Hundred Great Muslims

ABUBAKR
Medina, the heart of Islam, was gravely threatened by the enemy hordes.
The Holy Prophet of Islam appealed for funds in order to finance the defensive
campaign for meeting the impending danger, Hazrat Umar being in affluent
circumstances at once thought of taking advantage of this golden opportunity
and thus surpassed Hazrat Abu Bakr in the service of Islam. He hurried to his
home and brought a considerable portion of his wealth. The Prophet was much
pleased to see it and asked him, "Have you left anything for your dependants?"
"Half of my wealth I have set aside for my children", replied Umar.
him.
When Hazrat Abu Bakr brought his share, the same question was posed to
He promptly replied, "I have retained only Allah and His Prophet for my
dependants."
Deeply moved by these words, Umar said, "It would never be possible
for me to surpass Abu Bakr."
Hazrat Abu Bakr, the first Caliph of Islam and the most trusted as well as
devoted lieutenant of the Prophet, was born in Makkah two and a half years
after the year of the Elephant or fifty and a half years before the commencement
of Hejira. He was known as Abul Kaab in pre-Islamic days and on conversion
to Islam was given the name of Abdulla and the title of AI Siddiq (The
truthful) by the Prophet. He belonged to the Quraishite clan of Bani Taim and
his geneology joins with that of the Holy Prophet in the 7th generation. He was
one of the most respected leaders even before and after embracing Islam. His
ancestral occupation was business and occasionally he undertook commercial
trips to Syria and Yemen. He visited Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) even before,
and at the time of the revelation he was in Yemen. On his return to Makkah,
the leaders of Quraish including Abu Jahl, Ataba and Shoba, ridiculed in his
presence the declaration of Prophethood by Muhammad (PBUH). Thereupon
Abu Bakr got very much excited and exasperated and hurried to the Prophet's
place and embraced Islam. According to Suyuti, the author of 'Tarikh ul Khulafa';
12