When Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) became the Khalifah of Islam, many different fitnahs broke out. Among these were the fitnah of those tribes who turned apostate, leaving the fold of Islam, the fitnah of Musailimah, who claimed that he was a Nabi, and the fitnah of the Romans.

In the midst of all these fitnahs, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) decided to dispatch the army of Hazrat Usaamah bin Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) against the Romans, as this was among the last commands of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) before he departed from this world. All the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), at this time, were inclined towards not waging war against the Romans who were an outside enemy, but rather to wait for matters to stabilize among the Muslims. Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was determined to carry out the command of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) at any cost. Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), “If you do not wish to accompany me, I will set out alone.” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) thereafter realized that the decision of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was correct and they thus supported him.