But what if I told you about a man whose definition of sacrifice makes every modern “grind culture” influencer look like they’re playing pretend? A man who literally gave away a fortune that would make today’s billionaires jealous—not for fame, not for legacy, but because he heard truth and couldn’t do anything less than everything?
His name was Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). And his life of struggle, sacrifice, and unwavering faith built the foundation that Islam stands on today.
The Wealthy Merchant Who Walked Away From It All
Picture Makkah, early 7th century. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) wasn’t just comfortable—he was wealthy by any standard. Historical accounts documented by early Islamic scholars including those in the Sirah literature describe him possessing approximately 40,000 dinars, an enormous fortune for that era that would translate to millions in today’s currency.
He was respected. Connected. The go-to person in his community for solving disputes and providing counsel. People trusted him. His business acumen was legendary. His character was impeccable even before Islam. The Quraysh elite considered him one of their finest.
Now imagine having all that and hearing a message that will cost you everything. Not eventually. Immediately.
When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) revealed to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) that he had been chosen as Allah’s ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) final messenger, something remarkable happened that’s preserved in authentic historical sources. While others hesitated, questioned, asked for time to think—Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) believed instantly.
Without seeing a miracle. Without demanding proof. Without negotiating terms. He just believed.
That’s why the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) later remarked according to narrations preserved by early Islamic historians: “I called people to Islam, and everybody thought about it at least for a while. But this was not the case with Abu Bakr. The moment I presented Islam to him, he accepted it without hesitation.” That immediate, unconditional acceptance earned him the title As-Siddiq—the Truthful One, the one whose faith was so pure that truth resonated in his soul before his mind could question it.
But that belief came with a price tag he was about to pay in blood, wealth, and everything in between.
The Day They Beat Him Until His Face Disappeared
Year 613. Three years after the first revelation. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) received divine command to make the call to Islam public. No more private gatherings. No more hiding. Time to declare truth openly.
Who delivered the first public address inviting people to Islam? Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). According to authentic historical accounts documented by scholars including those recorded in early Sirah compilations, he stood up in front of the Kaaba—the heart of Quraysh power and pagan worship—and called people to pledge allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him).
The reaction was instant and brutal. The young men of Quraysh, in a fit of rage, rushed at Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) from all sides. They beat him so savagely that his face became unrecognizable. Historical sources describe how Utbah ibn Rabi’ah attacked him with particular viciousness, striking him with shoes that had hard edges until his facial features were indistinguishable from the blood and swelling.
The Banu Taym, his own clan, had to carry him home. They genuinely thought he was dying. He lay unconscious for hours. Everyone gathered around expecting to perform funeral rites.
When he finally regained consciousness late that afternoon, barely able to speak, bleeding and broken—what were his first words? Did he cry out in pain? Did he curse his attackers? Did he regret his choice?
No. According to the account preserved by early Islamic historians including Ibn Ishaq, his first whispered question was: “How is the Prophet? Is the Messenger of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) safe?”
His mother and others tried to avoid the question, concerned about his condition. But Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) insisted. He refused to eat or drink anything until he saw with his own eyes that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) was unharmed. Despite his injuries, despite the pain, despite nearly dying—his only concern was the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) safety.
Think about that. The man was beaten within an inch of his life for declaring truth, and his first thought wasn’t for himself. It was for the one who brought that truth. That’s the depth of love and commitment we’re talking about.
The Fortune He Spent on People Society Threw Away
But Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) sacrifice wasn’t just physical. It was financial in ways that should humble every single one of us who thinks giving charity is hard.
Slavery was normal in 7th century Arabia. Owning human beings was as common as owning livestock. And when enslaved people accepted Islam, they had zero protection. No tribe to defend them. No social status to shield them. Just pure, unfiltered torture designed to make them renounce their faith.
Bilal ibn Rabah (may Allah be pleased with him) was one such slave. His master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, would drag Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) out to the scorching desert at noon—when the sand was hot enough to burn skin—lay him flat, and place massive boulders on his chest. The weight would crush his ribs. The heat would sear his back. The torture was designed to break him.
All Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) had to do to make it stop was say “I renounce Muhammad and return to worshipping Al-Lat and Al-Uzza.” Just words. Just survival. Nobody would blame him.
But Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him), despite the agony, despite the crushing weight, despite everything—would only repeat through gritted teeth: “Ahad, Ahad”—One, One, referring to Allah’s ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) absolute Oneness.
When Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) learned about this torture, he didn’t just feel bad. He didn’t just make dua from a distance. He raced to find Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him). He negotiated with Umayyah. He paid an exorbitant price—sources mention figures around 200 dirhams though Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) later said he would have paid a hundred times that amount—and freed him.
But he didn’t stop there. Not even close.
According to authentic historical documentation preserved across multiple early Islamic sources, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) purchased and freed eight enslaved Muslims—four men and four women—spending a total of approximately 40,000 dinars for their freedom. These included Bilal ibn Rabah (may Allah be pleased with him), Ammar ibn Yasir (may Allah be pleased with him), Abu Fukayha (may Allah be pleased with him), Amir ibn Fuhayra (may Allah be pleased with him), Lubaynah (may Allah be pleased with her), Al-Nahdiah (may Allah be pleased with her), Umm Ubays (may Allah be pleased with her), and Harithah bint al-Muammil (may Allah be pleased with her).
Here’s what makes this even more remarkable. Most of these slaves were elderly, weak, or women—people who had zero value in the slave market. They couldn’t do hard labor. They couldn’t fight. They had no economic utility.
His own father confronted him about this. “Why are you freeing these weak slaves? Why don’t you free young, strong men who could protect you and be useful to you?”
Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) response, documented in early Islamic sources, should be carved into every Muslim’s heart: “I am freeing them for the sake of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He), not for my own sake.”
He wasn’t building an army. He wasn’t earning favors. He wasn’t investing in loyalty. He was spending his entire fortune on people society deemed worthless because Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) saw their worth—and that was enough.
By the time of the migration to Madinah, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)—who had once been among the wealthiest men in Makkah—had only about 5,000 dirhams left. He had spent nearly everything freeing tortured believers.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) himself testified to this sacrifice in a hadith recorded in Musnad Ahmad where he stated clearly: “No wealth has benefitted me as much as the wealth of Abu Bakr.” Think about that. The Messenger of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) singled out Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) financial sacrifice as the most beneficial to the cause of Islam.
Three Days in Darkness That Defined Devotion
Fast forward to the year 622. The Quraysh had had enough. Islam was spreading despite their persecution. They couldn’t silence it. They couldn’t stop it. So they decided to end it at the source—assassinate Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him).
The plan was coordinated and clever according to historical accounts. Surround his house at night with young men from different tribes. When he steps out for Fajr prayer, attack simultaneously from all sides. That way, no single tribe bears responsibility for his blood. Collective murder. No blood feud. Problem solved.
But Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) warned His Messenger ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him). That night, the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) left his home, leaving Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) to sleep in his bed as a decoy. And the one person he took with him on the most dangerous journey of his life? Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).
They didn’t head north toward Madinah—that’s what the Quraysh expected. Instead, they went south, to Cave Thawr in Mount Thawr, about five miles from Makkah. A cave so small two men could barely fit inside—approximately 1.25 meters in height according to historical measurements, forcing them to crouch constantly.
For three days and three nights, they hid in that cramped, dark cave while the Quraysh search parties scoured the area. Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) son Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) would listen to the Quraysh plans during the day and bring intelligence at night. His daughter Asma (may Allah be pleased with her) would bring food under cover of darkness. A servant would bring goats to the cave entrance to provide milk.
But here’s the moment that stops me every single time I read it. When they first entered the cave, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) went in first. Why? To check for snakes, scorpions, or anything that could harm the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him). He found holes in the cave walls and tore pieces from his own clothing to stuff them shut, blocking any creatures from entering.
One hole remained. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) placed his foot over it to seal it.
As the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) rested his blessed head on Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) lap, something inside that hole—likely a snake or scorpion—bit Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) foot. The venom spread. The pain was excruciating. Tears began falling from his eyes.
But he didn’t move. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t wake the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him). He would rather endure the venom coursing through his body than disturb the Messenger’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) rest.
Only when his tears accidentally fell onto the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) blessed face did the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) wake up. Seeing Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) in pain, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) applied his blessed saliva to the wound, and according to the account, it healed instantly.
Can you imagine that level of love? That depth of sacrifice? Literally choosing venom over waking someone you love?
Then came the moment Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) immortalized in the Quran. The Quraysh search party arrived at the cave’s entrance. They came so close that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) later said: “If any one of them had simply looked down at their feet, they would have seen us.”
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) whispered to the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him), his voice trembling: “O Messenger of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He), they are upon us.”
And the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him), with complete calm and absolute trust in Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He), replied with words that should be tattooed on every Muslim’s heart: “Do not grieve. Indeed, Allah is with us.”
[Surah At-Tawbah, 9:40]
“If you do not aid him—Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’ And Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and supported him with soldiers you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah—that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) Himself called Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) “his companion” in the Quran. Not by name—by his position. The companion of the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) in the cave. The one who chose to be there in the moment of greatest danger. The one whose first instinct was concern for the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) safety even when death was literally at their feet.
The Strength Nobody Expected
Fast forward to the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) death. The Muslim community shattered. Grief consumed everyone. Strong men collapsed. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)—known for his strength and resolve—stood in the mosque declaring that anyone who said the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) had died would have their head cut off. He genuinely believed the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) had just gone to consult with Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) and would return.
The community was in chaos. Panic. Denial. Grief so overwhelming that people couldn’t function.
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) walked into that mosque. He went to where the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) body lay, kissed his forehead, then walked out and addressed the people with words that brought clarity to the madness:
“If anyone worships Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead. If anyone worships Allah, then Allah is alive, immortal.”
Then, according to historical accounts, he recited the verse:
“Muhammad is no more than an Apostle; and indeed many Apostles have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give reward to those who are grateful.” [Surah Aal-e-Imran, 3:144]
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) later said: “When I heard Abu Bakr recite that verse, my legs gave out from under me and I fell to the ground. It was as if I was hearing that verse for the first time.”
That’s leadership. That’s faith under fire. That’s what happens when decades of struggle have forged you into pure steel.
Then came the Ridda Wars—the wars of apostasy. Entire tribes across Arabia began abandoning Islam or refusing to pay Zakat. Some followed false prophets like Musaylimah. The Muslim state stood on the edge of collapse.
Even Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: “These people still pray. Let’s be lenient. Don’t force them to pay Zakat right now.”
And Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)—the man everyone thought was soft-hearted, gentle, compassionate—looked at Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) with steel in his eyes and said with a firmness documented in authentic historical sources:
“By Allah, I will fight those who differentiate between prayer and Zakat, as Zakat is the compulsory right to be taken from property. By Allah, if they refuse to pay me even a she-goat which they used to pay at the time of Allah’s Messenger, I will fight them for withholding it.”
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) later admitted: “By Allah, it was then that I realized Allah had opened Abu Bakr’s chest to the truth, and I knew he was right.”
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) rallied the Muslim army. He sent generals like Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) to crush the rebellions. Within two years—before his own death—he had united all of Arabia under Islam once again.
The same man who cried when reciting Quran became a lion when Islam’s foundations were threatened. That’s what a lifetime of struggle produces—balanced strength that knows when to be soft and when to be steel.
What Are You Willing to Give?
You just read about a man who gave 40,000 dinars. His social standing. His physical safety. His comfort. Almost his life—multiple times. And he did it not for recognition, not for reward, but because loving Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) and His Messenger ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) meant he couldn’t hold anything back.
What have you sacrificed for your faith lately? Missing a party where there’d be alcohol? Skipping a show with inappropriate content? Giving charity you’ll barely miss?
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) set the standard. When the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) called for donations for the expedition to Tabuk, Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) brought half of everything he owned, thinking he’d finally outdone Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). When the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) what he had left for his family, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) answered: “I have left Allah and His Messenger for them.” He brought everything.
That’s the difference. We calculate. We negotiate with Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He). We treat deen like a transaction. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) treated it like oxygen. Like he couldn’t live without it.
So close this screen. Delete one app that’s stealing your time. Give charity that actually hurts your wallet. Wake up for Fajr tomorrow no matter how tired you are. Stand up for truth even if it costs you something.
Because Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) proved that Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) never abandons those who abandon everything for Him.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes. Readers should consult qualified Islamic scholars for specific religious rulings and personal guidance. Verification of hadith authenticity is encouraged through recognized Islamic authorities and institutions.
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