Acceptance of Islam

On his return from a business trip from Yemen, he was informed by friends that in his absence Muhammad had declared himself the Messenger of God, and proclaimed a new religion. Tabari, the most famous Muslim historian, in his Ta’rikh quotes from Muhammad Bin Sa’ad Bin Abi Waqqas, who said: I asked my father whether Abu Bakr was the first of the Muslims. He said, ‘No, more than fifty people embraced Islam before Abu Bakr; but he was superior to us as a Muslim. And Umar ibn Khattab had embraced Islam after forty-five men and twenty-one women. As for the foremost one in the matter of Islam and faith, it was Ali ibn Abi Talib Other Sunnis and all Shi’a Muslims maintain that the second person to publicly accept Muhammed as the messenger of God was Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first being Muhammad’s wife Khadija.

His wife Qutaylah bint Abd-al-Uzza did not accept Islam and he divorced her. His other wife, Um Ruman, became a Muslim. All his children except Abdu’l-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr accepted Islam, and Abu Bakr separated from his son Abdu’l-Rahman.

His conversion brought the most benefit to Islam. Abu Bakr’s brought many people to Islam. He persuaded his intimate friends to convert to Islam. and presented Islam to others in such a way that many of his friends accepted Islam.

Those who converted to Islam at the insistence of Abu Bakr were:

• Uthman Ibn Affan: (who would became the 3rd Caliph)
• Al-Zubayr: (played a part in the Muslim conquest of Egypt)
• Talha Ibn Ubayd-Allah
• Abdur Rahman bin Awf: (who would remain an important part of the Rashidun Caliphate)
• Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas: (played a part in the Islamic conquest of Persia)
• Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah: (who remained commander in chief of the Rashidun army in Syria
• Abu Salama: (Abdullah bin Abdul Asad)
• Khalid ibn Sa`id
• Abu Hudhaifah ibn al-Mughirah

Abu Bakr’s acceptance proved to be a milestone in Muhammad’s mission. Slavery was common in Mecca, and many slaves accepted Islam. When an ordinary free man accepted Islam, despite opposition, he would enjoy the protection of his tribe. For slaves however, there was no such protection and they commonly experienced persecution. Abu Bakr felt compassion for slaves, so he purchased eight slaves (four men and four women) and then freed them, paying 40,000 dinar for their freedom.

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