Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Accepts Islam

Ibn Ishaq said: Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafah accepted Islam. His father’s name was ‘Uthman ibn ‘Amir ibn ‘Amr ibn Ka‘b ibn Sa‘d ibn Taym ibn Murrah ibn Ka‘b ibn Lu’ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. Ibn Hisham says that Abu Bakr’s name was ‘Abd Allah and that ‘Atiq was a nickname associated with his handsome appearance and nobility.

Ibn Ishaq said: When Abu Bakr accepted Islam, he made his Islam known and called people to Allah and His Messenger.

Another explanation says Abu Bakr was called ‘Atiq because his mother had lost children and vowed to name a surviving son ‘Abd al-Ka‘bah and dedicate him to the sanctuary; when he lived, he was called ‘Atiq as though freed from death. He was also called ‘Abd al-Ka‘bah until he accepted Islam, when the Messenger named him ‘Abd Allah. Other explanations connect the name ‘Atiq with being freed from the Fire, or report that his father had sons named Mu‘taq, Mu‘aytiq, and ‘Atiq.

Abu Bakr was sociable, well loved, and approachable. He was the most knowledgeable of Quraysh about its lineages and its history, both good and bad. He was a merchant, known for good character and generosity. Men of his people came to him for his knowledge, trade, and pleasant company. He began calling to Allah and Islam those among his people whom he trusted and who visited and sat with him.

The manuscripts differ in a word describing Abu Bakr’s sociability. The editor identifies his mother, Umm al-Khayr bint Sakhr, and records his father’s mother and his wife. For the biographies of the Companions mentioned in the following account, the editor relies on standard biographical works, including al-Isti‘ab, al-Isabah, Asad al-Ghabah, and Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, without repeating those references after each name.