ABŪ BAKR (أَبُو بَكْرٍ). Of the origin of his name, there are various explanations. Some think that it means “the father of the maiden,” and that he received this title because he was the father of ‘Ayishah. whom Muhammad married when she was only nine years old. His original name was ‘Abdu ’l-Ka‘bah (which The Prophet changed into ‘Abdu ’llāh) Ibn Abī Quḥāfah. He was the first Khalīfah, or successor of Muhammad. [shi‘ah.] Muhammadan writers praise him for the purity of his life, and call him aṣ-Ṣiddīq, the Veracious. He only reigned two years, and died August 22nd, a.d. 634.