The Meeting of UMAR and ABU BAKR on the Way...

The Meeting of UMAR and ABU BAKR on the Way, as if by Appointment, with ABU UBAIDA IBN AL-JARRAH, the Proceeding of these Three towards the SAQIFA, and their Further Meeting on the Way with Two ANSAR Friends: "ABU BAKR and UAMR were both hurrying towards the SAQIFA when they met ABU UBAIDA IBN AL-JARRAH, and all three proceeded in that direction. On the way, they met with ASIM and UWAIM IBN SA'IDA. They (ASIM and UWAIM) asked them to go back, as what they wanted was impossible to achieve.

But they refused, saying that they must go there, and went to the SAQIFA". Later events show that these two, ASIM and UWAIM, had been won over from the ANSAR and had joined this faction. For this defection they were severely dealt with by the ANSAR, but more of this anon.

It is an established fact that out of the entire MUHAJIRIN community of Medina, these three persons alone, namely ABU BAKR, UMAR and ABU UBAIDA, were present at the SAQIFA for that fateful meeting AL-BUKHARI says: "ABU BAKR AS-SIDDIQ, UMAR IBN -AL-KHATTAB and ABU UBAIDA IBN AL-JARRAH, went to the ANSAR". The same thing is said by AT-TABARI.

If any doubt still remains, it is removed by the following sentence of MOHIB-AT-TABARI; "No one from among QURAISH except UMAR and ABU UBAIDA were with ABU BAKR at the SAQIFA on that day". The Arrival at the SAQIFA, the Arguments, and the Deciding Factors: When these three persons arrived at the SAQIFA, they found the ANSAR gathered there; they had selected SA'D IBN IBADA for the Caliphate. The following is an exact translation from AT-TABARI: UMAR says, "We came to the ANSAR.

On the way I had thought out the points, which I was to tell them. When we arrived there, I wanted to speak to them. But ABU BAKR stopped me, and asked me to let him speak first; after him I might say anything I liked, ABU BAKR spoke. I was wonder-struck to find that he said exactly the same thing which I had intended to say, and he said more than that". ABDALLAH IBN ABD AL-RAHMAN says that ABU BAKR began the speech.

ABU BAKR said, "…God singled out these MUHAJIRIN of his tribe to become the first Muslims to testify to Muhammad's being the Prophet, to love him, and to bear hardships and insults with him with patience. This was in spite of the fact that the whole nation was against them and taunted and tortured them. They were the first to worship God with the Prophet and believe in his mission.