• People
• Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq

The first caliph; according to some sources he was the first male Muslim after Muḥammad and possibly one of his friend before the latter's call to be a prophet. He remained in Mecca when many Muslims emigrated to Abyssinia and Muhammad chose him to accompany himself on his migration to Medina. He was a participant in all the expeditions led by Muḥammad in person, and was constantly at his side. His caliphate, lasted from 632 (the year of Muḥammad death) to 634 and he took the title of Ḫalīfat Rasūl Allāh. His caliphate was largely occupied in dealing with the ridda or 'apostasy'. The size of Muḥammad's expeditions along the road to Syria shows that he had realized the urgency of expansion if peace was to be maintained among the Arab tribes. Abū Bakr was aware of this strategic principle. Abū Bakr died on 22 Ǧumāda II, 13/23 August 634, and was buried beside Muḥammad.