Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr أَبُو بَكْر
Khalifat Rasul Allah Raḍiya Ilāhu ʿAnhū
Calligraphic seal featuring Abu Bakr's name, on display in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
1st Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate
Reign	8 June 632 – 23 August 634
Predecessor	Position established (Muhammad as Islamic Prophet)
Successor	Umar
Born	Abd Allah ibn Abi Quhafa c. 573 Mecca, Hejaz, Arabia
Died	23 August 634(634-08-23) (aged 60) (22 Jumada al-Thani 13 AH) Medina, Hejaz, Rashidun Caliphate
Burial	Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, Medina
Spouse	Qutayla bint Abd al-Uzza Umm Ruman Asma bint Umais Habibah bint Kharijah
Issue	Asma Abd al-Rahman Abd Allah Aisha Muhammad Umm Kulthum
Names Abd Allah ibn Abi Quhafa عَبْد ٱللَّٰه بْن أَبِي قُحَافَة
Father	Abu Quhafa
Mother	Umm al-Khayr
Brothers	Mu'taq[a] Utaiq[b] Quhafah
Sisters	Fadra Qareeba Umm Amir
Tribe	Quraysh (Banu Taym)
Religion	Islam
Occupation	Businessman, public administrator, economist

Abd Allah ibn Abi Quhafa^[c] (c. 573 – 23 August 634), better known by his kunya Abu Bakr,^[d] was a senior companion, the closest friend, and father-in-law of Muhammad. He served as the first caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, ruling from 632 until his death in 634. Abu Bakr was granted the honorific title al-Ṣiddīq^[e] (lit. the Veracious) by Muhammad, a designation that continues to be used by Sunni Muslims to this day.

Born to Abu Quhafa and Umm al-Khayr of the Banu Taym, Abu Bakr was amongst the earliest converts to Islam and propagated dawah to the Mushrikites. He was considered the first Muslim missionary as several companions of Muhammad converted through Abu Bakr. He accompanied Muhammad on his migration to Medina and became one of the latter's bodyguards. Abu Bakr participated in all of Muhammad's campaigns and served as the first amir al-hajj in 631. In the absence of Muhammad, Abu Bakr led the prayers.

Following Muhammad's death in 632, Abu Bakr succeeded the leadership of the Muslim community as the first caliph, being elected at Saqifa. His election was contested by a number of rebellious tribal leaders. During his reign, he overcame a number of uprisings, collectively known as the Ridda wars, as a result of which he was able to consolidate and expand the rule of the Muslim state over the entire Arabian Peninsula. He also commanded the initial incursions into the neighbouring Sasanian and Byzantine empires, which in the years following his death, would eventually result in the Muslim conquests of Persia and the Levant. Apart from politics, Abu Bakr is also credited for the compilation of the Quran, of which he had a personal caliphal codex. Prior to dying in August 634, Abu Bakr nominated Umar (r. 634–644) as his successor. Along with Muhammad, Abu Bakr is buried in the Green Dome at the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, the second holiest site in Islam. He died of illness after a reign of 2 years, 2 months and 14 days, the only Rashidun caliph to die of natural causes.

Though Abu Bakr's reign was brief, it included successful invasions of the two most powerful empires of the time, the Sassanian Empire and the Byzantine Empire. He set in motion a historical trajectory that, within a few decades, would lead to the establishment of one of the largest empires in history. His decisive victory over the local Arab rebel forces marks a significant chapter in Islamic history. Sunni tradition revere Abu Bakr as the first of the Rashidun caliphs and the greatest individual after the prophets and messengers. Shia tradition views Abu Bakr as an usurper of the caliphate and an adversary of the ahl al-bayt.
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