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Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr

(Redirected from Abdu'l-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr)

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abi Bakr (Arabic: عبد الرحمن بن أبي بكر; c. 596 or 605–675) was an Arab Muslim military commander and a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He was the eldest son of the first Rashidun caliph, Abu Bakr, and a full brother of Aisha.

Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr
عبد الرحمن بن أبي بكر
Bornc. 596 or 605
Mecca, Hejaz, Arabia
Diedc. 675 (aged 70–79)
Mecca, Umayyad Caliphate
AllegianceQuraysh (624–628)
Muhammad (628–632)
Rashidun Caliphate (632–656)
Branch
Rashidun army
Rashidun cavalry
Service years
624–656
UnitMubarizun
Conflicts
SpouseQurayba bint Abi Umayya
Children
Muhammad Abu Atiq
Abd Allah
Talha
Asma (mother of Umm Farwa)
Umm Hakim
Hafsa
Parents
Relations
Aisha (sister)
Asma (half-sister)
Umm Kulthum (half-sister)
Muhammad (half-brother)
Abdullah (half-brother)

Unlike most of his family, Abd al-Rahman remained a polytheist during the early years of the Islamic mission and fought for the Quraysh against the Muslims at Badr and Uhud. He converted following the Treaty of Hudaybiyah in 628 and subsequently participated in major campaigns of the early Muslim conquests, notably in Syria and Egypt. He is distinguished in Islamic historiography for being part of the only family to produce four consecutive generations of companions to Muhammad.[1]

Early life and Family

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Abd al-Rahman was born in Mecca into the Banu Taym clan. He was the son of Abu Bakr and Umm Ruman. While he shared both parents with Aisha, he was a half-brother to Asma bint Abi Bakr (born of Qutaylah bint Abd al-Uzza) and Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr (born of Asma bint Umays).

Islamic historians highlight a unique genealogical distinction in his lineage: four generations of his direct male line were companions of Muhammad. This includes his grandfather Abu Quhafa, his father Abu Bakr, Abd al-Rahman himself, and his son Abu Atiq Muhammad.[2]

Battles against the Muslims

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Before his conversion, Abd al-Rahman fought for the Quraysh. During the Battle of Badr, he had opportunities to slay his father, Abu Bakr, but purposely avoided him. When he later told his father of this, Abu Bakr famously replied that had the roles been reversed, he would not have shown such mercy for the sake of his faith.[3]

At the Battle of Uhud, Abd al-Rahman stepped forward to issue a challenge for a duel. His father Abu Bakr moved to accept, but was restrained by Muhammad, who noted that Abu Bakr’s counsel was too valuable to risk in single combat.[4]

Participation in the early conquests

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After his conversion to Islam, Abd al-Rahman participated in the Early Muslim conquests, gaining a reputation as a fierce warrior, particularly during the Muslim conquest of Syria. He served in the Mubarizun, an elite unit of the Rashidun army consisting of champion swordsmen and lancers.[5] His primary role was to engage enemy champions in single combat (duels) before the start of a general battle to undermine enemy morale.[6]

During the Battle of Yamama, the rebel general Muhkam ibn al-Tufayl was rallying his troops to prevent a retreat. Abd al-Rahman killed him with an arrow to the throat. This removed a key commander of the Banu Hanifa and weakened their defensive line, contributing to the eventual Muslim breakthrough.[7]

In the Battle of Yarmouk, the commander in chief of the Byzantine force chose five selected warriors from the Byzantine side, and they challenged the Muslims to duels. It was Abd al-Rahman who accepted the challenge. Scores of duels were fought on the plains of Yarmouk. Abd al-Rahman killed all of them one after the other.[4] At the Battle of Busra in Syria, he entered the city of Busra through a subterranean passage and then dashing towards the city gates opened them for the main Muslim army to enter.[4]

Later, Abd al-Rahman participated in the campaign to Bahnasa.[8] During the siege, the Byzantine forces were reportedly reinforced by a large contingent of Nubian units, which medieval chronicler al-Maqqari estimated at 50,000 troops.[9][10] Under the overall command of Khalid ibn al-Walid, Abd al-Rahman served as a field commander alongside Zubayr ibn al-Awwam. Following a fierce assault, the Muslim forces breached the city gates. The battle is noted in Islamic tradition for its high intensity; chronicles record that 5,000 companions were killed during the siege and were buried in what became known as the "City of Martyrs."[9][Notes 1]

Later, the Muslim forces besieged Barqa (Cyrenaica) for about three years to no avail.[11] Then Khalid ibn al-Walid, who had previously participated in the conquest of Oxyrhynchus, offered a radical plan to erect a catapult that would be filled with sacks of cotton.[11] Then as the night came and the city guard slept, Khalid ordered his best warriors including Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr, Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, his son Abd Allah, Fadl ibn Abbas, Abu Mas'ud al-Badri, and Abd al-Razzaq to step into the catapult platform which was then filled with cotton sacks.[11]

Political activity

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Witness to the assassination of Umar

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Shortly before the assassination of Caliph Umar in 644 CE, Abd al-Rahman reported seeing the perpetrator, Abu Lu'lu'a, in a clandestine meeting with Jufaynah (a Christian from al-Hira) and the former Sassanid general Hormuzan. According to his account, the group appeared startled by his presence and dropped a distinct "two-bladed dagger" with a handle in the middle.[12] After the assassination, a dagger matching Abd al-Rahman's description was recovered, which prompted Umar's son, Ubayd Allah ibn Umar, to take retaliatory action against Hormuzan and Jufaynah.

Role under Uthman and the Kufan revolt

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In 654–655 CE, during the revolt of Kufa against the governor Sa'id ibn al-As, Abd al-Raḥmān was sent by Caliph Uthman to communicate with al-Ashtar, who had taken control of the city. He, together with Al-Miswar ibn Makhrama, attempted to summon the rebels back to obedience. Al-Ashtar demanded that ʿUthmān confirm the appointments of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari and Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, which the caliph subsequently did.[13][14]

First Fitna

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Battle of the Camel

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Following the mobilization of Aisha's forces, Abd al-Rahman was among the members of the Quraysh who set off for Basra to demand justice for the assassination of Uthman.[15] Upon arrival, he addressed the settlers, calling for repentance for the excesses committed during Uthman's reign and rallying support for the cause.[15] While his half-brother Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr supported Ali ibn Abi Talib's faction, Abd al-Rahman remained committed to Aisha's cause throughout the conflict.[16][17]

During the Battle of the Camel (656 CE), Abd al-Rahman participated directly in the fighting as a combatant.[17] In addition to his role in the field, he was tasked with overseeing the finances and managing the treasury for the Basran contingent supporting Aisha.[18]

Arbitration after the Battle of Siffin

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Abd al-Rahman attended the arbitration council in Udhruh, alongside other sons of prominent companions and leading second-generation elites. The council attempted to mediate between the factions of Ali and Mu'awiya I. Abd al-Rahman was among the attendees who were outmaneuvered by Muʿāwiya’s political strategy involving Abu Musa al-Ashʿarī.[19]

Umayyad conquest of Egypt

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During the Umayyad conquest of Egypt, Abd al-Rahman served in the army of Amr ibn al-As. He was sent by Aisha to Amr to intercede for his half-brother, Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, who had been captured after his forces were routed. Although Abd al-Rahman secured an agreement from Amr to spare Muhammad’s life, the accord was disregarded by Mu'awiya ibn Hudayj, who executed Muhammad regardless of the agreement.[20]

Opposition to Yazid’s succession

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In 56 AH (675–676 CE), Mu'awiya I called upon his subjects throughout the outlying territories to pledge allegiance to his son, Yazid I, as the future Caliph. While the majority of the empire complied, five prominent figures who withheld their allegiance were Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr, Abd Allah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab, Husayn ibn Ali, Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, and Ibn Abbas.[21] Upon returning from Makkah after completing his Umrah, Mu'awiya stopped in Medina to personally summon, threaten, and intimidate these dissenters. According to Ibn Kathir, the interactions varied in temperament; Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr was the sharpest and most firm in his defiance toward the Caliph, standing in stark contrast to the soft-spoken nature of Abd Allah ibn Umar.[2]

Death and legacy

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In 675 CE (53 AH or 55 AH), following his staunch opposition to the appointment of Yazid I, Abd al-Rahman left Medina for Mecca to seek sanctuary in the Haram. He eventually took up residence in a place called al-Habshi, located approximately 10 miles (16 km) from the city. He died there suddenly in his sleep.[4]

The suddenness of his passing led his sister Aisha to initially suspect foul play, specifically poisoning by political opponents. However, Islamic tradition records that her suspicions were eased after she witnessed another individual die in a similarly abrupt yet natural manner.[22] Upon receiving the news, Aisha traveled to Mecca during the Hajj season to visit his grave. Standing by his tomb, she recited elegiac verses by the poet Mutammim bin Nuwayra:

"We were like two companions of Jadhima for a long time, until it was said: 'They will never part.' But when we parted, it was as if I and Malik, despite our long time together, had never spent a single night side by side."

She remarked that had she been present at the time of his death, she would have ensured he was buried exactly where he fell, rather than being moved to a formal cemetery.[4] He was ultimately interred in the Mala cemetery in Mecca.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Traditional accounts of the city's fall vary, with some detailing a "suicide squad" that used sulfur and oil to breach the gates.

References

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  1. ↑ Hassan 1976, p. 12.
  2. 1 2 Ibn Kathir 2012, p. 82.
  3. ↑ al-Suyuti 1881, p. 64.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Hassan 1976, p. 44.
  5. ↑ Nicolle 1994, p. 37.
  6. ↑ Nicolle 1994, p. 36.
  7. ↑ Tabari 1993, p. 119.
  8. ↑ Blumell 2012, pp. 295–300.
  9. 1 2 Norris 1986, p. 81.
  10. ↑ Hendrickx 2012, pp. 109–110.
  11. 1 2 3 Al-Sha'er 2020.
  12. ↑ Tabari 1994, p. 158.
  13. ↑ Madelung 1997, p. 141.
  14. ↑ Wellhausen 1927, p. 46.
  15. 1 2 ibn Rāshid 2014, p. 223.
  16. ↑ Landau-Tasseron 1998, p. 291.
  17. 1 2 Ibn Hajar 1995, p. 246.
  18. ↑ Madelung 1997, p. 168.
  19. ↑ Madelung 1997, p. 285.
  20. ↑ Madelung 1997, p. 268.
  21. ↑ Donner 2012, p. 177.
  22. ↑ al-Hakim 1990.

Bibliography

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