The Prayer of Abu Bakr Ash Shiddiq -may Allah be pleased with him-
He -may Allah be pleased with him- was among the righteous men, also one of the main companions who was close to the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, the most prominent imam from several other companions.
He had spent his lifetime and his body and soul, his wealth, and time, in Allah’s Cause, including serving the da’wah (enjoining people) to Islam and spreading of the divine revelation.
He is Abu Bakr, whose complete name is Abdullah Ibn Abi Quhafah Al Qurashi At Tamimi, popularly known as Abu Bakr Ash Shiddiq.
He easily shed his tears during reciting the Qur’an inside his prayer, due to his vast life experiences with the Qur’an. That made him unable to hold his feeling, remembering the moments he had passed when he recited the Qur’an.
It was as explained in a hadith from ‘Aisha -may Allah be pleased with her-, when the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be on him- said, “They passed over Abu Bakr who was praying with the others.” ‘Aisha said, “Then I told the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- “O Messenger of Allah, indeed, Abu Bakr is a soft-hearted man, if he recited the Qur’an, he couldn’t hold back the tears from his eyes.” (Narrated by Muslim)
His seriousness and cries during his prayer were largely affecting people around him. It caused some of the Quraish who ruled the Mecca at that time proposed some requirements for him when he wanted to establish his prayer.
Finally, the infidel of Quraish met Ibn Ad Daghina who, at that time, gave a security guarantee to Abu Bakr Ash Shiddiq. They told him, “O Ibn Ad Daghina, tell Abu Bakr to pray to his Lord at his house, and he may pray and recite whatever he likes, and not to hurt us. Indeed, we’re afraid that it will be a trial for our children and wives.”
Ibn Ad Daghina then revealed their request to Abu Bakr, thus he began to pray to Allah at his house, without raising his voice during his prayer and recitation.
And then Abu Bakr started to build a masjid/mosque at his house yard, in which he prayed and recited the Qur’an. At that time, the wives and children of the infidels of Quraish gathered near it, they were so fascinated by his prayer and kept on watching him. Abu Bakr was a man who often cried, he couldn’t hold his tears when he recited the Qur’an.” (This story was narrated by Al Bukhari and Muslim).
Sahl Ibn Sa’d said, “Abu Bakr -may Allah be pleased with him- never glanced during his prayer.” (See: Fadhail Ash Shahabat I/208, by Imam Ahmad)
Mujahis (or Mujahid?) said, “The condition of Ibn Az Zubair when he prayed was like a tough wood (he didn’t move).” It was said that Abu Bakr was also like that when he prayed. Abdurrazzaq said, “The dwellers of Mecca told that Ibn Zubair imitated the prayer of Abu Bakr, and Abu Bakr took an example from Prophet Muhammad -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him” (See: Fadhail Ash Shahabat I/208, by Imam Ahmad)
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Article of www.WhatisQuran.com
(Translated from the book, “Shalat Ash Shalihin wa Qishash Al ‘Abidin”, by Ahmad Musthafa Ath Thathawi)