Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq — Page 104
104 HADRAT ABU BAKR 104 be dealt with first. But Hadrat Ab u Bakr Sidd i q ra , who was now the Khal i fatur-Ras u l, did not like this suggestion. This was because the Holy Prophet sa had given the command for this army to depart before he passed away. Even though the situation had changed Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra refused to change an order given by Holy Prophet sa. His love for the Holy Prophet sa made him declare with great courage and passion, “I swear by Allah, if there are no men left in Mad i nah and starving beasts come to drag my body away, even then I cannot stop this expedition and I will order it to go. ” 33 Therefore, in spite of this difficult time, he ordered Hadrat Us a mah bin Zaid ra , the commander of the force, to depart with the army. It so happened that while Hadrat Us a mah ra was on his horse, Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra was walking next to the horse giving him last minute instructions. At this, Hadrat Us a mah ra said, “O Khalifah of the Prophet! Come mount the horse or I will also come down. ” Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra responded, “There is no harm if my feet get dusty for Allah’s sake. ” 34 Hadrat Us a mah’s ra force set out for Syria and returned to Mad i nah forty days later, having successfully completed everything they had intended to do. Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra along with the other companions ra , welcomed the force upon its return to Mad i nah.