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Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t

Maulana Shafee Okarvi Jumua’h Lecture

Friday 21^st Jumaad al-Awwal 1396 / 21^st May 1976

Allah Y says in the Holy Qur'aan, in the 9^th Sura, at-Tauba سُورة التَّوْبَة, Verse 40:

Respected audience, the Holy Prophet e came as a model, example and mercy for all mankind. Every aspect of his blessed life ushers in some guidance for human beings of different categories in different situations. For example, those Muslim who are oppressed by the unbelievers and cannot take Allah Y ’s name or worship Him freely and openly, find solace in that aspect of the Holy Prophet’s e life that he migrated from oppression and settled in a place where he could freely mention Allah Y ’s name and worship Him.

The Holy Prophet e was tired of the oppression of the unbelievers and he migrated (Hijra[1]). Allah Y ordered him to migrate so as to make migration a Sunnah[2] for the Community (Ummah). When the Holy Prophet e left his abode, Hazrath Ali t was with him. Hazrath Ali t slept on the bed of the Holy Prophet e when the Holy Prophet left his home to commence his migration. The unbelievers were keeping a watch on the home of the Holy Prophet e and were waiting with swords drawn, to ensure that he does not escape alive. The Holy Prophet e, left his home whilst reciting Sura Ya Sin سُورة يٰس   and Allah Y  did not permit the unbelievers to see him. Allah Y said to the Holy Prophet e, ‘O My Beloved! Do not hide and leave your home. Recite the Holy Qur'aan and leave. For every aspect of your life, every saying and action of yours will be recorded to serve as a model for all future generations.’ So the Holy Prophet e left home reciting Sura Ya Sin سُورة يٰس. He went to the home of Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t, whom he found awake with a lamp lit in his home. The Holy Prophet e asked. ‘O Abu Bakr! You are awake and waiting as if you knew I was coming?’ Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah e! Some time back, within your discourse, you had stated that we will have to migrate from here, and you gestured towards me saying I would be your companion on this journey. I have not slept at night from that time. I thought what if, you, my Master, were to come at night with the enemy on your heels and I would be asleep. The period in which you would wake me could prove fatal, and you could be harmed. So my Master, I have not slept at night from that day on waiting for you.” The Holy Prophet e said, ‘Allah Y has granted us permission to migrate. So let us leave.’

You have heard this incident being related previously. The Holy Prophet e left with Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddiquet. About 6 miles from Makkah, the Ennobled, is a mountain named Jable Thawr, containing a cave called Gaare Thawr. It is said that, ‘Witnessing has greater merit than merely being informed’. I have climbed this mountain and seen the cave that is located at a height of 3 miles. It is a difficult and hazardous climb, especially in the dark of night. Presently the kings of Turkey have made the climb less difficult by cutting the rock into a step. At that time it was very difficult to climb history records the belief, love and service of Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t, who said, ‘Master, climb onto my shoulders and I will carry you up.’ He carried the Holy Prophet e. Gauge what esteem the Holy Prophet e must have held Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t at that time. What love the Holy Prophet e must have entertained for Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t during that climb. What a state Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t must have been in? His state must have been that, ‘May this climb last forever and may we not reach the cave so that the Holy Prophet’s blessed body may always be this close to me.’ When they reached the cave Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t did not even mention that he was tired and desired rest but on the contrary he said, ‘Master, rest on my lap and I will look at your blessed face.’ The Holy Prophet e is asleep on his lap and Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t is looking at the blessed face of the Holy Prophet e. A lover has depicted this scene in poetry:

You may know that there was a snake in that cave that had been informed that the beloved Prophet of Allah e would come into this cave hence it had made that cave its home with the desire of seeing the Beloved of Allah e. When the Holy Prophet e and Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t reached the cave, Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t noticed that there were many holes in it. He tore up his clothing and sealed the holes and ran out of cloth to seal one. He put his toe into that hole with the intention that any creature may bite him, and even if he dies no discomfort must reach the Holy Prophet e. 

The effect of the poison brought tears into the eyes of Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t and the Holy Prophet e asked him as to what was bothering him. He said, ‘O Master! A snake is continuously putting its poisonous fangs into my toe in this hole.’ The Holy Prophet e    asked him to remove his toe from the hole, to which he replied, ‘O Master! If I do so, it will trouble you’. The Holy Prophet e replied, ‘don’t be concerned, the snake loves me, it only wishes to see me.’ Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t removed his foot and the Holy Prophet Muhammad e  applied his blessed saliva on the snakebite. This brought immediate relief to Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t. The danger passed and the poisonous effect was dispelled with the order of Allah Y . The snake came out of the hole and fulfilled its desire of seeing the Holy Prophet e. The Holy Prophet e asked the snake, ‘Why did you bite my friend?’ It replied, ‘Master! Such a long period has passed in this cave with the desire that when you arrive I will see you. He had closed all avenues for me to come out. As much as I did not wish to harm Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t I was forced to do so for I also love you and desired to see you.’ The snake then left. Why did the snake bite Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t? The wisdom behind it was that he also might gain the rank of a martyr. In his last days he died of the effects of this same poisonous bite. Remember, he also is counted amongst the martyrs.

He carried the Holy Prophet e on his shoulders to the cave, sacrificed his life, bore the effects of the poisonous snakebites and let his beloved sleep on his lap. Did the Holy Prophet e    recompense him for this service? Yes he did. Listen! The Holy Prophet e said, ‘Abu Bakr Siddique, You made place for me in the cave, I will make place for you in my Burial Chamber (mazaar). In the cave I slept on your lap but in my Burial Chamber you will sleep in my proximity.’ Unto this day Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t rests in the blessed Burial Chamber.

Remember how Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t who is buried in the Holy Prophet e’s Burial Chamber under the Green Dome, came to be there. Read the books of Islam; the commentary of the Holy Qur'aan, Tafsir-e Kabir[3] of Fakhr al-Din al-Razi e[4] and "al-Kasa'is al-Kubra"[5] of Imam Jalaluddin al-Suyuti t[6]. Refer to both of these books.

. عن علي بن أبي طالب قال لما حضرت أبابکر الوفاة أقعدني عند رأسه و قال لي يا علي إذا أنا مت فغسلني بالکف الذي غسلت به رسول اﷲ و حنطوني و اذهبوا بي إلي البيت الذي فيه رسول اﷲ فاستأذنوا فإن رأيتم الباب قد يفتح فادخلوا بي وإلا فردوني إلي مقابر المسلمين حتي يحکم اﷲ بين عباده قال فغسل و کفن و کنت أول من يأذن إلي الباب فقلت يا رسول اﷲ هذا أبوبکر مستأذن فرأيت الباب قد تفتح و سمعت قائلا يقول ادخلوا الحبيب إلي حبيبه فإن الحبيب إلي الحبيب مشتاق.

’’حضرت علی المرتضی رضی اللہ عنہ سے روایت ہے کہ جب حضرت ابوبکر صدیق رضی اللہ عنہ کی وفات کا وقت قریب آیا تو آپ نے مجھے اپنے سرہانے بٹھایا اور فرمایا اے علی! جب میں فوت ہو جاؤں تو مجھے اس ہاتھ سے غسل دینا جس سے تم نے رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم کو غسل دیا تھا اور مجھے خوشبو لگانا اور مجھے حضور صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم کے روضۂ اقدس کے پاس لیجانا، اگر تم دیکھو کہ دروازہ کھول دیا گیا ہے تو مجھے وہاں دفن کر دینا ورنہ واپس لاکر عامۃ المسلمین کے قبرستان میں دفن کر دینا تاوقتیکہ اللہ تعالیٰ اپنے بندوں کے درمیان فیصلہ فرما دے۔ حضرت علی رضی اللہ عنہ فرماتے ہیں کہ آپ رضی اللہ عنہ کو غسل اور کفن دیا گیا اور میں نے سب سے پہلے روضہ رسول صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم کے دروازے پر پہنچ کر اجازت طلب کی میں نے عرض کیا یا رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم ! ابوبکر آپ سے داخلہ کی اجازت مانگ رہے ہیں پھر میں نے دیکھا کہ روضہ اقدس کا دروازہ کھول دیا گیا اور آواز آئی : حبیب کو اس کے حبیب کے ہاں داخل کر دو بے شک حبیب ملاقاتِ حبیب کے لئے مشتاق ہے۔‘‘

1. حلبي، السيرة الحلبيه، 3 : 493
2. ابن عساکر، تاريخ دمشق الکبير، 30 : 436
3. سيوطي، الخصائ رضي الله عنه الکبريٰ، 2 : 492

 Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t had requested that when he leaves this world, for the realm of Divine Beauty, he should be shrouded, the Funeral Prayer prayed and then taken to the Sacred Burial Chamber of the Holy Prophet e. He said salutations should be offered to the Holy Prophet and then it should be proclaimed, ‘O Messenger of Allah e ! Your companion of the cave, Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique is present’. He said if the door to the Holy Prophet’s Burial Chamber automatically opens then he should be buried inside or he should be buried at Jannat al-Baqi, the Sacred Cemetery. When his blessed funeral bier was taken to the Holy Prophet e’s Burial Chamber and the Companions had presented their greeting, they said, ‘O Messenger of Allah e! Hazrath Abu Bakr t is at your door’. Read the books of Hadith, where it is reported that the door of the Holy Prophet’s Burial Chamber opened on its own and a voice was heard from the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet Muhammad e  saying,

Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t was buried within the Sacred Burial Chamber.

Ponder, leaving your doubts and sectarian bias aside upon Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t’s request to be taken to the Holy Prophet e’s Burial Chamber, to greet, to proclaim that Abu Bakr is present and to say if the door opens on its own then I must be buried inside. Should not the Companions have stated as to who will open the door for the Holy Prophet e    is buried and dead. The fact that Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t requested this and the Companions carried out his request are proof that the Companions believed the Holy Prophet t to be alive (Hayaatun Nabie) and functioning. His tasarruf[7]is prevalent unto this day. The door opened and the voice spoke from the grave.

When Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t was placed in his grave, Hazrath Ali t was at his head side and he witnessed something that made him cry. The Companions enquired as to why he cried and he said. “I saw the Holy Prophet e    arise from his grave, look at Abu Bakr t and supplicate, ‘O Allah Y ! For the sake of the white beard of Abu Bakr t forgive all the white bearded members of my community.’ So I cried witnessing the love of the Holy Prophet e    for his community and seeing the status of Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t. ” Look at the status of Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t, for the Holy Prophet e prays to Allah Y  using him as a means. It is that very Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t who is a lover of the Holy Prophet e. Ask the scholars (ulama), Imam Mullah Ali Qaari[8] t, the respected Hanafi Imam, has cited the following Hadith in his book, Mauzuaathe Kaabeer; Imam Allama Ismail Haqqi Bursevi (1653-1724 or 5) has cited it in his Arabic Tafsi>r , ‘Ruh al-Bayan[9]’  .  It is stated that the Holy Prophet e and Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t entered the mosque and sat down. Hazrath Bilaal t pronounced the Call to Prayer (azaan) and when he reached the words اشهد ان محمدا رسول الله "Ashadu ana Muhammad ar-Rasulullah", Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique t kissed his both thumbnails and rubbed it over his eyes saying, “you are the coolness of my eyes O! Messenger of Allah e " (Qurratu aini bika Ya Rasulullah). The Holy Prophet saw him doing this he said, ‘O Abu Bakr t whoever does what you have done Allah Y will forgive all their sin and I will intercede for them.’