Editing Abu Bakr (section)

== Assessment and legacy ==
Although Abu Bakr's caliphate lasted only two years, two months, and fifteen days, it encompassed successful campaigns against the [[Sassanid Empire]] and [[Byzantine Empire]], the two most powerful empires of the era. He is known by the titles as ''[[Siddiq|Al-Siddiq]], [[Atiq]]'' and ''Companion of the Cave''.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=YÂR-ı GĀR (Companion of the cave) |encyclopedia=[[İslâm Ansiklopedisi|TDV Encyclopedia of Islam]] |url=https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/yar-i-gar |date=2013 |lang=tr |last1=İsmet Uzun |first1=Mustafa}}</ref>

As the first caliph in [[Islamic history]], Abu Bakr was also the first to nominate a successor. Notably, he returned his entire [[caliphate|caliphal]] allowance to the state [[treasury]] upon his death, a unique act among caliphs.<ref name="archive.org"/> Additionally, he purchased the land for [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi]].{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

=== Sunni view ===
[[Sunni Islam|Sunni Muslim]] tradition considers Abu Bakr the best man after the prophets in [[Sunni Islam]]. He is also regarded as one of [[Hadith of the Ten Promised Paradise|the Ten Promised Paradise]] (''[[The ten to whom Paradise was promised|al-'Ashara al-Mubashshara]]'') whom Muhammad testified were destined for Paradise. Abu Bakr is recognized as the "Successor of Allah's Messenger" (''Khalifa Rasulullah''), the first of the Rightly Guided Caliphs – i.e., the [[Rashidun]] – and the rightful successor to Muhammad. He was always the closest friend and confidant of Muhammad, accompanying him during every major event. Muhammad consistently honored Abu Bakr's wisdom. He is regarded among the greatest of Muhammad's followers; as Umar ibn al-Khattab stated, "If the faith of Abu Bakr were weighed against the faith of the people of the earth, the faith of Abu Bakr would outweigh theirs."<ref>Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in "al-Jamia" lashu'ab al-Eemaan' (1:18) and its narrators are trustworthy.</ref>

=== Shia view ===

[[Shia|Shia Muslims]] believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib was supposed to assume the [[Caliphate|leadership]] and that he had been publicly and unambiguously appointed by Muhammad as his successor at [[Event of Ghadir Khumm|Ghadir Khumm]]. It is also believed that Abu Bakr and Umar conspired to take over power in the Muslim nation after Muhammad's death in a coup d'état against Ali.

Most [[Twelver]] Shia (as the main branch of Shia Islam, with 85% of all Shias)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shia Islam's Holiest Sites |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/shia-islam-s-holiest-sites.html |website=worldatlas.com |date=25 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.al-islam.org/shiite-encyclopedia-ahlul-bayt-dilp-team/usurping-land-fadak |title=Usurping the Land of Fadak |website=al-islam.org |date=12 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.al-islam.org/the-message-ayatullah-jafar-subhani/chapter-44-story-fadak |title=Chapter 44 - The Story of Fadak |website=al-islam.org |date=27 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.twelvershia.net/2014/05/08/fadak-prophetic-inheritance-qa/ |title=Fadak and Inheritance Q&A |date=8 May 2014 |website=twelvershia.net}}</ref> have a negative view of Abu Bakr because, after Muhammad's death, Abu Bakr refused to grant Muhammad's daughter, [[Fatimah]], the lands of the village of [[Fadak]] which she claimed her father had given to her as a gift before his death. He refused to accept the testimony of her witnesses, so she claimed the land would still belong to her as inheritance from her deceased father. However, Abu Bakr replied by saying that Muhammad had told him that the prophets of God do not leave as inheritance any worldly possessions and on this basis he refused to give her the lands of Fadak.<ref>[http://www.al-islam.org/fatima-the-gracious-abu-muhammad-ordoni/abu-bakr-versus-fatima-az-zahra-sa al-islam.org], ''Fatima the Gracious'', by Abu – Muhammad Ordoni, 1987, Section entitled ''Abu Bakr Versus Fatima az-Zahra (sa)''.<br />See also ''Sahih Al Bukhari'' Volume 5, Book 57, Number 60, which says: "Fatima sent somebody to Abu Bakr asking him to give her her inheritance from the Prophet from what Allah had given to His Apostle through Fai (i.e. booty gained without fighting). She asked for the Sadaqa (i.e. wealth assigned for charitable purposes) of the Prophet at Medina, and Fadak, and what remained of the Khumus (i.e., one-fifth) of the Khaibar booty". Abu Bakr said, "Allah's Apostle said, "We (Prophets), our property is not inherited, and whatever we leave is Sadaqa, but Muhammad's Family can eat from this property, i.e. Allah's property, but they have no right to take more than the food they need". By Allah! I will not bring any change in dealing with the Sadaqa of the Prophet (and will keep them) as they used to be observed in his (i.e. the Prophet's) life-time, and I will dispose with it as Allah's Apostle used to do". Then Ali said, "I testify that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Apostle", and added, "O Abu Bakr! We acknowledge your superiority". Then he (i.e. Ali) mentioned their own relationship to Allah's Apostle and their right. Abu Bakr then spoke saying, "By Allah in Whose Hands my life is. I love to do good to the relatives of Allah's Apostle rather than to my own relatives". Abu Bakr added: Look at Muhammad through his family".<br />See also ''Sahih Al Bukhari'' Volume 8, Book 80, Number 722, which says: Aisha said, "When Allah's Apostle died, his wives intended to send Uthman to Abu Bakr asking him for their share of the inheritance". Then Aisha said to them, "Didn't Allah's Apostle say, Our (Apostles') property is not to be inherited, and whatever we leave is to be spent in charity?"</ref> However, as Sayed Ali Asgher Razwy notes in his book ''A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims'', Muhammad inherited a maid servant, five camels, and ten sheep. Shia Muslims believe that prophets can receive inheritance, and can pass on inheritance to others as well.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Razwy |first1=Ali Asgher |title=A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims |pages=34–35}}</ref> In addition, Shias claim that Muhammad had given Fadak to Fatimah during his lifetime,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jalālī |first1=Ḥusaynī |title=Fadak wa l-ʿawālī |page=141}}</ref> and Fadak was therefore a gift to Fatimah, not inheritance. This view has also been supported by the Abbasid ruler [[al-Ma'mun]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shahīdī |title=Zindigānī-yi Fātima-yi Zahrā |page=117}}</ref>

Twelvers also accuse Abu Bakr of participating in the [[Umar at Fatimah's house|burning of the house of Ali and Fatima]].<ref>Ibn Qutayba al Dinawari. Al Imama Wa'l Siyasa.</ref> The Twelver Shia believe that Abu Bakr sent [[Khalid ibn Walid]] to crush those who were in favour of [[Ali]]'s caliphate (''see [[Ridda Wars]]''). The Twelver Shia strongly contest the idea that Abu Bakr or Umar were instrumental in the collection or preservation of the ''Quran'', claiming that they should have accepted the copy of the book in the possession of Ali.<ref>[http://al-islam.org/encyclopedia/chapter8/4.html al-islam.org], ''The Quran Compiled by Imam Ali (AS)''</ref>

However, Sunnis argue that Ali and Abu Bakr were not enemies and that Ali named his sons Abi Bakr in honor of Abu Bakr.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The names of Imam Ali (as)'s sons |url=http://names-of-imam-ali-sons.html/ |access-date=13 August 2021 |language=en}}{{Dead link |date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> After the death of Abu Bakr, Ali raised Abu Bakr's son [[Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr|Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr]]. The Twelver Shia view Muhammad as one of the greatest companions of Ali.<ref name="ReferenceB">Nahj al-Balagha Sermon 71, Letter 27, Letter 34, Letter 35</ref> When he was killed by the [[Umayyad dynasty|Umayyads]],<ref name="ReferenceB" /> Aisha, the third wife of Muhammad (the prophet), raised and taught her nephew [[Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr|Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr]]. Qasim's mother was from Ali's family and his daughter [[Farwah bint al-Qasim]] was married to [[Muhammad al-Baqir]] and was the mother of [[Ja'far al-Sadiq]]. Therefore, Qasim was the grandson of Abu Bakr and the grandfather of Ja'far al-Sadiq.

[[Zaidiyyah|Zaydi Shias]], the largest group amongst the Shia before the [[Safavid dynasty]] and currently the second-largest group (although its population is only about 5% of all Shia Muslims),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/208632.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/208632.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |title=state.gov}}</ref><ref>Stephen W. Day (2012), Regionalism and Rebellion in Yemen - A Troubled National Union, [[Cambridge University Press]], p. 31 {{ISBN|9781107022157}} Jump up</ref><ref>"Mapping the Global Muslim Population - A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population", Pew Research Center, 7 October 2009, retrieved 25 August 2010.</ref> believe that on the last hour of [[Zayd ibn Ali]] (the uncle of Ja'far al-Sadiq), he was betrayed by the people in [[Kufa]] who said to him: "May God have mercy on you! What do you have to say on the matter of Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab?" Zayd ibn Ali said, "I have not heard anyone in my family renouncing them both nor saying anything but good about them [...] when they were entrusted with government they behaved justly with the people and acted according to the Quran and the Sunnah".<ref name="Najeebabadi">Akbar Shah Najeebabadi, The history of Islam, B0006RTNB4.</ref><ref>The waning of the Umayyad caliphate by Tabarī, Carole Hillenbrand, 1989, p. 37–38</ref><ref>The Encyclopedia of Religion, Vol. 16, Mircea Eliade, Charles J. Adams, Macmillan, 1987, p. 243, "They were called Rafida by the followers of Zayd"</ref>

In a similar view, the [[Isma'ilism|Ismaili Shias]] under the leadership of the [[Aga Khan]]s have also come to accept the caliphates of the first three caliphs, including that of Abu Bakr:

{{Blockquote|"In the present Imamat, the final reconciliation between the Shia and Sunni doctrines has been publicly proclaimed by myself on exactly the same lines as [[Ali|Hazrat Aly]] did at the death of the Prophet and during the first thirty years after that. '''The political and worldly Khalifat was accepted by Hazrat Aly in favour of the three first Khalifs voluntarily and with goodwill for the protection of the interests of the Muslims throughout the world. We Ismailis now in the same spirit accept the Khalifat of the first Khalifs''' and such other Khalifs as during the last thirteen centuries helped the cause of Islam, politically, socially and from a worldly point of view. On the other hand, the Spiritual Imamat remained with Hazrat Aly and remains with his direct descendants always alive till the day of Judgement" |author=''Aga Khan III - Selected Speeches and Writings of Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah'', p. 1417<ref>{{Cite book |last=Aga Khan III |title=Selected Speeches and Writings of Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah |publisher=Kegan Paul |date=1998 |isbn=0710304277 |page=1417}}</ref>}}