The news of the death of Prophet Muhammad struck the Companions like a thunderbolt in the eleventh year after the Hijrah. Their hearts were overwhelmed with grief, and many of them could hardly believe that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had truly passed away. Umar ibn Al-Khattab was so devastated that he refused to accept the news at first, until Abu Bakr As-Siddiq reminded the people that whoever worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad had died, but whoever worshipped Allah, then Allah is Ever-Living and never dies. 

    When the Ansar learned of the death of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), they gathered at Saqifah of Banu Sa’idah to consult one another regarding leadership. News of this reached the Muhajirun, and some suggested sending for them to come instead. But Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said, ”Rather, we should go to them.” So he went together with Umar ibn Al-Khattab. A lengthy discussion took place, and disagreement nearly arose. Some of the Ansar said, ”Let there be one leader from among us and one from among you.” Then Abu Bakr said, ”We are the rulers, and you are the ministers, for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ”The leaders are from Quraysh.” He also reminded them of the Prophet’s words: ”I advise you to treat the Ansar well: accept the good deeds of their righteous ones and overlook the mistakes of those who err.” Then Umar said, ”I ask you by Allah, do you know that the Messenger of Allah commanded Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer?” They replied, ”By Allah, yes.” Umar then said, ”So which of you would feel at ease removing a man from a position in which the Messenger of Allah err himself placed him?” They answered, ”None of us would feel comfortable with that, and we seek Allah’s forgiveness.” Thereupon, they all hastened to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr. That pledge became a great means of uniting the Muslims, protecting them from a fierce trial, and a dangerous division.

   After Sayyiduna Abu Bakr As-Siddiq assumed the caliphate, many Arab tribes apostatized, and hypocrisy began to emerge openly in Medina. The tribe of Banu Hanifa rallied behind Musaylimah al-Kadhdhab, along with many others in Al-Yamama. Likewise, Tulayha Al-Asadi gathered the support of the tribes of Banu Asad and Tayy’, as well as many others, and he too claimed Prophethood just as Musaylimah had done. The crisis grew severe, and the situation became increasingly dangerous. During these difficult circumstances, Abu Bakr firmly insisted on dispatching the army of Usama ibn Zayd. As a result, the number of soldiers remaining in Medina became small, which encouraged many Bedouin tribes to consider attacking the city. Abu Bakr therefore placed guards at the entrances of Medina, with troops stationed around it throughout the night.

   At the same time, several Arab tribes refused to pay Zakah. Delegations came to Medina declaring that they would continue performing prayer but refused to give Zakah, while others refused specifically to hand it over to Abu Bakr.

The Wars of Apostasy (The Ridda Wars)

It is narrated in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah that he said:

”When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed away and Abu Bakr As-Siddiq became his successor, some of the Arabs renounced Islam. Then Umar ibn Al-Khattab said to Abu Bakr: ”How can you fight the people when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ”I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no god but Allah. Whoever says: ”There is no god but Allah,’ then his wealth and life are protected from me except by its due right, and his reckoning is with Allah”?”
Abu Bakr replied: ”By Allah, I will surely fight whoever separates between prayer and Zakah, for Zakah is the due right upon wealth. By Allah, if they were to withhold even a rope which they used to give to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I would fight them for withholding it.”
Umar ibn Al-Khattab then said: ”By Allah, it was only when I saw that Allah had opened Abu Bakr’s heart toward fighting that I realized it was the truth.” 

    Sayyiduna Abu Bakr As-Siddiq organized eleven armies (banners) to fight the apostates across the Arabian Peninsula in 11 AH during the Ridda Wars. Their commanders included prominent Companions such as Khalid ibn Al-Walid, Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl, and Amr ibn Al-As. The scholars said:
”Allah preserved the religion through two men: Abu Bakr As-Siddiq during the Ridda Wars, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal during the trial of the Jahmiyyah.” 

The First Compilation of the Holy Qur’an

   During the Ridda Wars, around seventy of the Qur’an’s memorizers were killed in the Battle of Yamama. This caused great concern that parts of the Qur’an might be lost, especially since it had been written in scattered pieces during the lifetime of the Prophet (ﷺ), and the death of the reciters could lead to the loss of some of it. From here began the idea of compiling the Qur’an during the caliphate of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq.

Imam Al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih in the Book of Virtues of the Qur’an, chapter ”The Compilation of the Qur’an,” on the authority of Zayd ibn Thabit, who said:

”Abu Bakr As-Siddiq sent for me after the people of Yamama were killed, and I found Umar ibn Al-Khattab with him. Abu Bakr said: ”Umar came to me and said: The killing of Qur’an reciters has become severe on the day of Yamama, and I fear that if the reciters continue to be killed in other places, much of the Qur’an may be lost. I see that you should order the Qur’an to be compiled.” I said to Umar: ”How can we do something that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not do?’ Umar said: ”By Allah, this is good.” He kept insisting until Allah opened my heart to it, and I agreed with Umar’s view.”

Zayd said: Abu Bakr said to me: ”You are a young, intelligent man whom we do not suspect, and you used to write revelation for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), so search for the Qur’an and compile it.” He said: ”By Allah, if they had ordered me to move a mountain, it would not have been heavier for me than what they ordered me to do regarding the compilation of the Qur’an.”

I said: ”How can you do something that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not do?” He said: ”By Allah, it is good.” Abu Bakr continued to urge me until Allah opened my heart to what He had opened the hearts of Abu Bakr and Umar to.

So I began collecting the Qur’an from palm stalks, flat stones, and from the memories of men, until I found the last verses of Surah At-Tawbah with Abu Khuzaymah Al-Ansari, and I did not find them with anyone else: ”Indeed there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves…” (At-Tawbah 9:128) until the end of the surah. These pages remained with Abu Bakr until his death, then with Umar ibn Al-Khattab during his lifetime, and then with Hafsa bint Umar, may Allah be pleased with them all.

Death of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq

   Abu Bakr As-Siddiq fell seriously ill in Jumada Al-Akhirah in the year 13 AH. He remained ill for about fifteen days until he passed away on Monday, the 22nd of Jumada Al-Akhirah, at the age of 63. He was buried beside the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in Medinah, and the people of Medinah grieved deeply over his passing, feeling profound sorrow at the loss of their caliph and companion.
May Allah be pleased with Abu Bakr ِAs-Siddiq, reward him on behalf of Islam and the Muslims with the best of rewards, and gather us with him in the abode of honor, along with the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. And what excellent companions they are.