Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr (Arabic: أبو بكر, romanised: ʾAbū Bakr), born Abd Allah ibn Abi Quhafa (Arabic: عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ, romanised: ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʾAbī Quḥāfa; c. 573 – 23 August 634), was a senior companion, closest friend, and father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who served as the first Rashidun caliph, ruling from 632 until his death in 634. Abu Bakr was granted the honorific title al-Ṣiddīq (lit. the Veracious or Truthful) by Muhammad, a designation that continues to be used by Sunni Muslims to this day.

Born to Abu Quhafa and Umm al-Khayr of the Banu Taym, Abu Bakr was among the earliest converts to Islam and preached dawah to the polytheists. He is considered the first Muslim missionary, as several companions of Muhammad converted through him. He accompanied Muhammad on his migration to Medina and became one of his bodyguards. Abu Bakr participated in all of Muhammad's campaigns against the polytheists and served as the first Amir al-Hajj, the leader of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. In Muhammad's absence, Abu Bakr led the prayers.

Following Muhammad's death in 632, Abu Bakr succeeded him as the first caliph. During Abu Bakr's reign, he overcame a number of uprisings, collectively known as the Ridda Wars, thereby consolidating and expanding Islam over the entire Arabian Peninsula. He commanded the initial incursions into the neighbouring Sasanian and Byzantine Empires, which in the years following his death, would result in the Muslim conquests of Persia and the Levant under his successor, Umar (r. 634–644). Apart from politics, Abu Bakr is credited for the compilation of the Quran, of which he had a personal caliphal codex. Along with Muhammad and Umar, Abu Bakr is buried in the Green Dome at the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, the second holiest site in Islam. He died of illness after a reign of two years, two months, and fourteen days, making him the only Rashidun caliph to die of natural causes.