Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr

Who was Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr?

‘Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr was the son of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, the first Caliph of Islam and Qutaylah bint Abd al-Uzza.

He was married to Atika who was the daughter of Zayd ibn Amr and hence a cousin of Umar. Abdullah was so much in love with her that he failed to attend to other duties. He did not participate in the Muslims' various military expeditions and even neglected his prayers. Abu Bakr gave vent to anger and told his son in plain words that his failings and shortcomings were too serious to be overlooked. Abdullah placed himself to the mercy of his father, who decreed that the punishment for such lapses was that he should divorce his wife within three days. After three days, Abdullah divorced Atika.

After this he would neither eat nor drink. He would sob and sigh and sing heart-rending verses giving expression to his grief over the loss of his beloved. The divorce of Atika became the talk of Medina. When the Prophet Muhammad came to know of the matter, he annulled the divorce and the lovers were reunited.

Abdullah was very particular thereafter to ensure that his love for Atika did not stand in the way of his duty to God. He participated in all the Prophet Muhammad's subsequent campaigns.