As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullaah

مصرحية القوي الأمين – المشهد الأول
Play: The Strong and Trustworthy [Scene 1]

In the bedroom of Abu Bakr lies a bedspread which is not lifted from the ground except a little. The bedroom has a small window which overlooks the Prophet’s Mosque. The curtain lifts with Abu Bakr lying down on his bedspread and with him is his wife Asmaa bint ‘Umays.

[Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr enters crying]

The boy: O my mother! Where’s my toy?
Asmaa (in a low voice): Be quiet O Muhammad. Do not trouble your father
The boy: Where did you put my toy?
Asmaa: I hid it
The boy: Is it because my father’s ill that you’re preventing me from playing?
Asmaa: Yes.
The boy: I won’t play inside the house… I’ll play outside!
Asmaa: Be quiet… you’ll neither play inside the house nor outside.

[Abu Bakr moves in his bed and opens his eyes]

Abu Bakr: Has ‘Umar come yet?
Asmaa: No, O successor of the Messenger of Allaah, he has not come
Abu Bakr: Muhammad, come here. Come closer to me O son

[The boy comes closer and Abu Bakr kisses him]

Abu Bakr: Why is it that I see you cry?
The boy: It’s my mother, O father – she took my toy
Abu Bakr: Do you want to play now?
The boy: Yes O father… outside.
Abu Bakr: Asmaa, give him his toy
Asmaa: Sam’an wa taa’atan (with obedience), Ya Khaleefata-Rasoolillah (O successor of the Messenger of Allaah)

[She leaves with the boy then returns]

Asmaa: How do you find yourself now?
Abu Bakr: Alhamdulillah!
A voice: O family of Abu Bakr! O family of Abu Bakr!

Asmaa: This is the voice of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab
Abu Bakr: Sit me up. Tell him to enter and let no-one enter in upon us until ‘Umar leaves.

[Asmaa leaves and ‘Umar enters]

‘Umar: As-salaamu `alaikum Ya Khaleefata-Rasoolillaah
Abu Bakr: Wa `alayka-salaamu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. Where have you been O Ibn al-Khattaab? I’ve been missing you since yesterday.
‘Umar: Indeed Allaah is not ashamed from the truth. Trade came to me from Yemen and kept me occupied from seeing you.
Abu Bakr: Are you done with it today?
‘Umar: Yes, I sold it and profited. How are you today O Abu Bakr?

[Abu Bakr shows patience as if he were cured from the illness]

Abu Bakr: Alhamdulillah, I find myself to have recovered O Ibn al-Khattaab
‘Umar: Alhamdulillah, I did think it was just a small passing illness.
Abu Bakr: Do not disappear from me like that, Ya Abaa Hafs.
‘Umar: I will not disappear from you – except when you do not need me
Abu Bakr: I need you all the time. I have been thinking into my matters this morning and indeed I have undertaken certain decisions whose position with Allaah I do not know, so will you counsel me in this affair O ‘Umar?
‘Umar: With love and honour O Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr: With regards to the spoils of war that I divided between the Muslims equally, without distinguishing one from another – what is your opinion on that today?
‘Umar: My views on it today are the same as yesterdays… the first of the Muslims are not equals with those that came after them. By Allaah, I will not equate the one who fought the Messenger with one who fought alongside him.
Abu Bakr: O Ibn al-Khattaab! The first of the Muslims became Muslims for Allaah and they have their rewards which they will receive on the Day of Judgement, and indeed this Dunya is only a path (towards the end).
‘Umar: O Abu Bakr, you asked for my opinion and this is my opinion.
Abu Bakr: Rightly so. What then is your opinion of Khalid Ibn al-Waleed?
‘Umar: You know well my opinion with regards to him.
Abu Bakr: I have placed you in my position O Abu Hafs, so if you consult and advise me it is as if I’ve advised myself and it is upon whoever takes leadership of the people that he consults himself and takes account of himself.
‘Umar: O Khaleef, truly Ibn al-Waleed is a sword from the swords of Allaah as the Messenger of Allaah (s.a.w) described him, but it is not befitting that he becomes the Ameer of the Muslims whilst amongst them is Abu Ubaidah and his likes
Abu Bakr: That suffices O Abu Hafs. This is enough for me.
‘Umar: What do you mean?
Abu Bakr: I intended to test you O Ibn al-Khattaab and I have found that you are just as I knew you to be – truthful and without hypocrisy (sugar-coating speech).
‘Umar: And what did you intend by that O Abu Bakr?
Abu Bakr: I intend to appoint you as Khaleef, O ‘Umar
‘Umar: Do not do that O Abu Bakr! I have no need for it!
Abu Bakr: But it needs you, Ya ‘Umar!
‘Umar: Appoint someone other than me
Abu Bakr: Who?
‘Umar: Appoint Abu ‘Ubaidah for he is the trustworthy one of this Ummah
Abu Bakr: I have thought about him, O Ibn al-Khattaab, but I did not find in him the power and strength which you have. He may be trustworthy but I want the strong and trustworthy.
‘Umar: Allaah will perfect His Light even though the Mushrikoon hate it…
Abu Bakr: Indeed Allaah will perfect His Light, O ‘Umar, with His pious and sincere servants who fight in His Way.
‘Umar: O Khaleef! How can you appoint me when you know well that I differ with you in the splitting of the booty, in Khalid ibn al-Waleed and in fighting the people of apostasy after they came into Islam and in many other matters?!
Abu Bakr: Woe be to you O ‘Umar! This makes me want to appoint you even more! I want a man who when he says ‘Yes’ he says it wholeheartedly and with certainty, and if he says ‘No’ he says with wholeheartedly and with certainty – and that is you, Ya ‘Umar!
‘Umar: Be patient O Abu Bakr, I fear for myself, my Deen and my Hereafter
Abu Bakr: This matter destroys only 2 types of people, O ‘Umar: A man who desires leadership whilst he knows there are others more suited to it and who have more right to it. And a man who refuses it when he is given it and he knows that he is the most befitting for it – he flees from bearing the responsibility and withholds from sacrificing in serving the people.
‘Umar: Abu Bakr, please have mercy on me regarding the severe accounting on the Day of Judgement.
Abu Bakr: Woe be to you O ‘Umar! Indeed the just Imaam is from the seven shaded by Allaah on a Day when there is no shade except His Shade

[‘Umar begins to weep]

‘Umar: And who will aid me then Ya Abaa Bakr? Who will aid me?
Abu Bakr: Allaah will aid you Ya ‘Umar, Allaah will aid you.
‘Umar: Abu Bakr, tomorrow you will not avail me in anything…
Abu Bakr: I swear to you by Allaah Who knows what is in your heart ‘Umar, do you know anyone from amongst the believers apart from you who befits this role?
‘Umar: From amongst them is one who is better and more virtuous than me
Abu Bakr: But you have more right to it.
‘Umar: Will you not first consult the Muslims O Abu Bakr?
Abu Bakr: I will O Abu Hafs. Indeed, I have been sufficed of the greatest obstacle so everything after this will be easy by the Permission of Allaah.

[Extracted from the play: “Al-Qawiyyul-Ameen” by Ahmad Ali Baaktheer with slight variations]

To be continued…