Hadrat Abubakar, may Allah be pleased with him: The first Khalifa of Islam (II)

In the first installment of the above captioned article it was established that Allah’s promise in the Quran to establish the Khalifat (Quran 24:56) was ultimately fulfilled in Abubkar, who subsequently, became the first Khalifa of Islam. Let us, in this article, read to find out how he consolidated the institution in Arabia.

Immediately news of the death of Muhammad, on whom be peace, spread to every corner in Arabia there was a spontaneous rebellion against Islam that erupted like a volcano. Just prior to his death he had dispatched 700 troops to the Syrian border where reports suggested that the Romans were massing up troops. Abubakar who had then been just appoint­ed as the Khalifa was therefore under severe pressure to return the troops to Madina amidst the rebellion in which the rebels were looking for the least opportunity to attack Madina. Abubakar refused saying that he would never return to Madina troops dispatched by the Holy Prophet, even though Madina was defenseless with only a relatively fewer number of men to defend it.

As the troops proceeded to­wards Syria the rebels, wherever the troops reached, said amongst themselves: “If these people were not actually strong, how could they dispatch such a large army. Let us leave them for a while, till after they had met the Romans.” When the Muslims met the Romans they fought them, defeated them and returned victorious to strengthen Islam” (Imam Suyuti, TarikhKhu­lafa). In other words if Abubakar had made the mistake of turning back the troops it would have sig­nalled to the rebels that the Mus­lims were in a weak position, hence they would have attacked them at Madina. In connection with this bravery and steadfastness of Abubakar, remarked Abu Hurairah, a Companion:’’ By God in whose hands is my life had Abubkar not been elected as Khalifa, God would not have been worshipped “(Suyuti, Tarikh Khulafa,p83).

Focusing attention on the rebel­lion the people were divided into the following categories: Those who turned apostates immediate­ly they learnt of Muhammad’d death (Murtads). Those who refused to pay the poor-tax called (Zakat), even though they were still Muslims. The false prophets who claimed prophethood on learning of his death. They had gathered large followings from their own tribes and, in some places like the Yemen, they were attacking and harassing the Muslims. To call yourself a Muslim but fail to pay the Zakat, the basis of the Islamic economy, was analogous to a man living in a modern Western country who refuses to pay his tax. Worse was that those Muslims were the first to take up arms to defend their cause, so Abubakar had no option but to fight them. Hadrat Abuabkar then dispatched the following Amirs (Governors) with troops under each. First, Khalid Bin Walid was sent against Tulaiha Bin Khuwailid at Bazakha. After completing his mission he was to proceed to deal with Malik Bin Nu­wairah. Second, Ikrimah Bin Abu JahI was sent to Musailma at Yam­ama. Third, Shurahbil Bin Hasana was sent in the trail of Ikrimah as a supporting force. Fourth, Al-Mu­hajir Bin Abu Umaiyaa was sent to the Yemen to fight Al-Aswad Al-Anasii at San’aa in the Yemen. Fifth, Huzaifa Bin Mihsin was sent against the people of Dabaa in the Oman. Sixth, Arfaja Bin Harima was sent to the Mahra tribe in the southern – most tip of the Yemen. Seventh,Suwaid Bin Muqarrin was sent to the Tihama region in Ye­men. Eighth, Al-Alaa Bin Hadrami was sent to Bahrain. Ninth, Tarifa Bin Hajiz was sent to the BanuSu­laim and those Hawazin who were with him.Tenth, Umr’u Bin Al-Aas was sent to Qadaa. Eleventh, Kha­lid Bin Sa’iid was sent to Syria.

Before dispatching them he gave each Amir a letter containing the same message admonishing the rebels to return to Islam. Those who returned were to be accepted back. They were only to fight the recalcitrant ones who were bent on satisfying their desires and aims. In effect Hadrat Abuabkar used a combination of diplomacy, admonitions and the military to subdue the rebellion. Let me cite this incidence that occurred at the onset of the rebellion to buttress the fact that he used admonitions and diplomacy as part of his strategy. And that was that Hadrat Adi Hatim Al-Tai, the universally acknowledged Arab philanthropist, was at the very onset of the rebel­lion at Madina with Abubakar, the Khalifa, who had just given orders to Khalid to proceed to Tulaiha, the false prophet and fight him. Tulaiha had succeeded in con­vincing the Abas, Zabyan, Jadila, Ghauth and the Tai to join him. Fearful of what might happen to them, including his own tribe, the Ta’i, Adi sought the permission of Abubakar to allow him to retrieve the lost souls back to Islam before any attack. He was given permis­sion and through admonitions and diplomacy he won back to Islam thousands of them. He succeeded in adding 1000 riders to the troops of Khalid who fought and defeat­ed Tulaiha, the false prophet.

Let me now pay some attention to the false prophets since they posed the greatest threat to Islam and Khalifat for the fact that they had gathered, under their banners, hundreds and thousands of their own people. Tulaiha, for instance, scrapped the prayers (Salat) to only the standing posture, while Mu­sailma scrapped off the morning (Fajar) and late night (Isha) prayers, leaving only the Zuhr (Afternoon), Asar (late afternoon) and Magrib (Evening) prayers. In addition Musailma would compose verses in imitation of the imitable style of diction of the Quran (I’ijaz). He would then call them revelations from God. Tulaiha Bin Khuwalid was from the Asad tribe who claimed prophet hood with a large number of followers from his tribe and the surrounding tribes. The Companions who fought the rebels were indeed few in relationship to the superior numbers of the rebels, yet they defeated them. When on the point of defeat Tulaiha escaped from the battle field to Syria from where he later returned, reported and rejoined Islam. The Banu Aamir Bin Sa’sa watched the battle from a point close to the battle-field .When Tulaiha and his superior number of troops were defeated he decided to join Islam and joined it with all his people.

Malik Bin Nuwairah was one of the leaders of the Tamim tribe who refused to pay the zakat to Abubakar after the Prophet’s death. Amidst these developments a lady called SajjajBint Al-Haarith claimed prophet-hood and became a woman prophetess with a large following from the Christians from Taghlib. When The Muslims defeated the tribe of Nuwairah the whole tribe of Tamim joined Islam and paid the zakat once again to Abubakar.

Musailma the Imposter was from the tribe of Banu Hanifa. Like the rest of the false Prophets Musailma was opportunistic and used prophet hood as an ostensible cause to gain wordly dominion. Three contingents of troops led consecutively by Ikrimah, Sharhabil and Khalid were sent to fight him. The first two were defeated. Only the last succeeded in subduing him and his troops who put a desperate fight of resistance, but were defeat­ed in the end.

Al-Aswad was a soothsayer from the Anas tribe of the Yemen, who claimed prophet hood just before the Prophet’s death. He had a large following from the Bedouins of Yemen and other tribes, like the people of Najran and Mahij. In the end he was killed and defeated. Umr’u and Qais,two of his aides ,were taken as captives to Abu­bakar who pardoned and forgave them .They re-entered Islam as faithful believers.

The Kinda, the people of Bahrain, the people of Oman and the Mahra were among the rebels whom Abubakar fought and de­feated. In short after the wars the Khilafat became consolidated in Arabia as the sole centre of power for the Arabian Peninsula. Based on its firm establishment the suc­ceeding Khalifas (Umar, Uthman and Ali) succeeded in spreading Is­lam to the neighbouring countries.

Conclusion:

Through the onerous contribu­tion by Abubakar the Khalifat was firmly consolidated in Arabia.

References: Imam Suyuti, TarikhKhulafaa; Abdul Wahhab Al- Najaar,

Al- Khulafaa Raashideen

BY KHALID KOFI AHMAD