7.5 — Main Difficulties Encountered

1. Difficulties Faced by Hazrat Abu Bakr RZ (632–634 AD)

A. The Crisis After the Prophet's Death

When Prophet Muhammad PBUH passed away, many Muslims were in a state of deep shock and confusion. Some companions, including Hazrat Umar RZ, initially refused to believe the Prophet PBUH had died. The Muslim community faced the immediate risk of falling apart without strong and calm leadership.

Hazrat Abu Bakr RZ stepped forward and addressed the people firmly, reminding them that they worshipped Allah SWT — who is eternal and ever-living — not the Prophet PBUH. His quick action brought stability to the Ummah at a critical moment.

B. The Apostasy Movement (Wars of Ridda)

This was perhaps the greatest challenge of Hazrat Abu Bakr's RZ caliphate. Immediately after the Prophet's PBUH death, a large number of Arab tribes either:

• Abandoned Islam altogether (apostasy)
• Refused to pay Zakat, claiming their agreement was personal with the Prophet PBUH and ended at his death
• Followed false prophets who had risen to exploit the power vacuum

Why did tribes apostatize?

• Many tribes felt personal loyalty to Prophet Muhammad PBUH only — not to the Islamic state or Madina
• Arabia was not fully united under Islam; many tribes had only recently converted and Islam had not firmly taken root in their hearts
• Some tribes had only outwardly given up idol worship but secretly kept their old beliefs
• The Bedouin tribes loved freedom and disliked authority, organized rule, and paying taxes
• Many were unwilling to pay Zakat, which they saw as a burden now that the Prophet PBUH was gone
• Some tribes were jealous of the Quraish having "their own prophet" and wanted prophets from their own people

Hazrat Abu Bakr RZ took a firm stand. He refused to grant any tribe freedom from Zakat, because it was a divine obligation — not a personal favor to the Prophet PBUH. He made clear: there could be no compromise on the pillars of Islam.