Prophetic Indications on the Caliphate of Siddiqi
After the passing of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, the Companions unanimously selected Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiqؓ as their ruler and Caliph.
Imam Abu Bakr Ajri (died: 360 AH) states:
Know this! May Allah have mercy on us and you, that the person who follows Islam and whom Allah has given the taste of faith will not dispute that after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the Caliph is Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiqؓ. It is not permissible for any Muslim to adopt any other stance, and this is proven through evidence. Allah Almighty granted Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiqؓ a special status regarding the Caliphate; the Prophet ﷺ gave Sayyiduna Abu Bakrؓ a special status during his lifetime and after his death also gave orders concerning him.
Although the Prophet ﷺ did not explicitly name any companion as his successor during his blessed life, he did give several indications from which it is clearly understood that he foretold the caliphate of Siddiqi after him and instructed that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه be made the Caliph. This article will present a few such indications:
➊ During his illness before passing away, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” It was said:
“Abu Bakr is very gentle and tender-hearted; he will not be able to lead the prayer standing in your place.” The Prophet ﷺ repeated the command, and the same objection was raised again. Then for the third time, he said:
“Your example is like the companions of Yusuf; order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”
Accordingly, following the command, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه began leading the prayer.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ appointing Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه to lead the prayer at the time of his death, and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه leading the people in prayer during all those days, was an indication that after the Prophet ﷺ, the leadership and caliphate would be given to him, and he would be the caliph.
Sayyiduna Abdullah رضي الله عنه says that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away, the Ansar said:
“One leader should be from us and one from you.”
Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه came to them and said:
“O group of Ansar! Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah had commanded Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه to lead the people in prayer? Who among you wants to precede Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه?” They said:
“We seek refuge in Allah from going ahead of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه.”
It became clear that the Prophet ﷺ appointing Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه to lead the prayer during his days of illness was an indication that he would be the Caliph after him ﷺ. Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه understood this indication.
➋ One year before the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet ﷺ appointed Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه as the leader of Hajj.
You, Mawla, were appointed to the position of Amir of Hajj during the blessed life of the Prophet ﷺ. It is as if the Prophet ﷺ made you his deputy in prayer during his lifetime and also in Hajj. The Prophet ﷺ selecting Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه for such important matters as prayer and Hajj was also an indication that after the Prophet ﷺ, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه would be the Caliph.
➌ A woman came to the Prophet ﷺ in service, and he ordered her (this time) to return and never come again. She said:
If I come and do not find you, then what? It was as if she meant to say, if you pass away, then (whom shall I meet)?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If I am not found, then go to Abu Bakr (RA).”
Imam Bukhari (RA) has used this hadith as evidence for the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA). He has established the title of caliphate based on this hadith.
Allama Ibn Milqan (d. 804 AH) states:
This hadith clarifies that after the death of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) will be made caliph, and this hadith refutes the Shia claim that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ explicitly appointed Sayyiduna Ali (RA) as caliph, as well as the claim of the Rafidah who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ explicitly appointed Sayyiduna Abbas (RA) as caliph.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (d. 852 AH) states:
In the explanation of this hadith, some scholars correctly say that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) is the caliph after the Prophet ﷺ, but it is not explicit; rather, it is a clear indication.
➍ A few days before his death, the Prophet ﷺ delivered a sermon in which he said that no door of the mosque should be left open; all should be closed except the door of Abu Bakr.
Imam Ibn Hibban (d. 354 AH) states:
This hadith is evidence that after the Prophet ﷺ, the Caliph was Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) because the Prophet ﷺ ended people’s desire for the caliphate by saying to close every window in the mosque except the window of Abu Bakr.
Allama Ibn Battal writes:
One argument for the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه is that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ honored Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه with something that no one else was honored with. That is, his door was kept open in the mosque so that he could be appointed as the caliph in leading the prayer, allowing him to enter the mosque from his house just as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to do. The Prophet ﷺ prevented everyone else from doing this. This is evidence that after the Prophet ﷺ, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه would be the caliph.
Allama Ibn Rajab رضي الله عنه (died 795 AH) states:
In this sermon, the Prophet ﷺ mentioned the special virtue of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه among the companions and the opening of his door in the mosque indicates his caliphate, while the doors of all others were closed. This negation implies that he alone would be worthy of the caliphate after the Prophet ﷺ because the imam in the mosque needs to come more frequently. This is also in the interest of the worshippers.
Allama Suyuti (died: 911 AH) states:
The scholars say that this hadith is a clear indication towards the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) because he used to come to lead the prayer in the mosque through the window.
In one hadith, it is mentioned that the Prophet ﷺ closed all the doors of the mosque except the door of Sayyiduna Ali (RA). He used to enter the mosque in a state of janabah (major impurity). That was his only way, and there was no other way.
Application:
The application in these narrations is that the order to close the doors was given twice. The first time it was given, Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه was exempted because he had no other way to come and go, so he was given an exception. The second time the order to close was given, Sayyidina Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه was exempted, and this was meant to express his special status and entitlement to the caliphate. The first time the order to close the doors was issued, all doors except Ali’s رضي الله عنه were closed. Later, people made windows in the mosque to come closer and started using them. Then, a few days before the Prophet’s ﷺ passing, he ordered all the windows to be closed as well, exempting Sayyidina Siddiq رضي الله عنه. Now all the windows and Ali’s door were closed, and Sayyidina Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was exempted. It is clear that this exception was given based on some special distinction, preference, and reason. That distinction was that Sayyidina Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was deserving of the caliphate and was to be established in it. So, the Holy Prophet ﷺ, to manifest Abu Bakr’s rightful and undisputed entitlement to the caliphate, made an exception for Abu Bakr from the general order of closing the doors.
➎ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“I was standing by a well in a dream, drawing water from it, when Abu Bakr and Umar came to me. Abu Bakr took the bucket from me and drew one or two buckets. There was a slight weakness in his drawing, and may Allah forgive him. Then Umar took the bucket from Abu Bakr’s hand, and as soon as it reached him, it became a large bucket. I have not seen anyone more courageous and brave than him, who is accustomed to working with such excellent planning and strong power. Consequently, he drew so much water that people were able to water their camels and have them sit down.”
In this hadith, there is also a very clear indication of the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA). Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) pulling the swing was a sign that after the Prophet ﷺ, the caliphate would be given to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA). The weakness in Abu Bakr’s (RA) pulling of the swing indicated that his period of caliphate would be short and there would be fewer conquests during it.
Imam Shafi’i (died 204 AH) states:
The Prophet’s ﷺ statement that “there was weakness in his (Abu Bakr’s) pulling of the swing” means the brevity of his caliphate, his early death, and that due to being occupied with fighting the apostates, he was unable to expand the conquests and the Islamic caliphate, and did not get the opportunity to do so.
➏ Sayyida Aisha (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me during his days of illness:
“Call your father Abu Bakr and your brother so that I may write a letter to them. I fear that someone desiring (the caliphate) may desire it, and someone may say that I am more deserving of it, while Allah denies this, and the Muslims also deny that anyone other than Abu Bakr should receive the (caliphate).”
Allama Nawawi (died: 676 AH) states:
This hadith is a clear proof of the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) and a prophecy of the Prophet ﷺ regarding the future that there will be dispute among the Muslims concerning the caliphate, and the Muslims will not agree on anyone’s caliphate except that of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA). Sayyida Aisha’s brother was called because he would write the letter, as it was difficult and hard for the Prophet ﷺ to go himself. You ﷺ were not even going to lead the congregation in prayer. You had appointed Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) as the caliph in the prayers.
➐ Sayyiduna Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه says that we were sitting with the Prophet ﷺ when he said:
“I do not know how long I will remain among you, so after me, follow the leadership of these two.” He ﷺ pointed towards Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنهما.
This hadith also indicates the caliphate of the rightly guided caliphs, that after the Prophet ﷺ, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه will be the caliph, and after him Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه will be the caliph. Therefore, the Muslims were commanded to follow their leadership.
➑ Sayyidah Aisha رضي الله عنها was asked that if the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had appointed a caliph, whom would he have appointed? She said:
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. She was asked:
After Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, whom would he have appointed as caliph? She said:
Umar رضي الله عنه. She was asked about after Umar رضي الله عنه? She said:
Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah رضي الله عنه. After that, Sayyidah Aisha رضي الله عنها remained silent.
These narrations are definitive proof that after the Prophet ﷺ, the first Caliph was Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA), and it happened exactly as such that after the Prophet’s passing, at Saqifah Bani Sa’idah, Sayyiduna Umar (RA) and the leaders and decision-makers, and then all the Muslims, pledged allegiance to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA), which is clear evidence of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr’s (RA) caliphate. If the Companions (RA) had any doubt regarding Sayyiduna Abu Bakr’s (RA) caliphate or any disagreement between the special and general among them, they would not have unanimously pledged allegiance to him by the hand of the Prophet ﷺ, and if they had pledged allegiance, others would not have accepted it as valid. The unanimous agreement of the Companions (RA) on the allegiance to Sayyiduna Siddiq (RA) is sufficient proof of the legitimacy of the Caliphate of Siddiq. Even if Sayyiduna Abu Bakr’s (RA) caliphate was not proven by any Shariah evidence, nor was there any indication or allusion towards it, the consensus and agreement of the Companions (RA) alone would have been sufficient to establish the correctness of his caliphate. May Allah grant us the ability to follow the truth. Ameen.
