The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
On the occasion of Fat-he-Makkah Mukarramah (the Conquest of Makkah Mukarramah), Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) brought his father, Abu Quhaafah, to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to embrace Islam. At that time, Abu Quhaafah was over 90 years old and had lost his sight.
When they came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) addressed Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and said, “Why did you not leave the sheikh (old man – referring to Abu Quhaafah) so that I could have come to him (at his home)?”
Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “No, it is more rightful that he should come to you (i.e. though he is my father, you are the Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and you are worthy of more respect, hence it is only right for us to come to you).”
In one narration, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) explained another reason for him wanting his father to come to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), instead of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) coming to him.
He said, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! I wished that my father come to you so that this may be a means for Allah Ta’ala to reward him (for taking the trouble to come to you, despite his blindness and old age).”
Hearing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “We will go out of our way to take care of him (i.e. Hazrat Abu Quhaafah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)) and show him special consideration on account of the abundant good that we have received from his son (i.e. Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)).”
Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then made his father sit before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), after which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) passed his blessed hand over his chest saying, “Accept Islam, and you will be blessed with salvation.” Abu Quhaafah accepted the invitation of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and there and then, he embraced Islam. (Majmauz Zawaaid #14339 & Mustadrak lil Haakim #4363)
