ABU BAKR’S PIONEERING WORKS
Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, was the first to embrace Islam; the first to collect the Glorious Qur’an; the first to name it Mushaf (a copy of the Qur’an); the first to be referred to with the title Khaleefah (caliph); and the first to become a caliph in the lifetime of his father.
Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrates that when Abu Bakr was elected caliph, he said, “My people know that my profession does not fall short of providing substance for my family. And as I will be busy serving the Muslim nation, my family will eat from the Bayt Al-Maal (Public Treasury), and I will practice the profession of serving the Muslims. “(Reported by Al-Bukhari)
Abu Bakr: the First to Collect the Qur’an
Abu Bakr’s collection of the Qur’an is regarded by many scholars as his most significant feat. Ali Ibn Abi Taalib, may Allah be pleased with him, is quoted to have said: “May Allah rest the soul of Abu Bakr in peace! He is worthy of being superbly rewarded on account of his collection of the Qur’an. He was the first to compile the Qur’an in a single volume. “(Reported by Abu Ya’ la)
It was in the battle of Yamamah (11 /633) that a number of Muslims who had committed the Qur’an to memory were killed. Hence it was feared that unless a written copy of the Qur’an was prepared, a large part of the revelation might be lost. Therefore, Abu Bakr decided to compile the Qur’an in a single volume.
The following is the account in Saheeh Al-Bukhari: On the authority of Zayd Ibn Thaabit, may Allah be pleased with him, who says: “Abu Bakr sent for me after the (heavy) casualities among the warriors (of the battle) of Yamamah (where a great number of Qurraa’ (those who committed the Qur’an to memory) were killed. ‘ Umar was present with Abu Bakr who said, “‘Umar has come to me and said, ’The Muslims suffered heavy casualties on the day of (the battle of) Yamamah, and I fear that there will be among the Qurraa’ at other battlefields, whereby a large pari of the Qur’an may be lost, unless you collect it. And I am personally of the view that you should compile the Qur’an into one volume.’ Abu Bakr said, “1 said to ‘ Umar, ‘How can I do something which Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, did not do?’ ‘Umar said (to me), “By Allah, it is (really) a good thing.”So Umar kept on pressing, trying to persuade me to accept his personal, till Allah made it enter my heart, and I held the same opinion as ‘ Umar.”
Zayd Ibn Thaabit added: ‘Umar was sitting with him (Abu Bakr) and was not speaking to me. Abu Bakr said, “You are a wise young man and we do not suspect you (of telling lies or of forgetfulness). You used to write down the Divine Revelation (Wa/iy) for Allah’s Messenger. Therefore, look for the Qur’an and collect it (in one manuscript).” Zayd said: “By Allah, if he (Abu Bakr) had ordered me to shift one of the mountains (from its place), it would not have been harder for me than what he had commanded me concerning the collection of the Qur’an. I said to both of them, ‘How dare you do a thing which the Prophet did not do?’ Abu Bakr said, “By Allah, it is really a good thing. So I kept on arguing with him about it till Allah made this proposal enter my heart, as it entered the hearts of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. So 1 started locating Qur’anic material and collecting it from parchments, scapula, leaves of date palms and from the memories of men (who memorized it by heart). I found with Khuzaymah lbn Thaabit two verses of Surah “At-Tawbah” , which I had not found with anybody else, (and they were):
“Now hath come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that you should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful. But if they turn away, say: “Allah sufficeth me: there is no god but He: on Him is my trust – He the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme!” (At-Tawbah: 128-129)
The manuscript on which the Qur’an was collected, remained with Abu Bakr until his death and then with s Umar till he passed away; and finally it remained with Hafsah, ‘ Umar’s daughter. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
(Source: Biographies of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.)
Comments
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.