History of Khulafah Rashideen by Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti - translated by Abdassamad Clarke

Ibn Kathir said that all admit that his name was Abdullah ibn 'Uthman, except for the narration of Ibn Sacd on the authority of Ibn Sirin which asserts his name to have been cAteeq whereas the truth is that that was his affectionate nickname. Then there is some disagreement as to the time of his being so named, and the reason for it; for some say that it was on account of the citaqah of his countenance, that is, its beauty - but Abu Nucaym al-Fadl ibn Dukayn said that it was on account of his priority in merit - and also it is said on account of the nobility of his pedigree, that is its purity, as there is nothing in his lineage that can be accounted a stain; and it is said too he was first so named and afterwards called ‘Abdullah.

At-Tabarani narrated that al-Qasim ibn Muhammad questioned ‘ A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, as to the name of Abu Bakr, and she replied, <cAbdullah.’ Then he said, ‘The people call him cAteeq.’ She answered, ‘Abu Quhafah had three sons whom he named cAteeq, Muctaq and Mucaytaq.’ Ibn Mandah and Ibn cAsakir narrated that Musa ibn Talhah said:

1 said to my father Talhah, ‘Why was Abu Bakr called cAteeq?’ He said, ‘His mother had no son surviving and when she gave birth to him, she faced towards the House (the Kacbah) with him and exclaimed, “O Allah if this one is cAteeq (free) from death then give him to me.’” At-Tabarani narrated that Ibn cAbbas said: He was only called ' Ateeq because of the beauty of his face.

Ibn cAsakir narrated that cA’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, ‘Abu Bakr’s name which his family called him by was 'Abdullah, but the name cAteeq became the dominant usage.’ In a version, ‘But the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, called him cAteeq.’ Abu Yacla, Ibn Sacd and al-Hakim, who declared it sahih, narrated that cA’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, ‘By Allah, I was in my house one day and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his companions were in the courtyard, a curtain between me and them. Abu Bakr came up and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Whoever is pleased to look upon one who is free from the Fire then let him look upon Abu Bakr.” The name which his family knew him by was cAbdullah but cAteeq became the dominant usage.’ At-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim narrated that cA’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, ‘Abu Bakr entered upon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said, “Abu Bakr, you are the one Allah has freed from the Fire.” From that day he was known as cAteeq.” Al-Bazzar and at-Tabarani narrated with an excellent isnad that cAbdullah ibn az-Zubayr said, ‘Abu Bakr’s name was cAbdullah, then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him, “You are Allah’s freed one from the Fire.” So he was known as cAteeq.’ As for the name as-Siddiq, it is said about it, ‘He was given the affectionate nickname in the Jahiliyyah, because of the truthfulness for which he was known’ as Ibn Musdi mentioned. It has been said also, ‘Because of his haste in affirming the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in that of which he informed.’ Ibn Ishaq narrated that al-Hasan al-Basri and Qatadah said: The first time that he became known for it was the morning after the Night of the Isra’.

Al-Hakim narrated in the Mustadrak that cA’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: The idolaters came to Abu Bakr and said, ‘What do you think of your Companion? He claims that he was taken this night to Bait al-Maqdis (Jerusalem).’ He replied, ‘Did he say that?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘He has definitely told the truth. I believe and affirm him in matters more remote than that: the news from heaven in the early part of the morning and in the evening.’ For that reason he was called as-Siddiq. Its isnad is excellent, and that has also been narrated from hadith of Anas and Abu Hurayrah, for which Ibn cAsakir gave isnads, and Umm Hani', which was narrated by at-Tabarani.

Sacid ibn Mansur narrated in his Sunan: Abu Macshar narrated that Wahb the freed slave of Abu Hurayrah said: When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, returned on the night in which he was made to travel (to Jerusalem), and he was at Dhu Tuwa, he said, ‘Jibril, my people will not believe me.’ He ( ) ibril) said, ‘Abu Bakr will believe you, and he is as-Siddiq.’ Al-Hakim narrated in the Mustadrak that an-Nazzal ibn Sabrah said: We said to cAli: ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, tell us about Abu Bakr.’ He said, ‘That man, Allah named him as-Siddiq on the tongue of Jibril and on the tongue of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He was the deputy of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for thp prayer; he was contented with him for our deen and so we were pleased with him for our worldly affairs.’ Its isnad is excellent.

Ad-Daraqutni and al-Hakim narrated that Abu Yahya said: I cannot count the number of times that I heard cAli say upon the minbar, ‘Truly Allah named Abu Bakr through the tongue of His Prophet, a siddiq.’ At-Tabarani narrated with an excellent sahih isnad that Hakim ibn Sacd said: I heard cAli say, and he swore upon it, ‘Allah definitely revealed from heaven the name of Abu Bakr, as-Siddiq.’ In the hadith of Uhud, ‘Be still, for there are only upon you a Prophet, a siddiq and two martyrs.’ ‘Abu Bakr’s mother was the daughter of his father’s paternal uncle (she was his father’s cousin). Her name was Salma bint Sakhr ibn ‘Amir ibn Kacb. She was given the kunyah (surname) Umm al-Khayr (Mother of good),’ said az-Zuhri as narrated by Ibn cAsakir.