ABUBAKR THE WORTHLESS LEADER - DEBATE

A renowned scholar of the Ahle Tasannun (those who claim to follow the Sunnah) from Iraq Abu Huzail al-Allaaf narrates: During one of my journeys from ‘Raqqa’, I heard about an insane person who was a resident of ‘Ma’bade Zaki’. He was very well-mannered and soft-spoken. I went to meet him in Ma’bad. He was an old and tall person seated on a mat. He was combing his hair and beard. I saluted him and we had some discussion, which is as follows:

Old man: Where do you hail from?

Abu Huzail: Iraq

Old man: So you are experienced and possess good manners. Which city of Iraq do you hail from?

Abu Huzail: Basra

Old man: What is your name?

Abu Huzail: I am Abu Huzail-e-Allaaf

Old man: The famous debater?

Abu Huzail: Yes

On learning this, he rose from his place and made me sit next to him on the mat and after some discussion asked: What are your views on Imamat?

Abu Huzail: Which Imamat are you referring to?

Old man: I mean, after the demise of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), who did you consider as his successor and vicegerent?

No virtue for Abu Bakr in the Incident of the Cave

Many so-called Muslims claim the superiority of Abu Bakr as he was the companion of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) inside the cave on the night of migration. Among other points, they conclude that this makes him an automatic choice as the caliph of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)!! (Take lesson, O people of wisdom!)

Reply

Accompanying the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is not a virtue unless it is on a divine command. Without a divine command, it is like any other action and no special position or virtue can be claimed for it. Particularly, for accompanying the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in the cave, which as we shall see was a source of ignominy and humiliation for Abu Bakr.

Argument of the skeptics

Let us first examine the argument advanced by the skeptics favoring Abu Bakr.

As proof they advance the 40^th verse of Surah Taubah (9):             

‘If you do not help him, Allah certainly will help him when those who disbelieved expelled him, he being the second of the two, when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion: Grieve not, surely Allah is with us. So Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and strengthened him with hosts which you did not see, and made lowest the word of those who disbelieved; and the word of Allah, that is the highest; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.’

These Muslims derive the following points from the verse:

1. Allah, the Merciful in the Quran has mentioned His messenger (s.a.w.a.) and also mentioned Abu Bakr as the “second of the two”.
2. Allah in this verse has mentioned both (Messenger and Abu Bakr) together which underlines their special relation
3. In the aforementioned verse, Allah mentioned Abu Bakr as the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) companion which tells us Abu Bakr’s status.
4. Allah has informed Abu Bakr through the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) which is stated as ‘don’t grieve’