Editing Abu Bakr (section)

=== Subsequent life in Mecca ===
His wife [[Qutaylah bint Abd-al-Uzza]] did not accept Islam and he divorced her. His other wife, [[Um Ruman|Umm Ruman]], became a Muslim. All his children accepted Islam except [[Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr|Abd al-Rahman]], from whom Abu Bakr disassociated himself. His conversion also brought many people to Islam. He persuaded his intimate friends to convert,<ref>[[Al-Bidaya wa l-Nihaya]] 3/26</ref><ref>[[Merriam-Webster]]'s ''Encyclopedia of World Religions'' by Wendy Doniger {{ISBN|978-0-87779-044-0}}</ref> and presented Islam to other friends in such a way that many of them also accepted the faith. Those who converted to Islam at the [[dawah]] of Abu Bakr were:<ref name="Ashraf">{{cite book |last1=Ashraf |first1=Shahid |title=Encyclopaedia Of Holy Prophet And Companion (Set Of 15 Vols.) |date=2004 |publisher=Anmol Publications Pvt. Limited |isbn=978-81-261-1940-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QWqctAEACAAJ |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Uthman Ibn Affan]] (who would become the 3rd Caliph)
* [[Zubayr ibn al-Awam|Al-Zubayr]] (who played a part in the [[Muslim conquest of Egypt]])
* [[Talha ibn Ubayd-Allah]], his cousin and an important companion of Muhammad.
* [[Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf]] (who would remain an important part of the [[Rashidun Caliphate]])
* [[Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas]] (who played a leading role in the [[Islamic conquest of Persia]])
* [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]] (who was a commander in chief of the [[Rashidun army]] in Levant)
* [[Abu Salama]] was a foster brother of Muhammad.
* [[Khalid ibn Sa'id]], (who acted as a general under the Rashidun army in Syria)

Abu Bakr's acceptance proved to be a milestone in Muhammad's mission. [[Islamic views on slavery|Slavery]] was common in Mecca, and many slaves accepted Islam. When an ordinary free man accepted Islam, despite opposition, he would enjoy the protection of his tribe. For slaves, however, there was no such protection and they commonly experienced persecution. Abu Bakr felt compassion for slaves, so he purchased eight (four men and four women) and then freed them, paying 40,000 [[dinar]] for their freedom.<ref>[[The Book of the Major Classes|Tabaqat ibn Sa'd]] 3/ 169, 174</ref><ref>[[History of the Prophets and Kings|Tarikh ar-Rusul wa al-Muluk]] 3/ 426</ref> He was known to have freed slaves, including [[Bilal ibn Rabah]], who will became the first [[Muezzin]].

The men were:
* [[Bilal ibn Rabah]]
* [[Abu Fukayha]]
* [[Ammar ibn Yasir]]
* [[Amir ibn Fuhayra]]

The women were:
* [[Lubaynah]]
* [[Al-Nahdiah]]
* [[Umm Ubays]]
* [[Harithah bint al-Muammil]]

Most of the slaves liberated by Abu Bakr were either women or old and frail men.<ref>''The Mohammedan Dynasties: Chronological and Genealogical Tables with Historical Introductions (1894)'' by [[Stanley Lane-Poole]], published by Adamant Media Corporation {{ISBN|978-1-4021-6666-2}}</ref> When his father asked him why he did not liberate strong and young slaves, who could be a source of strength for him, Abu Bakr replied that he was freeing the slaves for the sake of [[Allah|God]], and not for his own sake.