Written by: Maulana Abu al-Hasan Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
Question:
Recently, stickers have been seen in various places with the inscription: "Our master Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'For me, Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) are sufficient.' " Please clarify which narration this is and on what occasion it was said?
Answer:
The Holy Quran repeatedly emphasizes that Allah alone is sufficient for us. For example, Allah instructed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him):
"But if they turn away, then say: Sufficient for me is Allah; there is no deity except Him. On Him I have relied, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne."
[Al-Tawbah: 129]
In another place, it is said:
"And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him."
[Al-Talaq: 3]
And elsewhere:
"Is Allah not sufficient for His Servant?"
[Al-Zumar: 36]
Thus, believing in Allah, relying on Him, and considering Him sufficient in all matters is an Islamic creed. Some people deviate from this and distort the evidence from the Quran and Hadith, as exemplified by the issue you've highlighted.
The original narration is as follows:
"Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded us to give charity. At that time, I had some wealth, so I thought that today I could surpass Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) if I ever could. I brought half of my wealth, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked: 'What did you leave for your family?' I replied: 'I have left the same amount for them.' Then Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) brought all that he had. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: 'O Abu Bakr, what did you leave for your family?' He replied: 'I have left Allah and His Messenger for them.'
[Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Manaqib, Chapter: The Prophet's hope that Abu Bakr would be called from all gates of Paradise: 3675; Hakim: 1/414]
The commentators of Hadith have explained the phrase of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) "I have left Allah and His Messenger for them" as meaning "the pleasure of Allah and His Messenger." This explanation is mentioned by Mulla Ali Qari Hanafi in his commentary on Mishkat "Mirqat" [10/379] and by Allama Abdul Rahman Muhaddith Mubarakpuri in "Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi" [10/154]. Therefore, it is incorrect to misrepresent this statement. Every Muslim loves Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and prefers to do what Allah or His Messenger has preferred. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), who held the esteemed position of Siddiq, gave away all that he had in charity out of love for Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). He thus said that he left only the pleasure of Allah and His Messenger in his house. And Allah knows best!
Question:
Recently, stickers have been seen in various places with the inscription: "Our master Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'For me, Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) are sufficient.' " Please clarify which narration this is and on what occasion it was said?
Answer:
The Holy Quran repeatedly emphasizes that Allah alone is sufficient for us. For example, Allah instructed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him):
"But if they turn away, then say: Sufficient for me is Allah; there is no deity except Him. On Him I have relied, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne."
[Al-Tawbah: 129]
In another place, it is said:
"And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him."
[Al-Talaq: 3]
And elsewhere:
"Is Allah not sufficient for His Servant?"
[Al-Zumar: 36]
Thus, believing in Allah, relying on Him, and considering Him sufficient in all matters is an Islamic creed. Some people deviate from this and distort the evidence from the Quran and Hadith, as exemplified by the issue you've highlighted.
The original narration is as follows:
"Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded us to give charity. At that time, I had some wealth, so I thought that today I could surpass Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) if I ever could. I brought half of my wealth, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked: 'What did you leave for your family?' I replied: 'I have left the same amount for them.' Then Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) brought all that he had. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: 'O Abu Bakr, what did you leave for your family?' He replied: 'I have left Allah and His Messenger for them.'
[Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Manaqib, Chapter: The Prophet's hope that Abu Bakr would be called from all gates of Paradise: 3675; Hakim: 1/414]
The commentators of Hadith have explained the phrase of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) "I have left Allah and His Messenger for them" as meaning "the pleasure of Allah and His Messenger." This explanation is mentioned by Mulla Ali Qari Hanafi in his commentary on Mishkat "Mirqat" [10/379] and by Allama Abdul Rahman Muhaddith Mubarakpuri in "Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi" [10/154]. Therefore, it is incorrect to misrepresent this statement. Every Muslim loves Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and prefers to do what Allah or His Messenger has preferred. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), who held the esteemed position of Siddiq, gave away all that he had in charity out of love for Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). He thus said that he left only the pleasure of Allah and His Messenger in his house. And Allah knows best!