Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Gentle Disposition and Assisting People
Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was a person who was well known and respected among the people of Makkah Mukarramah and the surrounding tribes. He was beloved to the people and had a gentle and soft disposition. Among the Quraish, he was regarded as the most knowledgeable person in regard to the lineage of the various tribes of the Quraish. He was a businessman who possessed excellent character and virtue. Due to his knowledge, business acumen and sterling qualities, people would come to him and confide in him regarding their affairs. He would spend on the poor and needy and assist people in difficulty and hardship. Through remaining in the mubaarak company of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), the beautiful qualities of nubuwwah rubbed onto him, until even in the sight of the kuffaar he was highly praised for his noble character, sublime generosity and assisting the creation at the time of difficulty.
At the time when the Muslims were being mercilessly persecuted in Makkah Mukarramah and practising deen became extremely difficult, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) permitted the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to emigrate to Abyssinia. Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was about to leave Makkah Mukarramah, when he met Ibnud Daghinah, one of the leaders of the Quraish. Ibnud Daghinah said to him, “O Abu Bakr! A man of your calibre should not leave this land and it does not befit the people of your land to remove you. You are renowned for earning and providing sustenance to those who are unable to earn for themselves, you uphold the rights of kinship, you carry the burdens of others (i.e. settling their debts and assisting them), you show hospitality to your guests and you are there for the people (aiding and assisting them) at the time of natural disasters and calamities (e.g. at the time of famine and drought).” (Saheeh Bukhaari #3905)
These noble and exceptional qualities which Ibnud Daghinah mentioned in praise of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) were the very same qualities that Hazrat Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) had mentioned when describing the blessed character of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) at the time when he received nubuwwah from Allah Ta‘ala. Hence, we see that through remaining in the mubaarak company of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), the colours of nubuwwah had rubbed onto him.
