Saturday

Abdul Rahman Bin Sayidina Abu Bakr As Siddique رضي الله عنه


Illustration of The Battle of Yamamah

Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه was Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Siddiqرضي الله عنه's son. Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه  was also Rasulullahﷺ's brother-in-law. Hz. Abdurrahman did not become a Muslim though all of Sayidina Abu Bakr’s As Siddique’s family became Muslims. Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه took part in the battles of Badr and Uhud in the ranks of the polytheists.

It is a real painting of the Arab personality with all the depths of his knowledge. While his father, Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Siddiqرضي الله عنه was the first-time believer, he was still immersed in disbelief. Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه was a stubborn and strong figure and defended the idols of Jahiliyah.

At the Battle of Badr, he appeared in the ranks of the attackers on the side of the polytheists. At the Battle of Uhud, he led an arrow force prepared by the Quraiys to face the Muslims.

Before the two teams fought, a duel was held as usual. Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه stepped forward and asked for an opponent from the Muslims. Then his father, Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Siddiqرضي الله عنه, arose, ready to serve his son's challenge. However, Rasulullahﷺ restrained his friend and prevented him from waging a duel against his own son.

However much Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه had respect for his father, and as much as he believed in the greatness of his soul and the wholeness of his father, he was not influenced by Abu Bakr's Islam. Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه firmly defended the idols of the Quraiys. People like this are not blind to the truth, although it takes a long time to achieve it.

Abdul Rahman's enmity was not just the usual enmity towards his parents, even Abdul Rahman when in the Battle of Badr had drawn his sword against his own parents. He was a warrior of Quraish who was placed in the front line. Abdul Rahman came across his father several times but did not kill his parents. Abdul Rahman once said that after he converted to Islam, "I had the opportunity to kill Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Siddiqرضي الله عنه,, but my hand was not willing to kill my father." God's destiny overrides all governance. Abdul Rahman survived the sword of the Muslims. Similarly, when Abdul Rahman joined the battle of Uhud. During the battle of Uhud, he was the head of the archery force. Abdul Rahman's hostility continued towards Rasulullahﷺ and towards his father, Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Siddiqرضي الله عنه, and other members of his family.

In the 7th year of the migration of RasulullahﷺAllah سبحانه و تعالى has opened the door of his heart to receive the guidance of Allah سبحانه و تعالى. After the treaty of Hudaibiyah, when the Muslims were free to go in and out of Makkah.Allah سبحانه و تعالى destined the reason why the door of Abdul Rahman's heart was open to accepting Islam when he saw the goodness of the Muslims, the beauty of morals, and the honesty of the children of the Muslims when they were returned by Rasulullahﷺ. That was the time that made Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Siddiqرضي الله عنه, very happy. The whole family of Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Siddiqرضي الله عنه,, a family that has embraced Islam.

Thus, when Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله embraced Islam and returned to the embrace of the true religion, then Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Siddiqرضي الله عنه's face lit up when he saw his son when he pledged allegiance to the Prophet. In his infidel time, he was a man, so even now in his Islamic time, he is still a man.

 From then on, Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه tried his best to follow up on his backwardness so far, both in the way of Allah and in the way of Rasulullah and the Believers.

During the time of Rasulullah and the caliphs after him, Sayidina Abdul Rahmanرضي الله عنهdid not lag behind in taking part in the war, and never took part in jihad.

In the famous Yamamah War, his services were immense. His fortitude and courage played a major role in seizing victory from the army of Musailamah Al-Kadzab and the apostates. In fact, he was the one who finished the history of Mahkam bin Thufail, who was the planner for Musailamah. With all his might and effort he managed to besiege their strategic defensive fortifications.

Under the auspices of Islam, Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه’s main qualities became sharper and more prominent. His love and belief as well as a strong will to follow what he considers right and true, are the essence of his life and the jewel of his personality.

At the end of Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه's age, he was tested by the conflict that occurred when Mu'awiyah bin Abi Sufyan wanted to appoint his son Yazid as caliph to replace him. When the governor of Madinah at that time, Marwan bin al-Hakam appeared before the people stating that Muaiwyah would appoint Yazid as caliph, although many were dissatisfied, they remained silent. The first person to appear to express dissatisfaction with the decision, Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه. He said “this is not the sunnah of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq or Saidina Umar. Abu Bakr never even appointed his own son. " Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه added,

 "what Mu'awiyah did, was what he inherited from the Romans and Persians." 

So, at that time, a conflict arose until Marwan ordered that Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه be arrested, but Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه was then hiding in the house of Sayyidatuna ‘Aisyah رضي الله عنه when Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه had the opportunity to leave the City of Madinah, then he left the city with the intention of returning to the City of Makkah.

It is not affected in the slightest by bait or pressure. Even at a very critical time, when Muawiyah decided to give the caliphate to Yazid by using the sharpness of a weapon.

Muawiyah sent a letter to Marwan, his governor in Madinah, and told him to recite it to the Muslims in the mosque. Marwan carried out the order, but before he finished reading it, Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه got up and said, "By Allah, apparently it is not the freedom of choice that you gave to the people of Rasulullahﷺ, but you want to make it a Roman-like kingdom so that when an emperor dies, appear another emperor in his place. "

At that time, Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه the great danger that was threatening the Muslims, if Muawiyah continued his plan. Not yet finished Abdurrahman hurled this harsh condemnation at Marwan, it was supported by a group of Muslims led by Sayidina Hussein bin Sayidina Aliرضي الله عنه, Sayidina Abdullah bin Zubair رضي الله عنه, and Sayidina Abdullah bin Umarرضي الله عنه.

Later in the day, several urgent situations arose that forced Sayidina Hussein bin Sayidina Aliرضي الله عنه, Sayidina Abdullah bin Zubair رضي الله عنه, and Sayidina Abdullah bin Umarرضي الله عنه. to remain silent on the pledge plan that Muawiyah was to carry out with the force of this weapon.

However, Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه did not despair of stating the annulment of the pledge openly. When he learned later that Muawiyah was preparing to visit Medina, Sayidina Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه immediately left the city for Makkah.

Apparently, Allah سبحانه و تعالى's will save him from this disaster and the consequences of his stand. Because he had just arrived in Makkah and stayed there for a while, he died.

The people carried his body on their shoulders and took him to a plateau of Makkah and buried him there; underground who has witnessed the time of his Jahiliyah and has also witnessed the time of his Islam.