When the Holy Prophetsa began the propagation of his mission, the first to believe was Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra, who did not hesitate, even for a moment. There is a discord among historians in reference to who the first convert among the men was after Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra. Some name Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ‘Abdullāh bin Abī Quhāfahra while others say Ḥaḍrat ‘Alīra, whose age, at that time, was only ten years. Others assert that the freed slave of the Holy Prophetsa, Ḥaḍrat Zaid bin Ḥārithahra was the first one to embrace Islām. However, to us, this argument is useless. Ḥaḍrat ‘Alīra and Zaid bin Ḥārithahra were among the house-folk of the Holy Prophetsa and lived with him as his own children. They were to follow whatever was said by the Holy Prophetsa, as a matter of fact, no verbal declaration was necessary. Thus, their names need not be included. Among the rest, Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakrra is unanimously accepted as the first and foremost in his acceptance of Islām. Therefore, with regards to Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakrra, Ḥassān bin Thābit Anṣārīra, the court poet of the Holy Prophetsa, says:
اِذَا تَذَكَّرْتَ شَجْواً مِنْ اَخِیْ ثِقَةٍ
فَاذْكُرْ اَخَاكَ اَبَا بَكْرٍ بِمَا فَعَلَا
خَیْرَ الْبَرِیَّةِ اَتْقَاھَا وَاَعَدَّلَھَا
بَعْدَ النَّبِیِّ وَ اَوْفَاھَا بِمَا حَمَلَا
اَلثَّانِیَ التَّالِیَّ الْمَحْمُوْدَ مَشْھَدَہٗ
وَ اَوَّلَ النَّاسِ مِنْھُمْ صَدَّقَ الرُّسُلَا
Meaning, “Whenever a compassionate reminiscence of any of your noble bretheren rise in your heart, remember your brother Abū Bakrra as well, on account of his virtues – worthy of remembrance. After the Holy Prophetsa, he was the most righteous and most just of all men and the greatest of those who fulfill their responsibilities. Indeed, it was Abū Bakrra who was the second individual with the Holy Prophetsa in the Cave of Thaur, who had effaced himself in the obedience of the Prophetsa. Whatever task he would undertake, he would make it beautiful, and he was the first of all people to believe in the Messenger.”1
Due to his nobility and abilities, Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakrra was greatly honoured and respected by the Quraish, and in Islām he acquired a status which no other companion has attained. Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakrra did not, even for a moment, doubt the claim of the Holy Prophetsa, rather, accepted him instantaneously. Then he devoted his entire interest and his entire life and wealth in service of the religion brought by the Holy Prophetsa. Among his companions, the Holy Prophetsa held Abū Bakrra most dear to himself. After the demise of the Holy Prophetsa he became his first Caliph. During the time of his Caliphate, he furnished evidence of his unparalleled ability. With regards to Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakrra a renowned European Orientalist named Sprenger writes:
“The faith of Abú Bakr is, in my opinion, the greatest guarantee of the sincerity of Mohammad in the beginning of his career...”2
Sir William Muir is also at complete concurrence with his view.3
1 Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī, By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Al-Jarīr Ṭabarī, Volume 2, p. 226, Bābu Dhikril-Khabri ‘ammā kāna min Amrin-Nabīsa ‘inda Ibtidā’illāhi Ta‘ālā, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002)
2 The Life of Mohammad, Aloys Sprenger, p. 171 (1851 Edition) (Publishers)
3 Life of ‘Mahomet’, By Sir William Muir, p. 58 (footnote 1), Reprint of the 1894 Ed., Published by Voice of India New Delhi