The Dome of The Rock

𝑰𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒍𝒚, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒘 𝒖𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 As-Siddiq. Nor was it a title simply drawn from deep affection and friendship for one who was always at his side, loyal from the very beginning.

The first time the Prophet ﷺ called him “As-Siddiq” was after the Night of Isra and Miraj (the Night Journey of His signs and miracles). The Prophet ﷺ riding al Buraq was taken by Jibril(as) from Makkah to the Masjid Al Aqsa in al Quds. There, from the Noble Rock (housed today in The Dome of The Rock within Masjid al Aqsa’s complex) the Prophet ﷺ ascended the seven heavens meeting Prophets and Angels along the way until finally arriving before the Divine Presence of Allah(swt) at the boundary Sidratul Muntaha; passed by none except the Prophet ﷺ. Here he ﷺ  received the Divine Decree for believers to establish 5 daily prayers, reduced from 50 by His mercy. After descending to Masjid Al Aqsa, the Prophet ﷺ led every Prophet(as) of old in prayer, then returned to Makkah.

Speaking of his journey, worried the Prophet ﷺ said to Jibril, “My people will not believe me.” Jibril answered, Abu Bakr will believe you, and he is “As Siddiq,” (the truthful one).[Ibn Saad]

Indeed, when those came to question Abu Bakr (ra) and to mock the Prophet’s ﷺ journey to discredit him, asserting these events couldn’t have taken place in one night, Abu Bakr (ra) simply replied;

“Verily, I believe what is even more astonishing than that. I believe he has received messages from heaven for everything he does.”[Bayhaqī]

It takes great courage and conviction to speak up for the truth when all around are looking to silence you, belittling your opinions (especially if you’re outside the status quo). And when they close ranks, even then you continue to defend the truth without fear of ridicule or recrimination, because no matter what, you’ll stand by the truth however obvious or incredible, welcome or unwelcome it is to those around you.

That is what Abu Bakr(ra) did to earn himself the worthy title of the truthful one – ‘As Siddiq.’🌙

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