Nov 2007.qxd 28/12/07 11:31 Page 1 MANAGEMENT BOARD Mr Munir-ud-din Shams (Chairman) November 2007, Vol.102, No.11 Mr Mansoor Shah (Secretary) Mr Naseer Ahmad Qamar Mr Mubarak Ahmad Zafar Mr Mirza Fakhar Ahmad CONTENTS Mr. Abdul Baqi Arshad Continuing our series of special issues on Khilafat – We start with the first two Khalifas CHIEF EDITOR AND MANAGER Mansoor Ahmed Shah of Islam. EDITORIAL BOARD (RA) Basit Ahmad HADHRAT ABU BAKR Bockarie Tommy Kallon Account of the life of the first Caliph of Islam, Fareed Ahmad Fazal Ahmad. who was closest in example to the teachings of Fauzia Bajwa (saw) Mansoor Saqi the Qur’an after the Holy Prophet himself. Mahmood Hanif His practical leadership was based on belief in Mansoora Hyder-Hanif Navida Shahid the power of Allah that supported the Muslims. Sarah Waseem Saleem Ahmad Malik Adam Hani Walker – UK .................................... 3 Tanveer Khokhar HADHRAT ‘UMAR(RA) SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Amatul Hadi Ahmad Story of how a young Makkan turned from a Farina Qureshi hostile enemy of Islam to the second Caliph of PROOFREADERS Islam, and a humble servant of his people. How Abdul Ghany Jahangeer Khan his leadership inspired Islam’s greatest expansion Shaukia Mir across the world. DESIGN AND LAYOUT Tanveer Khokhar Mashhood Ahmad and Fazal Ahmad – UK ........ 40 PUBLISHER Al Shirkatul Islamiyyah DISTRIBUTION Muhammad Hanif All correspondence should be forwarded to the editor at: The Review of Religions The London Mosque 16 Gressenhall Road London, SW18 5QL United Kingdom Email: [email protected] © Islamic Publications, 2007 ISSN No: 0034-6721 Cover photo: Views expressed in this publication are not Jerusalem Arch necessarily the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Copyright: Big Stock Photos. Muslim Community Nov 2007.qxd 28/12/07 11:31 Page 2 Verse references to the Holy Qur’an item count ‘Bismillah...’ (In the Name of Allah...) as the first verse of each Chapter. In some non-standard texts, this is not counted. Should the reader refer to such texts, the verse quoted in The Review of Religions will be found a verse earlier, i.e. at one verse less than the number quoted. In this journal, for the ease of non-Muslim readers, ‘(saw)’ or ‘saw’ after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’, or the name ‘Muhammad’, are used. They stand for ‘Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam’ meaning ‘peace and blessings of Allah be upon him’. Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ or ‘as’ after the name of all other prophets is an abbreviation meaning ‘peace be upon him’ derived from ‘Alaihis salatu wassalam’ which are words that a Muslim utters out of respect whenever he or she comes across that name. The abbreviation ‘ra’ or (ra) stands for ‘Radhiallahu Ta’ala anhu and is used for Companions of a Prophet, meaning Allah be pleased with him or her (when followed by the relevant Arabic pronoun). Finally, ‘ru’ or (ru) for Rahemahullahu Ta’ala means the Mercy of Allah the Exalted be upon him. In keeping with current universal practice, local transliterations of names of places are preferred to their anglicised versions, e.g. Makkah instead of Mecca, etc. 2 The Review of Religions – November 2007 KHILAFAT: Special Edition 2 Nov 2007.qxd 28/12/07 11:31 Page 3 Hadhrat Abu Bakr As-Siddiq(ra) – The Great Lover of Allah By Adam Hani Walker – UK In a reported hadith (Tradition: as such with the most compelling saying of) the Holy Prophet(saw) relating to a hadith in which the said1: Holy Prophet(saw) said: ‘Love of Abu Bakr(ra) and ‘Abu Bakr(ra) you are the one gratitude to him are a duty on whom Allah has freed from the everyone of my Ummah’ hellfire’2. Introduction He was also known as As-Siddiq, Abu Bakr(ra) was one of many which comes from the root Arabic titles (kunya) given to ‘truthfulness’ and literally means Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) but his actual that a person is in a constant state name was Abdul Ka’aba but after of truthfulness. It has been related he became a Muslim was named in Al-Bukhari (Book of Hadith – by the Holy Prophet(saw) ‘Abdullah Traditions) that the Holy ibn Abi Qahafa ‘Uthman ibn ‘Amir Prophet(saw) once climbed with ibn ‘Amr ibn Ka’b ibn Sa’d ibn Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra), Hadhrat Taym ibn Murrah ibn Ka’b ibn ‘Umar(ra) and Hadhrat ‘Uthman(ra) Lu’ayy ibn Ghalib al-Quraishi al- to the top of Mount ‘Uhud upon Taymi. His other titles are which he said3: numerous and offer us a deep insight into his character as ‘Be firm, O ‘Uhud, for upon perceived by those around him. you are a Prophet, a Siddiq The first of his titles is ‘Ateeq (Hadhrat Abu Bakr) and two which literally means noble or one martyrs (Hadhrat ‘Umar and who is freed from some Hadhrat ‘Uthman)’. unfortunate outcome or circum- stance. There are countless reasons In relation to this the Promised put forward for him being named Messiah(as) writes in Arabic4: KHILAFAT: Special Edition 2 The Review of Religions – November 2007 3 Nov 2007.qxd 28/12/07 11:31 Page 4 HADHRAT ABU BAKR AS-SIDDIQ(RA) ‘My Lord has made it clear to attributed to Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) me that the Siddiq (Abu but none more esteemed than the Bakr(ra)) and Fariq (‘Umar(ra)) title As-Sahib (the companion) and ‘Uthman were of the which was most magnificently righteous and the faithful and assigned to him by Almighty Allah. were of those who were chosen It is said that when taking shelter in by Allah and were bestowed in the cave of Hira, Hadhrat Abu particular with the bounties of Bakr(ra) began to weep. The Holy the Gracious One. Prophet(saw) asked him why he was weeping. Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) I have been informed that they replied6: were of the righteous and he who hurts them, hurts Allah and ‘I do not weep for my life, O is a transgressor.’ Prophet of God, because if I die it is only the question of a single In further expounding the deep life. But if you die it will be the meaning of As-Siddiq the death of Islam and of the entire Promised Messiah(as) delves into his Muslim Community.’ vast ocean of knowledge and, as was his habit, presents us with a It was here that Almighty Allah glowing pearl of knowledge. He revealed a comforting verse to writes that Prophethood after remove the fears of Hadhrat Abu Hadhrat Muhammad(saw) is only Bakr(ra) in which He gave him the attainable through the complete and title As-Sahib7, absolute losing of oneself in the love of the Holy Prophet(saw). The …when he said to his Promised Messiah(as) writes5: companion, ‘Grieve not, for Allah is with us.’ ‘…all the doors leading to Prophethood have been closed To merit such a unique title, and be except the door of Sirat-e- so closely associated with Hadhrat Siddiqi, i.e., losing oneself in Khatam-An-Nabiyyeen(saw), indi- the Holy Prophet.’ cates that Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) was exemplary in the way he conducted There were several other titles himself. This was exemplified in 4 The Review of Religions – November 2007 KHILAFAT: Special Edition 2 Nov 2007.qxd 28/12/07 11:31 Page 5 HADHRAT ABU BAKR AS-SIDDIQ(RA) his acceptance of Islam when he Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) was blessed did not hesitate for a fraction of a with four wives who bore six second to believe the Holy children between them. His wives Prophet(saw) and offer his bai’at at were Hadhrat Qateelah, Hadhrat the hand of Hadhrat Khatam-An- Umm Ruman, Hadhrat Asma' and Nabiyeen(saw). Regarding his accep- Hadhrat Habibah. His blessed tance the Holy Prophet(saw) children were Hadhrat ‘Abdur- addressed the companions and Rahman(ra), Hadhrat ‘Abdullah(ra), said8: Hadhrat Muhammad(ra), Hadhrat Asma'(ra), Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra) and ‘Verily, when Allah sent me to Hadhrat Umm Kulthoom who was you, you said, “You are lying”, born shortly after he passed away. but Abu Bakr said: ‘He has spoken the truth.” He then His were blessed believers who consoled me by sacrificing his contributed heavily towards the life and his wealth.’ success and development of traditional Islamic thought and rule. Family The family of Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) came from a was one of the very few families prominent family of good standing that was blessed with four gener- and his father was called ‘Uthman ations classed as companions of ibn ‘Aamar ibn ‘Amr(ra) (also the Holy Prophet(saw). known by the title Abu Quhafa) and his mother was called Salma Delving deeply into the lineage of bint Sakhr ibn ‘Amr ibn Ka’ab ibn Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) leads one to Sa’ad ibn Tayim(ra) (also known by realise the rich prophetic tree from the title Umm-ul-Khair). Whilst his which he grew. He was in fact mother accepted Islam in the early related to Hadhrat Muhammad(saw) days before Hijrah, his father did through Hadhrat Tamim (his fourth not accept until the day that Islam generation grandfather), who was liberated Makkah Al-Mukarramah the brother of Hadhrat Kulab (the from the hands of the tyrannical fifth generation grandfather of the pagans. Holy Prophet(saw)) who were the sons of Hadhrat Morah from the KHILAFAT: Special Edition 2 The Review of Religions – November 2007 5 Nov 2007.qxd 28/12/07 11:31 Page 6 HADHRAT ABU BAKR AS-SIDDIQ(RA) ABU BAKR(RA) LINEAGE family tree of Hadhrat ‘Adnan as Ra’u ibn Falakh ibn Aybar ibn shown in the diagram9.