Abu Bakr, Caliph · First caliph, al-Siddiq: Companion in Islamic History

Companion

CompanionCaliph · First caliph, al-Siddiq

Abu Bakrأبو بكر الصديق

c. 573 to 634 CE (13 AH)Approximate dateMadinah

The Prophet's closest friend, the first free man to believe, and the first caliph.

A respected Makkan merchant, he believed the moment he was invited and was called al-Siddiq for confirming the Night Journey. He spent his wealth freeing tortured slaves like Bilal. He hid with the Prophet ﷺ in the cave of Thawr during the Hijrah. As caliph for two years he held Arabia together and began gathering the Quran.

What does the Quran say?

If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Quran 9:40

24:22

What does the hadith say?

Sahih al-Bukhari 3653

What grew out of it?

His steadiness after the Prophet's death kept the young community united.

The lesson

True friendship means standing by the truth when others doubt it.

Who came before and after?

Umar ibn al-Khattab

Where do they appear in the story?

Who lived at the same time?

Muhammad ﷺ Zayd ibn Haritha The Three Who Stayed Behind Khosrow II Al-Numan ibn al-Mundhir Heraclius Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan Al-Muqawqis

Source: the Quran · Wikipedia

Everyone and everything in the timeline

People named in the Quran and the hadith, the Prophet's ﷺ family and Companions, scholars, rulers, the nations of the Quran, the world's empires and the places where it all happened. Where scholars differ, each entry says so.