Abu Bakrah

Nufay’ ibn Masruh al Habashi was his name. He belonged to Harith ibn Kaldah al Thaqafi. His mother, Sumayyah, was the slave girl of Harith. Nufay’ was commonly attributed to Harith, as per the pagan custom, but he disapproved of this and insisted that he be attributed to his father, Masruh the Abyssinian.^[1]

His journey to Islam began down the wall of the fort of Ta’if. The year was 8 A.H and Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had just conquered Makkah and defeated the Hawazin at Hunayn, and then turned his attention to Ta’if, where he besieged the fort of the Thaqif. The siege was strenuous, but the Thaqif persevered.

Rasulullah’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam announcer called out, “Whichever slave comes down from the fort to us is free.”^[2] Hearing this, a group of them exited among whom was Nufay’. He descended using the aid of a bakrah (winch), hence he was called Abu Bakrah. Moreover, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam freed him, in accordance to the announcement, thus he is listed among the freed slaves of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He would boast over this saying, “I am from your brothers in religion and I am the freed slave of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. If people insist on attributing me, then I am Nufay’ ibn Masruh.”^[3] His previous master requested Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to return him, but Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam refused saying that he was the emancipated individual of Allah and His Messenger.^[4]

After embracing Islam, Sayyidina Abu Bakrah radiya Llahu ‘anhu lived in the close company of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He derived maximum benefit from his piety and knowledge and passed a great amount of knowledge to the ummah. He has transmitted over 130 valuable ahadith.^[5] Al Bukhari and Muslim collectively transmit 8 of his reports, al Bukhari transmits another 5 and Muslim another 1. His sons, ‘Abdullah and Muslim, as well as famous Tabi’in, viz. Rib’i ibn Harash, Hassan al Basri, and Ahnaf narrate from him. Although his stay with Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was brief, he is reckoned among the eminent and devout Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

He is responsible for transmitting the legendary hadith about Sayyidina Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu. He begins by relating the affection Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam showed to his grandson. He would look at the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum and speak to them and then turn and look at Sayyidina Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu with fondness. Thereafter Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “This son of mine is a leader. If he lives, he will reconcile between two Muslim groups.”^[6] In another narration, he describes how Sayyidina Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu would jump on Rasulullah’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam back while the latter was performing salah.^[7]

His knowledge had proved beneficial. He reports the hadith, “If two people confront each other with swords, each of them wanting to kill the other, they will both be in Hell.” It was said to him, “O Messenger of Allah, (we understand about) the killer, but what about the one who is killed?” He said, “He was determined to kill his companion.”^[8] And he recalls that on the day of the sacrifice at Mina during the Farewell Pilgrimage, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “No doubt your blood, property, and your honour, are sacred to one another as is the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours.”^[9] When the turmoil began between the Muslims, he practiced diligently upon these reports and kept away from the strife. He never wished to soil his hands with the blood of any Muslim.

He simply kept to himself, just as Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam commanded, “There will soon be turmoil. Behold! There will be turmoil in which the one who is seated will be better than one who stands and the one who stands will be better than one who runs. Behold! When the affliction appears, the one who has camel should stick to his camel and he who has sheep or goats should stick to his sheep and goats and he who has land should stick to the land.”^[10]

He involved himself in the worship of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala extensively until he passed away.^[11] Sayyidina Abu Bakrah radiya Llahu ‘anhu later on became famous for his knowledge and excellence to the extent that Hassan al Basri would say that Sayyidina Abu Bakrah and Sayyidina ‘Imran ibn Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhuma were the two most prominent Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum who settled in Basrah.^[12]

He passed away in Basrah around 51 A.H. Sayyidina Abu Barzah al Aslami radiya Llahu ‘anhu performed his Salat al Janazah as per his bequest,^[13] as a bond of brotherhood had been contracted between them by Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.^[14]

NEXT⇒ Wahshi ibn Harb al Habashi

^[1] Usd al Ghabah, vol. 6 pg. 334, Biography: 5289.

^[2] Musnad Ahmed, Hadith: 2118; al Bidayah wa al Nihayah, vol. 5 pg. 32, 33 [referenced to Dala’il al Nubuwwah, vol. 5 pg. 157.]

^[3] Usd al Ghabah, pg. 1290, Biography: 5740.

^[4] Musnad Ahmed, Hadith: 17076.

^[5] Munasarat al Sahabah al Afariqah, pg. 59 [referenced to Musnad Ahmed, vol. 5 pg. 49 – 69.]

^[6] Munasarat al Sahabah al Afariqah, pg. 66 [referenced to Sharh Sahih Muslim, vol. 6 pg. 18.]

^[7] Munasarat al Sahabah al Afariqah, pg. 67 [referenced to Sharh Sahih Muslim, vol. 6 pg. 18.]

^[8] Sunan al Nasa’i, Hadith: 4125.

^[9] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 105.

^[10] Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 6896.

^[11] Usd al Ghabah, pg. 1290, Biography: 5740; Siyar al Sahabah, vol. 4 pg. 467.

^[12] Usd al Ghabah, pg. 1290, Biography: 5740; Tanwir al Ghabash, pg. 133; Raf’ Sha’n al Hubshan, pg. 294; Munasarat al Sahabah al Afariqah, pg. 59.

^[13] Al Bidayah wa al Nihayah, vol. 8 pg. 225; Usd al Ghabah, pg. 1290, Biography: 5740.

^[14] Al Bidayah wa al Nihayah, vol. 8 pg. 225.

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