This Companion of the Prophet Still Selling Clothes Even though he will be Inaugurated as Caliph

 

This Companion of the Prophet Still Selling Clothes Even though he will be Inaugurated as Caliph

Early in the morning, on the day Abu Bakr was sworn in as caliph, he went to the market carrying the merchandise on his shoulders. On the way, the companions of the prophet met Sayyidina Umar and Abu Ubaidah. Seeing Abu Bakr carrying the shirt, Umar bin Khattab and Abu Ubaidah asked Abu Bakr,

"Where are you going, O Abu Bakr?"

"I'm going to the market," replied Abu Bakr.

“What are you going to do there? While this afternoon you will be sworn in as caliph successor to the Messenger of Allah?" asked Umar and Abu Ubaidah

Hearing Umar and Abu Ubaidah's question, Abu Bakr replied, "If I don't trade, where can I feed my family? ”

"The Muslims will give regularly every day half of the goat meat and clothes, from head to stomach for your family," said Umar and Abu Ubaidah trying to convince.

In addition to trading clothes, Abu Bakr also worked as a goat milk squeezer. He worked for a goat owner in the area where he lived named Al-Hayy. After Abu Bakr was sworn in as caliph, one of Al-Hayy's assistants said, "Now you are no longer milking for us."

Hearing the words of Al-Hayy's assistant, Abu Bakr said, "I will continue to milk the goats for you. And I hope you don't change your attitude to me after I get the mandate of this Caliphate."

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The leader is a role model for the people, as well as an example for the people of his time and a lesson for the people afterward. Therefore, a leader must be able to set a good example. A leader will be held accountable for the case he leads. As mentioned in the hadith narrated by Imam Muslim:

كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ فَالْأَمِيرُ الَّذِي عَلَى النَّاسِ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رعيته

Meaning: Each of you is a leader, and every leader will be asked about his leadership. A head of state will be held accountable for the people he leads.

Therefore, let us emulate the leadership of the companions of this prophet, Sayyidina Abu Bakr Ash-Siddiq. A good leader is a leader who can hold people's hearts. A good leader is a leader who can be a role model for his generation and generations after.