Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 1 of 3

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422 THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH m,w> (Vol-1)
decided to return. He appointed Hadhrat Khaalid bin Waleed as
commander of the army with instructions that any of them was at liberty to
return to Madinah as soon as the Murtaddeen returned to Islaam and paid their
zakaah. Hadhrat Abu Bakr then returned to Madinah. ('I
Hadhrat Urwa ?3lGW narrates that when the pledge of allegiance was taken on
the hand of Hadhrat Abu Bakr $&3lS&&, the Ansaar became united in the matter of
Khilaafah about which they had differed. Hadhrat Abu Bakr $&3,Wj dispatched
the army of Hadhrat Usaama S$G.W and many Arab tribes renounced Islaam.
While in some cases, complete tribes renounced Islaam, it was only individuals
in other tribes who renounced Islaam. Hypocrisy started to surface and Judaism
and Christianity began raising their heads. Because they had just lost their
~abi&%% and because they were so few compared to the horsed enemy, the
Muslims appeared to be like wet sheep on a cold night.
It was then that people said to Hadhrat Abu Bakr SG4%, "These men (forming
the army of Hadhrat Usaama @@@%) are the most distinguished of the Muslims
and as you see, the Arabs are refusing to follow you. It is therefore not the
appropriate time to split up the ranks of the Muslims (by dispatching the army).
Hadhrat Abu Bakr B-2 responded by saying, "I swear by the Being Who
controls the life of Abu Bakr! I shall ensure that the army of Usaama is sent
according to the instruction of ~asulullaah~ even though I know that wild
animals will (attack me as I remain all alone in Madinah and) steal away my
body. I shall dispatch the army even though there is none left in any of the towns
besides myself." (2)
Hadhrat Aa'isha GWWS says, "After ~asulullaah~ passed away, all the Arab
tribes renounced Islaam and hypocrisy reared its ugly head. By Allaah! Such
conditions faced my father (Hadhrat Abu Bakr WZWj) that would crush a mighty
mountain. The Sahabah Ww of ~asulullaah&!&& appeared to be wet sheep on
a rainy night in a forest infested with wild animals. By Allaah! Whenever the
Sahabah 'M.Wj disputed any matter, my father would eliminate its harm, take
control of the reins and pass decisive judgement." (3)
Hadhrat Abu Hurayra BWj says, "I swear by the Being besides Whom none
other is worthy of worship that none would have been worshipping Allaah had
Abu Bakr W%Bj not been appointed as Khalifah." He then repeated this a second
and a third time. When someone bade him to stop repeating himself, Hadhrat
Abu Hurayra 3Uw added, "~asulullaah@@# dispatched an army of seven
hundred(4) under the command of Usaama bin Zaid 333UW. However, when they
had just reached Dhi Khushub when ~asulullaah@@# passed away and the Arab
tribes around Madinah renounced Islaam. It was then that the Sahabah HW
of ~asulullaah@% came to Hadhrat Abu Bakr !BlS&%j and said, '0 Abu Bakr
Bw! Recall the army. How can they be heading to Rome when the Arabs
(1) Ibn Asaakir, as it appears in Mukhtasarfbn Asaakir (Vol. l Pg. l18), Kanzul Ummaal (Vo1.5 Pg.314).
(2) Al Bidaaya wan Nihaaya (Vo1.6 Pg.304).
(3) Tabraani, narrating from reliable sources as confirmed by Haythami (Vo1.9 Pg.50).
(4) These seven hundred belonged to the Quraysh while the entire army numbered three thousand.