Hazrat Abu Bakr belonged to the noble Quraish tribe. He was two years and three months younger than the Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam)”. He was a very close friend of the Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam) since childhood. Even before accepting Islam, he led a pious life. He was a rich merchant.
When the Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam) invited people to accept Islam, Hazrat Abu Bakr was the first, free male adult to become a Muslim. After conversion, Hazrat Abu Bakr served Islam in all possible ways. Many young men of the Quraish accepted Islam through his efforts. Many slaves who were treated cruelly by their masters for accepting Islam were purchased and set free by him.
The Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam) gave him the title of Siddiq because he was the first person to confirm the Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam)’s statement about Mairaj. He was with the Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam) at the time of migration from Makkah to Madinah. He paid the price of the land bought for the construction of Masjid-e-Nabawi.
In Madinah, he took part in the battles of Badr, Uhad, Khandaq and Hunain. He was present when the treaty of Hudaibiya was signed. He donated everything that he had at the time of the Tabuk expedition. During his illness, the Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam) appointed him to lead the congregational prayers.
After the death of the Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam), he was elected as the first Khalifa of Islam by the Muslim community. He died in Madinah in 13 A.H. at the age of sixty-three. He was buried by the side of the Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam).
