Upon the death of the beloved Prophet Muhammad, God's blessings and peace be upon him, the burgeoning Islamic State became the Caliphate of Abu Bakr.
On the occasion of his appointment, Abu Bakr delivered an exemplary address, one that reflected his intense piety and inimitable faith.
While monarchs and presidents have since come and gone, in over 1400 years Abu Bakr's inaugural speech is yet to be bested.
Musa ibn Uqbah narrated in his Maghazi, as did al-Hakim who declared it Sahih, that Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf related: Abu Bakr gave a Khutbah and said,
"I swear by Allah, I was never eager for a position of command for even as much as a day or night. I never desired it, and I have never asked Allah for it secretly or openly. I did, however, fear dissention. I will take no rest while in command. I have been invested with a mighty manner for which I have neither the energy nor the power, except by Allah's help."
Jalaluddin as-Suyuti, Tareekh ul-Khulafaa
Ibn Is'haq said in As-Seerah: Az-Zuhri narrated to me: Anas bin Malik narrated to me and said: Abu Bakr spoke, praised Allah and said,
"And now people, I have been put in authority over you and I am not the best of you. So if I do right then help me, and if I do wrong then set me straight. Truthfulness is a trust and lying is betrayal. The weak among you are powerful as I restore their rights to them inshaAllah and the powerful among you shall be rendered weak as I take what is due from them inshaAllah. Never does a nation abandon Jihad in the way of God except that God sends humiliation upon them, nor does indecency spread among a people except that God surrounds them in trials. Obey me as long as I obey God and His Messenger, and if I disobey God and His Messenger then you owe me no obedience. Stand up for your prayer, and may God have mercy upon you."
Jalaluddin as-Suyuti, Tareekh ul-Khulafaa
Comments