Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr, born in 27 October 573 to Abu Quhafa and Umm Khayr. He belonged to the tribe of Banu Taym.

## Physical description

### Gender

Male

Following the death of Muhammad in June 632, a gathering of the Ansar, the native people of Medina, took place in the Saqifah of the Banu Sa'ida clan. The purpose of the meeting was the selection of a new leader for the Muslim community from among the Ansar,

Abu Bakr and Umar, prominent companions of Muhammad, became concerned about the potential for a coup and hurried to join the gathering.

Abu Bakr was choosen as as the head of the Muslim community, known as the Caliph.

However, the rushed nature of the event led to some contention, and several companions, most notably Ali ibn Abi Talib, initially refused to acknowledge Abu Bakr's authority.

Ali, being Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, could have been expected to assume leadership. Abu Bakr sent Umar to confront Ali and secure his allegiance, which resulted in an altercation, possibly involving violence. However, after six months, peace was made between the group and Ali pledged his loyalty to Abu Bakr.

Apostasy spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula, affecting every tribe except for those in Mecca and Medina, the Banu Thaqif in Ta'if, and the Bani Abdul Qais of Oman. In some cases, entire tribes renounced their faith in Islam. Others, while not openly challenging Islam, refused to pay the zakat, the alms tax. Many tribes claimed that their allegiance to Muhammad had ended with his death, asserting that they had only submitted to him as a leader, not as part of a larger community (ummah).

This situation led to a series of conflicts known as the Ridda wars, as the Caliph sought to bring the apostate tribes back under Islamic rule.

Abu Bakr, the first caliph of Islam, devised a comprehensive strategy to address the apostasy movements in Arabia. He organized the Muslim army into multiple corps, with the corps led by Khalid ibn al-Walid serving as the primary force. This corps was tasked with confronting the most powerful rebel factions.

Through a series of successful campaigns, Khalid ibn al-Walid emerged victorious in the decisive Battle of Yamama, defeating Musaylimah and solidifying the Muslim control over the region.

This campaign against apostasy concluded in the eleventh year of the Islamic calendar, and by the twelfth year, which began on March 18, 633, the Arabian Peninsula was united under the caliphate in Medina.

Following the successful unification of Arabia, Abu Bakr turned his attention towards expanding Islamic territories beyond the Arabian Peninsula. The caliph initiated incursions into the East Roman Empire and the Sasanian Empire.

Abu Bakr's first target was the Sasanian Empire. He dispatched General Khalid ibn al-Walid to invade the Sassanian territories in 633. Additionally, he sent four armies to conquer the Roman province of Syria, with the decisive operation commencing when Khalid, having completed the conquest of Iraq, was redeployed to the Syrian front in 634.

After Abu Bakr's death in 634, Caliph Umar assumed leadership and continued the military campaigns. Under the command of Khalid ibn al-Walid and other skilled generals, swiftly advanced into Syria, capturing strategic locations and securing key victories, including the decisive Battle of Yarmouk in 636.

By 651, the entire Persian Empire had fallen to the Rashidun Caliphate, marking the end of the Sasanian dynasty.