighty regardless of the circumstances. He also made great sacrifices for the cause of Islam, especially when it came to donations and serving the poor. He was ready to sacrifices everything he had. Another key lesson to learn from Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)’s life was that even though he became the leader of Islam he remained humble and served others selflessly.

Ultimately, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) played a crucial role in the unity and strengthening of the Muslim community after the Holy Prophet (sa) passed away. He is a true role model for every Muslim!