Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 358
! ! 358 (Holy Qu’r ā n , Ch. 110: V. 2 - 4) Which means , ‘ O people, when you see armies upon armies of people entering Islam , you should glorify Allah and ask him for forgiveness and protection. He indeed returns with mercy. ’ This was an indication to the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa that he would soon join Allah and that the time for triumph had come upon them. This made his companions ra very happy , but Haz rat Abu Bakr Siddiq ra began to cry so much that he was unable to speak. Once Haz rat Abu Bakr ra had recomposed himself , he sat down and addressed the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa , “O Prophet of Allah , we are ready to sacrifice ourselves, our parents, our wives, and our children. ” The rest were surprised and questioned the soundness of this elder’s mind. However, the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa replied that Haz rat Abu Bakr ra understood [this Surah ] too well. The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa said that he loved Ha z rat Abu Bakr ra more than anyone else. If it had been permitted to appoint a Khalil [an intimate friend of the highest degree] with the exception of Allah , he would have chosen Abu Bakr ra. T he Holy Prophet sa went on to say that all windows would be closed , ex cept for Abu Bakr ’s ra window. This statement was intended as a prophecy , that upon becoming the Khalifa , Haz rat Abu Bakr ra would enter the m osque through the window specifically appointed for the sole purpose of leading the prayers. The love that the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa and Haz rat Abu B akr ra possessed for one another demonstrates the lofty spiritual status of Haz rat Abu Bakr ra. People asked Abu Bakr ra why he had been so upset at this glad tiding of divine succor. He replied that the prophets of Allah come to spread the message of Allah and return to Allah upon completion of their assigned task. Thus, up on hearing these Qur’ān ic verses , he said, “May our lives and those of our parents, our wives , and our children be sacrificed for you. ” One can see from this that from among the companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa , Haz rat Abu Bakr ra best interpreted the Holy Qur’ān. When the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa passed away, Haz rat Abu Bakr ra was out of town. U pon hearing of the passing of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa , Haz rat ‘ Umar ra drew his sword from its sheath and declared that he would strike at the head of anyone who said th at