Sufi Quotes of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq in English and Arabic
Hello! Are you looking for explanations of Sufi quotes of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq in English and Arabic? If your answer is "Yes," congratulations! You are now reading the right article. Why? Because that’s exactly what I will explain in this article. So, you should read it all the way through!
Specifically, there are several important things related to the Sufi quotes of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq in English and Arabic that I will explain in this article. The important points I mean are as follows:
A Brief Biography of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq
Abu Bakr was one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad. He succeeded him as the leader of the Muslims after the Prophet’s death, becoming the first caliph in Islamic history.
During the reign of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, there were many rebellions from various regions. Generally, these rebellions were due to two reasons: the desire of some rebels to control religious and governmental authority (resulting in the emergence of false prophets) and the refusal of others to pay the obligatory alms (zakat). I will not explain this further in this article because it is not related to the main theme discussed here.
Abdullah, or more commonly known as Abu Bakr, had many titles ("Abu Bakr" itself is one of them). Some of these titles include "Atiq (عَتِيْقٌ)" and "al-Siddiq (الصِّدِّيْقُ)".
There are several narrations explaining why Abu Bakr received the title "Atiq (عَتِيْقٌ)":
- Because he was guaranteed freedom from Hell (لِعِتْقِهِ مِنَ النَّارِ).
- Because of his handsome appearance (لِعَتَاقَةِ وَجْهِهِ).
- Because of his noble lineage (لِعَتَاقَةِ نَسَبِهِ).
- Because his mother had no surviving children. When she gave birth to him, she faced the Kaaba while carrying him and said, "O Lord! This child is saved from death. Grant him to me!" (اللّهُمَّ هَذَا عَتِيْقٌ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ فَهَبْهُ لِيْ).
As for the reason why Abu Bakr was given the title "al-Siddiq (الصِّدِّيْقُ)," scholars agree that it was because he was the first to believe in the Prophet Muhammad's message and consistently affirmed and supported it.
Read Also: Sufi Quotes of Umar bin Khattab in English and Arabic
Abu Bakr is one of the great figures in Islamic history. For example, consider his attitude after the Prophet Muhammad first preached Islam and after the Prophet’s Night Journey (Isra’ and Mi’raj). We also cannot forget the role of the first caliph when the disbelievers opposed the truth of one of the most significant events in Islamic history. And, of course, we cannot overlook his crucial role during the migration from Mecca to Medina, where he left behind his wealth and family.
In Islamic historical records, Abu Bakr is recognized as a figure who deeply understood Islamic teachings and practiced them in his daily life. He was a true example of a complete Muslim who harmonized knowledge, heart, and behavior.
What Are the Sufi Quotes of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq?
Muhammad Abdurrauf al-Munawi, in his book titled "Al-Kawâkib ad-Durriyyah fî Tarâjumi as-Sâdah ash-Shufiyyah," classified Abu Bakr al-Siddiq as one of the first-generation Sufi figures. Abu Bakr was able to harmonize his knowledge of Islam with his heart and behavior. He became a key reference for Sufi teachings.
Thus, in short, what I mean by "Sufi Quotes of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq" in this article are the words spoken by Abu Bakr as reflections on life’s various aspects or as teachings for Muslims.
Sufi Quotes of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq in English and Arabic
There are many Sufi quotes of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. Of course, I cannot explain all of them now. In this article, I will only explain some Sufi quotes of Abu Bakr.
Some Sufi quotes of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq that I am referring to are as follows:
Sufi Quotes of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on Sincerity, Good Deeds, and Allah's Pleasure
Sincerity, good deeds, and seeking Allah’s pleasure are among the most important concepts in Islam. There are many discussions about these in various Islamic literatures. One of them is the Sufi quote by Abu Bakr al-Siddiq below:
لَا خَيْرَ فِى قَوْلٍ لَا يُرَادُ بِهَ وَجْهَ اللهِ , وَلَا فِى مَالٍ لَايُنْفَقُ مِنْهُ فِى سَبِيْلِ اللهِ , وَلَا فِيْمَنْ يَغْلِبُ جَهْلُهُ حِلْمَهُ , وَلَا فِيْمَنْ يَخَافُ فِى اللهِ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ[1]
There is no goodness in speech that is not intended for the pleasure of Allah, no goodness in wealth that is not spent in the way of Allah, no goodness in a person whose ignorance overcomes their reason, and no goodness in a person who fears the blame of others in their obedience to Allah.
If you read the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq above carefully, you can conclude that there is nothing in this world that is good if it is not intended to gain the pleasure of Allah. For example, charity is something good. But if it is intended to show off to others, then it is not good. Charity is a good deed, but it becomes bad because it is done to show off, not to seek Allah’s pleasure. Another example is the wealth we possess. If we use wealth solely for our own needs and do not use it for good deeds that Allah loves, then it is not considered good in Islam, and so on.
Sufi Quotes of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on the Consequences of Arrogance
Arrogance is one of the bad traits that no one likes. In Islam, arrogance has very serious consequences. There are many discussions about this. One of them is the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq below:
إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَبْدَ الْعُجْبُ بِشَيْئٍ مِنْ زِيْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا مَقَتَهُ اللهُ حَتَّى يُفَارِقَ تِلْكَ الزِّيْنَةَ[2]
If the attitude of boasting about worldly adornments enters the heart of a servant, then Allah becomes very angry with him until he abandons those adornments.
If you read the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq above carefully, you can conclude that arrogance is one of the traits that Allah greatly despises. For example, if we have a car and we become arrogant because of it (e.g., we look down on others who do not have a car), then Allah becomes very angry with us until we abandon that arrogance.
Sufi Quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on Nobility, Wealth, and Honor
Nobility, wealth, and honor are some of the things that many people desire. They will do anything to attain them. However, in Sufi literature, the understanding of these three things is not the same as in common understanding. In Sufism, we can find the understanding of these three things in the following Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq:
>[3]وَجَدْنَا الْكَرَمَ فِى التَّقْوَى , وَالْغِنَى فِى الْيَقِيْنِ , وَالشَّرَفَ فِى التَّوَاضُعِ
I found nobility in piety, wealth in faith, and honor in humility.
If you understand the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on nobility, wealth, and honor above, you can conclude that in Sufism, nobility lies in piety, wealth lies in faith, and honor lies in humility. So, if you are pious towards Allah, then you are noble. If you believe that Allah has guaranteed your sustenance and will never abandon you, then you are wealthy. If you possess the trait of humility and are not arrogant, then you are honorable.
Sufi Quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on Ma'rifah
In Islam, ma'rifah is a deep understanding of Allah. Ma'rifah is the level of understanding of Allah that comes after shari'ah and haqiqah. Shari'ah is the first. Haqiqah is the second. Ma'rifah is the third.
There are many explanations about ma'rifah in Sufism literature. One of them is the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq below:
مَنْ ذَاقَ مِنْ خَالِصِ الْمَعْرِفَةِ شَيْئًا شَغَلَهُ ذَلِكَ عَمَّا سِوَى اللهِ , وَاسْتَوْحَشَ مِنْ جَمِيْعِ الْبَشَرِ[4]
Whoever tastes even a bit of the purity of ma'rifah, it will distract them from anything other than Allah, and their inner self will be void of all people.
If you understand the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on ma'rifah above, you can conclude that a Muslim who has reached the level of ma'rifah will be solely focused on Allah. Their focus will be on Allah alone, not on anything else.
Sufi Quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on Obedience to Allah
Obedience to Allah is one of the duties that Muslims must fulfill. In Islam, there are many explanations about obedience to Allah. One of them is the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq below:
مَنْ مَقَتَ نَفْسَهُ فِى ذَاتِ اللهِ أَمَّنَهُ اللهُ مِنْ مَقْتِهِ[5]
Whoever is extremely displeased with themselves in order to be obedient to Allah, Allah will grant them safety from His overwhelming wrath.
In the Sufi quote above, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq explains one of the benefits of obedience to Allah. Specifically, as he mentioned, someone who forces themselves to always be obedient to Allah is guaranteed protection from Allah's overwhelming wrath.
Sufi Quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on Honor and Disgrace
Honor and disgrace are two different things. Generally, everyone desires honor and avoids disgrace. In Sufism, there are many explanations about honor and disgrace. One of them is the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq below:
[6]فَازَ بِالْمُرُوْءَةِ مَنِ امْتَطَى التَّغَافُلَ , وَهَانَ عَلَى الْقُرْبَى مَنْ عُرِفَ بِاللَّجَاجِ
A person who pretends not to know the faults of others has achieved honor. A person who is constantly at odds with their relatives has become disgraceful in their eyes.
In the Sufi quote above, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq explains honor and disgrace in a very simple manner. We can find its relevance in everyday life. He explains that a person who pretends not to know the faults of others in order not to embarrass them is an honorable person. Conversely, disgrace (one example of it) is if someone is continuously in conflict. This is a very simple understanding of honor and disgrace.
Sufi Quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on Arrogance
In some previous paragraphs, I have briefly explained arrogance. Now I will explain arrogance from another perspective. Please refer to the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq below!
[7]إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْفَخْرَ , وَمَا فَخْرُ مَنْ خُلِقَ مِنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ يَعُوْدُ , ثُمَّ يَأْكُلُهُ الدُّوْدُ ؟
Beware of being arrogant! What is there to be proud of in someone who is created from soil, then returns to it, and is eventually consumed by worms?
In the Sufi quote above, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq explains that arrogance is something one should always be cautious of. He also explains that there is nothing to be proud of in someone who is created from soil, who will return to the soil after death, and eventually be consumed by worms in the grave. There is absolutely nothing to be arrogant about.
Sufi Quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on the Importance of Intention in One's Actions
In various Islamic literature about the afterlife, there are many explanations that someone who is known for their obedience to Allah during their life may still enter Hell, while someone known for their disobedience may enter Paradise. Do you know why this happens?
The answer is intention and its consequences! In Islam, a good intention followed by good deeds will bring goodness to the person who performs them, even if they appear bad to others. Conversely, good deeds performed with bad intentions will result in negative consequences for the person who performs them, even if they appear good to others.
In Sufism, there are many explanations about intention. One of them is the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq below:
[8]لَا خَيْرَ فِي خَيْرٍ بَعْدَهُ النَّارُ , وَلَا شَرَّ فِى شَرٍّ بَعْدَهُ الْجَنَّةُ
There is no goodness in a good deed that leads to Hell, and there is no evil in an evil deed that leads to Paradise.
If you understand the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and the previous paragraphs, you can conclude that the phrase “There is no goodness in a good deed that leads to Hell” means that a good deed not based on good intentions will not bring benefit to the person performing it, even if it appears good in the eyes of others. As a result, that person will end up in Hell. Conversely, the phrase “There is no evil in an evil deed that leads to Paradise” means that an action perceived as bad by people but performed with good intentions will benefit the person doing it. The outcome is that person will enter Paradise.
Sufi Quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on Life
There are many trials in life. If you are a leader, you must be a good leader. If you are a worker, you must perform your job well. If you are a husband and a father, you must fulfill your duties excellently.
On the other hand, as a Muslim, you must carry out all your obligations as a Muslim and avoid any prohibitions in Islam, even if it's just one.
As a living Muslim, your responsibilities are even greater. You must be a person living within society and a good Muslim. Not every living Muslim can fulfill these duties perfectly. Therefore, for some, being something other than human is a desire, even if it is merely a wish that will never become reality. You can find an example of this in the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on life below:
[9]وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي شَجَرَةٌ تُؤْكَلُ وَتُعْضَدُ
I would rather be a tree that is eaten and cut down.
In the Sufi quote above, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq imagines being a tree whose fruit is consumed and wood is cut down. For him, being a useful tree for humanity is preferable and less burdensome than bearing the various responsibilities that come with being human. His words offer a valuable lesson: a Muslim must be cautious in all things.
Sufi Quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq on Poverty
Poverty is a condition where someone is unable to fulfill their desires. They want to eat but have no food. They want to buy clothes but cannot because they lack money. In many cases, people find it difficult to live in poverty. As a result, they may resort to actions that are forbidden by both the state and Islam, such as theft and other similar acts.
In Sufism, there is much advice on poverty. One of them is the Sufi quote of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq below:
أُصِيْكُمْ بِاللهِ لِفَقْرِكُمْ وَفَاقَتِكُمْ أَنْ تَتَّقُوْاهُ , وَأَنْ تُثْنُوْا عَلَيْهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ , وَأَنْ تَسْتَغْفِرُوْاهُ , إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا[10]
I advise you to remain mindful of Allah due to your poverty and deprivation. Be pious towards Him, praise Him with the praise He deserves, and seek forgiveness from Him. Indeed, He is the Most Forgiving Lord.
In the Sufi quote above, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq advises us to always be mindful of Allah when in a state of poverty, to continually praise Him, and to ask for His forgiveness.
That concludes the discussion of some Sufi quotes of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq in English and Arabic that you should be aware of. If you have any questions or something you would like to discuss, you can write it in the comments section.
May it be beneficial. Amen!
See you again in the next article!
Source Citations
[1] Muhammad Abdurrauf al-Munawi, Al-Kawâkib ad-Durriyyah fî Tarâjumi as-Sâdah ash-Shufiyyah (الكَوَاكِبُ الدُّرِّيَّةُ فِى تَرَاجُمِ السَّادَةِ الصُّوْفِيَّةِ), vol. 1 (Cairo: Maktabah ad-Dar al-Arabiyah li al-Kitab, 2009), 130.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Muhammad Abdurrauf al-Munawi, Al-Kawâkib ad-Durriyyah fî Tarâjumi as-Sâdah ash-Shufiyyah (الكَوَاكِبُ الدُّرِّيَّةُ فِى تَرَاجُمِ السَّادَةِ الصُّوْفِيَّةِ), vol. 1, 131.
[10] Ibid.
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