The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 173
VI - Commencement of Prophethood 173 Meaning, “Whenever a compassionate reminiscence of any of your noble bretheren rise in your heart, remember your brother Abū Bakr ra as well, on account of his virtues – worthy of remembrance. After the Holy Prophet sa , he was the most righteous and most just of all men and the greatest of those who fulfill their responsibilities. Indeed, it was Abū Bakr ra who was the second individual with the Holy Prophet sa in the Cave of Thaur, who had effaced himself in the obedience of the Prophet sa. Whatever task he would undertake, he would make it beautiful, and he was the first of all people to believe in the Messenger. ” 1 Due to his nobility and abilities, Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra was greatly honoured and respected by the Quraish, and in Islām he acquired a status which no other companion has attained. Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra did not, even for a moment, doubt the claim of the Holy Prophet sa , rather, accepted him instantaneously. Then he devoted his entire interest and his entire life and wealth in service of the religion brought by the Holy Prophet sa. Among his companions, the Holy Prophet sa held Abū Bakr ra most dear to himself. After the demise of the Holy Prophet sa he became his first Caliph. During the time of his Caliphate, he furnished evidence of his unparalleled ability. With regards to Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra a renowned European Orientalist named Sprenger writes: “The faith of Abú Bakr is, in my opinion, the greatest guarantee of the sincerity of Mohammad in the beginning of his career. . . ” 2 Sir William Muir is also at complete concurrence with his view. 3 1 Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī, By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Al-Jarīr Ṭabarī, Volume 2, p. 226, Bābu Dhikril- Khabri ‘ammā kāna min Amrin-Nabī sa ‘inda Ibtidā’illāhi Ta‘ālā, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) 2 The Life of Mohammad, Aloys Sprenger, p. 171 (1851 Edition) (Publishers) 3 Life of ‘Mahomet’, By Sir William Muir, p. 58 (footnote 1), Reprint of the 1894 Ed. , Published by Voice of India New Delhi ٍ َخِیْ ثِقَة � ْ ً مِن � تَذَكَّرْتَ شَجْو � َ ِذ � َعَدَّلَھَا � َتْقَاھَا وَ � ِ لْبَرِیَّة � َ خَیْر ٗ لْمَحْمُوْد َ مَشْھَدَہ � َّ لتَّالِی � َ َلثَّانِی � َبَا بَكْر ٍ بِمَا فَعَلَا � َ َخَاك � ْ فَاذْكُر َوْفَاھَا بِمَا حَمَلَا � َ لنَّبِی ِّ و � َ بَعْد لرُّسُلَا � َ لنَّاسِ مِنْھُمْ صَدَّق � َ َوَّل � َ و