Abu-Bakr of Mecca (573-634)

Calligraphy of Abu-Bakr

Abu-Bakr (573-634 AD) was the first caliph or successor to Mohammed. Born in Mecca, he was a man of great wealth acquired in commerce. Abu-Bakr was much esteemed for his knowledge of the law and traditions of his people, and as an interpreter of dreams. Mohammed married his daughter Ayisha; and Abu-Bakr accompanied his son-in-law on the flight from Mecca in 622. During the momentous ten years that followed, he was the Prophet's most trusted and devoted follower. Mohammed selected him as his successor, and he was hailed as caliph by an informal assembly of the faithful on the Prophet's death in 632. Mohammed was survived by one child, Fatima, who was married to his cousin Ali.

Abu-Bakr continued the work of the Prophet, waging successful war on revolting tribes in Arabia, with the help of the able general Khalid. When his power at home was finally consolidated, Abu-Bakr turned to foreign conquest. Khalid led a successful expedition into Persia in 633, but the main advance was against Syria. Theodore, brother of the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, was defeated the following year at Ajnadayn, between Gaza and Jerusalem. Soon after this, Abu-Bakr died, just as the expansion of Islam was getting underway. He was succeeded by Omar I, the great conquering caliph, whom he had selected according to the precedent set by Mohammed.