Caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA)

Q. Write about the election of Hazrat Abu Bakr as caliph and how he dealt with
the false prophets during his reign. [Marks 10]

Answer: After the death of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Madina had two political
groups which vied for the caliphate: the Ansar and the Muhajirin. The Ansar
decided to choose a caliph from among themselves and held a meeting of the
tribes of Aus and Khazraj. They insisted that because of their service to Islam,
they had a right to the office of caliphate. However, Hazrat Abu Bakr
dissuaded them from appointing a caliph from among themselves as no Arab
would obey a non-Quraishite caliph so soon after Muhammad (PBUH)’s death.
The Ansar abdicated their right to the office and thus did a great service to
Islam by preventing civil war in Madina. In his inauguration speech in the
Masjid-e-Nabwi, Hazrat Abu Bakr declared his intention to follow the path of
Muhammad (PBUH) and to help the weak against strong
Oppressors. The reasons why Abu Bakr was chosen as caliph because
● His piety and loyal devotion to Muhammad (PBUH).
● His closeness to Muhammad (PBUH), i.e. his friendship, his daughter
being married to Muhammad (PBUH).
● His being a Quraishi, as opposed to the Madinite Ansar, whom Bedouin
Arabs would not accept as leaders.
● Hazrat Abu Bakr’s election as Caliph of the State established the
democratic procedure for the election of a caliph.

In the last days of the Prophet’s life some misguided people arose to claim
prophethood. When Abu Bakr was elected as the Caliph they started their
preaching openly. Among these false prophets were Tulaiha, Aswad Ansi,
Musailamah and Sajjah. Tulaiha belonged to the Banu Asad tribe in
northern Arabia. An army under Khalid bin Walid was sent which met them
at Buzaka. After a fierce battle Tulaiha’s army surrendered and he himself
fled to Syria. He embraced Islam during the time of the second Caliph.
Aswad Ansi belonged to the Ansi tribe in Yemen. He was an ugly man who
kept his face veiled all the time. He was nicknamed ‘’the veiled prophet’’.
Being leader of his tribe he revolted with the cooperation of the
neighbouring chiefs. He was the first false prophet who collected a large
army in open revolt against Islam. He was defeated and killed by the
Muslims.

The most dangerous of the false prophets was Musalima. He

belonged to a tribe of central Arabia. His tribe accepted him as a
prophet. Abu Bakr sent Shurbhil and Ikramah to crush the rebellion;
later Khalid bin Walid joined them. Musalima,s army was defeated
after a fierce battle at Yamamah in 633AD.Musalimah was killed. In
this battle about 800 Muslims were martyred. Amongst them were
360 Huffaz (memorizers of the Holy Qur’an). Sajjah was a woman
who belonged to the Bani Tamim tribe. She claimed to be a
prophetess and succeeded in mustering a large following. When
Musalimah heard about her claim he invited her to Yamamah. They
decided to join forces and later Musailma married her which ended
her adventure of prophet hood and she lived in obscurity for the rest
of her life. When the Muslims conquered Iraq she entered the circle of
Islam along with her tribe.