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Islamiyat IGCSEPDF 151
204 pagesrevision 46927
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Expedition to Syria:
After assuming the Khilafat the first issue that Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A had to decide was
whether or not the expedition to Syria, should be sent. The Holy Prophet (P.B.H.H) had
directed to send this expedition under the command of Usamah. The circumstances had
changed following the death of Holy Prophet (P.B.H.H). At that critical stage in history most
of tribes had apostatized from Islam, that is, they had abandoned their belief in Islam.
Madinah was surrounded by hostile tribes. It was suggested to Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A that it
was not advisable to send the army outside the country. Hazrat Abu Bakr said that according
to the wish of Holy Prophet (P.B.H.H), the army should be sent to Syria. He said “Who am I
to withhold the army that the Prophet (P.B.U.H) had ordered to proceed? Come what may,
let Madinah stand for fall; the Khilafat live or perish, the command of the Holy Prophet
(P.B.U.H) shall be carried out”. Abu Bakr then directed the army to depart on this mission.
He bade farewell to the army and addressed them in the following terms: “Do not kill
children, women and old men. Do not cut down any trees wherein there is food
for men and beasts. Do not molest the monks in the churches”. Towards the close
of June 632 A.D, three weeks after the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) demise the army of Usamah
left. After ten days march the Muslim army attacked the border tribes. The Byzantine forces
avoided this confrontation, as they were no match for the Muslims. They were defeated and
offered allegiance to the authorities at Madinah. The expedition proved to be a great success.
It secured the safety of the frontier with the Byzantines and averted the threat of any attack
from them. It 2 made the hostile tribes release that the Muslims were strong enough to meet
any emergencies. Victorious, Usamah’s army returned to Madinah. It demonstrated the
strength and unity of the Muslims even in the absence of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) thus
The Ansar had almost declared the leader of the Khazraj tribe, Saad bin Ubada as the caliph.
Hazrat Abu Bakr at this point made a persuasive speech on why a Qurasih should now lead
the Muslims. He reminded them a Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) in which he commanded
that according to Arab tradition, the next leader after him should be chosen from Quraish .
On hearing this convincing argument, another leader of the Ansar Khubaib bin Mundhar put
forward the proposal for two state solution, one led by a Muhajir(Quraish) and one by an
Ansar. Hazrat Umar rejected this suggestion by saying that for the solidarity of the Islamic
state , there should be only one caliph. At this point hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah said, “O
Ansar! you were the first to uphold Islam. Do not be the first to sow the seeds of dissention in
it.” On hearing this, the Ansar quickly withdrew their claim. Hazrat Abu Bakr put forward
the names of Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Abu Ubaydah bin Jarrah as caliph but Hazrat Umar
nominated Hazrat Abu Bakr as the political leader of a unified Muslims state based in
Madina. Taking Hazrat Abu Bakr’s hand Hazrat Umar took the pledge of loyalty to him. After
Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Zaid ibn Sabit (from Ansar) took the oath of loyalty, people from all
sides rushed to pledge their loyalty to Hazrat Abu Bakr as the Holy Prophet’s (P.B.U.H)
vicegerent. The next day at Masjid al Nabvi a general oath of loyalty was taken by the
Muslims. Hazrat Abu Bakr thus became the first Caliph of Islam. When Abu Bakr was elected
he said“ O people! I have been selected as your Leader, although I am not better
than anyone of you. If I am right, obey me. If I am misguided, set me right. The
weakest among you is powerful in my eyes, until I do not get him his due. The
most powerful among you is the weakest in my eyes, until I do not make him
pay due rights to others. I ask you to obey me as long as I obey Allah and His
Messenger. If I disobey Allah and His Messenger, you are free to disobey me”.
He adopted the title of “the successor of the messenger of Allah.”