Editing Abu Bakr (section)

== Early life ==
Abu Bakr was born in [[Mecca]] sometime in 573 to a rich family in the Banu Taym tribe of the [[Quraysh (tribe)|Quraysh]] tribal confederacy.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Islamic Thought: From Mohammed to 11 September 2001 |last=Al-Jubouri |first=I.M.N. |date=2010 |page=53 |isbn=9781453595855 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=owqY-90imMIC&pg=PA53}}</ref> His father was [[Abu Quhafa]] and his mother was [[Umm al-Khayr]].<ref name="Saritoprak">{{cite web |last1=Saritoprak |first1=Zeki |title=Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq |url=http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195390155/obo-9780195390155-0221.xml |access-date=12 December 2018 |website=oxfordbibliographies.com |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref>

He spent his early childhood like other Arab children of the time, among the [[Bedouin]]s who called themselves ''Ahl-i-Ba'eer'' (the people of the camel) and developed a particular fondness for camels. In his early years, he played with the camel calves and goats, and his love for camels earned him the nickname (''[[Kunya (Arabic)|kunya]]'') "''Abu Bakr''", the father of the camel's calf.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Islam for Nerds – 500 Questions and Answers |last=Drissner |first=Gerald |publisher=createspace |date=2016 |isbn=978-1530860180 |page=432}}</ref><ref>''War and Peace in the Law of Islam'' by [[Majid Khadduri]], translated by Muhammad Yaqub Khan Published 1951 Ahmadiyyah Anjuman Ishaat Islam, original from the [[University of Michigan]], digitised 23 October 2006</ref>

Like other children of the rich Meccan merchant families, Abu Bakr was literate and developed a fondness for [[Arabic poetry|poetry]]. He used to attend the annual fair at [[Souk Okaz|Ukaz]], and participate in poetical symposia. He had a very good memory and had a good knowledge of the [[genealogy]] of the Arab tribes, their stories and their politics.<ref>Al-Zarkali, ''Al-A'lam'', Dar al-Ilm lil Malayeen, 15th edition, May 2002</ref>

A story is preserved that once when he was a child, his father took him to the [[Kaaba]] and asked him to pray before the [[Idolatry|idols]]. His father went away to attend to some other business, and Abu Bakr was left alone. Addressing an idol, Abu Bakr said, "O my God, I am in need of beautiful clothes; bestow them on me". The idol remained indifferent. Then he addressed another idol, saying, "O God, give me some delicious food. See that I am so hungry". The idol remained cold. That exhausted the patience of young Abu Bakr. He lifted a stone, and, addressing an idol, said, "Here I am aiming a stone; if you are a god protect yourself". Abu Bakr hurled the stone at the idol and left the [[Kaaba]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Sidiq-i-Akbar Hazrat Abu Bakr |author=Masud-ul-Hasan |page=2 |publisher=[[Ferozsons]]}}</ref> Regardless, it recorded that prior to converting to Islam, Abu Bakr practiced as a ''[[hanif]]'' and never worshipped idols.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195390155/obo-9780195390155-0221.xml |title=Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq – Islamic Studies |publisher=[[Oxford Bibliographies Online]] |access-date=13 September 2018}}</ref>