Abu Bakr: The First Khalifah

• After Prophet Muhammad's death, Abu Bakr was unanimously chosen as the leader of the Muslim community at al-Masjidun Nabawi.
• The decision of a leader was crucial to prevent disorganization and chaos.
• Abu Bakr was the first Khalifah (Caliph or successor to the Prophet).
• Abu Bakr was the closest friend of the Prophet and acted as his deputy during his illness.
• The Prophet was buried on the night of 13 Rabrul Awwal 11 AH after the election of the Khalifah.
• Abu Bakr's real name was Abdullah, and he was given the title as-Siddiq.
• His father was Uthman (Aba Quhafah) and his mother was Salma (Ummul Khair).
• Abu Bakr was two and a half years younger than Muhammad.
• As Khalifah, Abu Bakr emphasized his role as a servant leader, seeking support for good and correction for wrong.
• Abu Bakr defined truth as honesty and untruth as dishonesty.
• He said the weak would be powerful in his eyes until they received justice, and the powerful would be weak until they relinquished what was due to others.
• Abu Bakr stated that Allah would disgrace those who abandoned striving for His cause and send calamities upon evildoers.
• He called for obedience to him only as long as he obeyed Allah and His messenger.
• Abu Bakr was the first of the Prophet's friends to accept Islam and accompanied him during the Hijrah to Madinah.
• He was a kind trader who freed slaves, including Bilal bin Rabah.
• Abu Bakr participated in all battles with the Prophet.
• During the battle of Badr, Abu Bakr's son, 'Abdur Rahman, fought on the side of the unbelievers.
• Abu Bakr demonstrated unwavering faith, stating he would have killed his son had he had the chance during the battle of Badr.
• He donated all his belongings to the war fund for the battle of Tabuk, stating he had left "Allah and His messenger" for his family.
• Abu Bakr sent Usamah bin Zaid to complete the expedition to ash-Sham initiated by the Prophet, despite facing internal problems.
• He declared war against those who refused to pay the Zakah.
• Abu Bakr took strong action against imposters such as al-Aswad bin 'Anzah al-'Ansi, Musailimah bin Habib, Tulaihah bin Khuwailid, and Sajah bint al-Harith.
• Khalid bin al-Walid was sent to deal with Tulaihah, who later became a Muslim, and Musailimah, who was killed by Wahshi.
• Abu Bakr's actions saved the Islamic state from chaos.
• Abu Bakr took action against the Persian empire after its emperor, Khosaw Parviz II, tore up the Prophet's letter.
• He sent al-Muthanna to take action against the Persians in Iraq.
• Khalid was sent with reinforcements, and the Muslim army captured large areas of the Persian empire.
• Abu Bakr dispatched four armies under different leaders to deal with Roman power on the north-western borders.
• The four generals merged their forces to face the Romans effectively.
• Abu Bakr asked Khalid to hand over command in Iraq to al-Muthanna and help fight the Romans in Syria.
• Abu Bakr died on 21 Jumadal Akhirah 13 AH (22 August 634 CE) after ruling for two years and three months.
• The armies met in Yarmuk after Abu Bakr's death and defeated the Romans during the Khilafah of 'Umar.
• Abu Bakr contributed to the compilation of the Quran into one volume.
• He lived a simple and pious life, serving Allah and following the Prophet meticulously.

Abu Bakr's Advice to the Muslim Army

• Fear Allah and be kind to those under your command.
• Give brief directions and improve your own conduct before asking others to improve theirs.
• Honor the enemy's envoy and maintain the secrecy of your plans.
• Always speak the truth and consult your men to develop participation.
• Take measures to watch the enemy and be sincere in all dealings.
• Give up cowardice, dishonesty, and bad company.
• Before his death, Abu Bakr consulted senior companions and nominated 'Umar as his successor.
• 'Umar, known as al-Faruq, was famous for distinguishing between right and wrong.
• 'Umar was a brave, straightforward, and talented ruler, during whose Caliphate the Islamic state expanded greatly.
• 'Umar removed Khalid as Commander-in-Chief due to his popularity, appointing Abu 'Ubaidah bin al-Jarah.
• Khalid gracefully accepted the decision and worked as an ordinary soldier.
• Al-Muthanna requested reinforcements from Abu Bakr, who was on his deathbed, due to Persian regrouping.
• 'Umar sent Abu Ubaid to deal with the situation and raised another army after initial defeats.
• The Muslim army, under Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, defeated the Persian army at Qadisiyyah in 14 AH (636 CE).
• During 'Umar's rule, Muslims laid siege to Damascus and Jerusalem.
• Christians in Jerusalem agreed to surrender if Khalifah 'Umar came to Jerusalem.
• 'Umar entered Jerusalem dressed in ordinary clothes, demonstrating simplicity and equality.
• A treaty was signed guaranteeing the safety and security of Christians in Jerusalem.
• Vast areas of the Roman and Persian empires and Egypt were brought under Islamic rule during 'Umar's Khilafah.
• 'Umar died after being stabbed by a Persian non-Muslim, Firoz (Aba Lu'lu'), in 23 AH (644 CE).
• Before his death, 'Umar appointed a six-man committee to elect his successor: Uthman bin Affan, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Ali bin Abi Talib, az-Zubair bin al-Awwam, Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, and Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah.
• 'Umar ruled the Islamic state for ten years, six months, and four days.

'Umar's Advice

• Do not be misled by someone's reputation.
• Do not judge a person only by their performance of Salah and Saum.
• During 'Uthman's Khilafah, the Romans attacked Alexandria with a strong naval fleet but were defeated by the Muslim naval force under Ibn Sarh.
• 'Uthman faced internal dissension and trouble, leading to his murder by rioters on Friday, 17 Dhul Hijjah 35 AH (656 CE).
• 'Uthman's Khilafah lasted for twelve years.
• 'Uthman was kind-hearted but his administration was not as strong as during 'Umar's time.
• He was generous, spending money for Islam and freeing slaves.
• The compilation of al-Qur'an into a book (mushaf) was the crowning achievement of 'Uthman's Khilafah.

'Ali

• 'Ali, the cousin of the Prophet, offered his help to the Prophet at a young age.
• He risked his life for the Prophet and slept in his bed during the Prophet's migration.
• 'Ali was elected the fourth Khalifah of Islam after 'Uthman.
• He was married to the Prophet's daughter, Fatimah, and had sons: al-Hasan, al-Husain and al-Muhassin; and daughters: Zainab and Umm Kultham.
• Al-Muhassin died in infancy.
• 'Ali took part in the battles of Badr, Ahzab, and Khaibar.
• 'Ali, as Khalifah, concentrated on consolidating his administration and taking action against 'Uthman's murderers.
• The murder of 'Uthman divided the Muslim Ummah, leading to internal strife.
• 'Ali tried to reconcile the opposing groups and restore peace without much success.
• 'Ali was fatally wounded during Salatul Fajr by Ibn Muljam and died on Friday, 20 Ramadan 40 AH (661 CE).
• 'Ali's rule lasted for four years and nine months, marked by unrest.
• 'Ali lived a simple and austere life and was known for his courage and sense of justice.
• He was also called al-Murtada (the one with whom Allah is pleased) and Asadullah (Lion of Allah).

Some Important Sayings of 'Ali

• One who knows himself, knows his Creator.
• If you love Allah, tear out your heart's love of the world.
• The fear of Allah makes one secure.
• How can you rejoice about this life that grows shorter each hour?
• A world-wide reputation can be undone by an hour's degradation.
• Three defects make life miserable: vindictiveness, jealousy, and a bad character.
• Joy is followed by tears.
• One who is proud of worldly possessions in this fleeting existence is ignorant.
• Each breath of a man is a step nearer to death.
• The best man is he who is most helpful to his fellow men.
• One who thinks himself the best is the worst.
• Virtue is the key to success.
• The hated person is one who returns evil for good.
• Learned men live even after death; ignorant men are dead before they die.
• There is no treasure like knowledge gained.
• Knowledge is wisdom, and the educated man is the wise man. Experience is knowledge gained.
• He who never corrects himself will never correct another.
• Listen, and you will teach yourself; remain silent, and you risk ignorance.
• One who reflects on Allah's gift, succeeds.
• Ignorance harms a man more than a cancer in the body.
• One of the signs of a stupid man is the frequent change of opinion.
• Never speak when it is not the time for speech.
• The best truth is the keeping of promises.
• Better be dumb than lie.
• Do not flatter, it is no sign of faith.
• A hypocrite's tongue is clean, but there is sickness in his heart.
• Better to be alone than with bad company.
• Whoever sows good reaps his reward.
• Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, 'Umar al-Faruq, 'Uthman al-Ghani, and 'Ali al-Murtada are called al-Khulafa ur Rashidan (the rightly-guided Khulafa').
• Together, they ruled the Islamic State for about thirty years, guided by the Quran and the Sunnah.
• This period is considered a golden age of justice.
• The lives of al-Khulafa ur Rashidan offer knowledge and experience for solving present and future problems.
• Islamic principles should be practiced faithfully to achieve the promised good.