عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَشَدِّ مَا صَنَعَ المُشْرِكُونَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ، جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي، " فَوَضَعَ رِدَاءَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ فَخَنَقَهُ بِهِ خَنْقًا شَدِيدًا، فَجَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَتَّى دَفَعَهُ عَنْهُ، فَقَالَ: {أَتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلًا أَنْ يَقُولَ رَبِّيَ اللَّهُ، وَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ} [غافر: 28]
“Urwah ibn Zubair (Rahimahullah) says, ‘I once asked Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr Ibnul Aas (Radiyallahu anhuma to relate to me the disbelievers’ unrelenting persecution of Rasulullah (ﷺ).’ Hazrat Abdullah ibn Amr ibnul Aas (Radiyallahu Anhuma) replied, ‘On one occasion Rasulullah (ﷺ) was performing Salah in the Hateem area when Uqbbah ibn Abu Mu’ait placed a cloth around the mubarak neck of Rasulullah (ﷺ) and pulled it with so much of force that he almost strangled Rasulullah (ﷺ). Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyllahu Anhu) appeared on the scene suddenly and pushed Uqbah aside. He then recited the following verse:
أتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلا أَنْ يَقُولَ رَبِّيَ اللَّهُ وَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ
Translation: Are you killing a man who says my Rabb is Allah and he had presented to you proof from you Rabb? (Surah Ghafir V.28) (Bukhari #3678, 3856,4815)
When Firaun and Hamaan conspired to kill Hazrat Musa (Alayhis Salaam), one of Firaun’s people who had secretly embraced Imaan upon Hazrat Musa (Alayhis Salaam) exclaimed, ‘How can you kill someone who declares my Rabb is Allah?’
Allah Ta’ala mentions this incident in Surah Mu’min as follows
وَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مُؤْمِنٌ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَكْتُمُ إِيمَانَهُ أَتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلا أَنْ يَقُولَ رَبِّيَ اللَّهُ وَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ
Translation: A believing man from the people of Firaun who was concealing his Imaan said, ‘Do you wish to kill a man simply because he says my Rabb is Allah? (Surah Ghafir V.28)
Once Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu), during his Khutbah, asked the people, ‘Tell me, who is the bravest and most valiant person?’ The people replied, ‘It is you (O Ameerul Mu’mineen)’. Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) replied, ‘My condition is such that anyone who challenged me, I have settled scores with him. (In other words, my valour is limited to taking revenge only when someone confronts me.) The bravest person was Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu). I recall one incident when the Quraysh were battering Rasulullah (ﷺ) around whilst taunting him repeatedly with the words:
أَنْتَ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَ الْآلِهَةَ إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا
Translation: So you are the one who has united all the gods into a single deity?
Whilst they were kicking him around, none of us had the courage to intervene and fend off the enemy but by good fortune, Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu) happened to pass by. He swiftly leapt into the mob and landed a punch here and delivered a blow there and just as that believing man addressed Firaun and Hamaan, Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu) addressed the disbelievers, ‘Shame on you! Do you wish to kill a man (simply because) he says Allah is my Rabb?’
Whilst narrating this incident Hazrat Ali (Radiyllahu Anhu) started tearing. He then asked the audience, ‘I ask you for the sake of Allah, was Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu) superior or was the believing man from the people of Firaun superior?’ When the audience didn’t answer Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) proclaimed, ‘By Allah one moment of the life of Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu) was far superior than that of the entire life of that believing man. That man concealed his beliefs whilst Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu) exposed his beliefs. Furthermore, that man was content with mere verbal advice whereas Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu) employed his verbal as well as his physical abilities in the defence of Rasulullah (ﷺ).’”
Another incident is recorded in Seeratul Mustafa:
In Musnad Abu Ya’la and Musnad Bazzar, it is narrated on the authority of Hazrat Anas (Radiyallahu Anhu) with an authentic Sanad (chain of narration) that on one occasion the Quraish beat Rasulullah (ﷺ) up so severely that he fell unconscious. When Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu) came forward to assist him (ﷺ), the disbelievers let go of Rasulullah (ﷺ) and pounced on Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu). According to the narration of Musnad Abu Ya’la narrated by Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhuma), they beat Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu) up so severely that his entire head suffered severe wounds. Due to the intensity of these wounds, Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu) could not touch his head. (Fathul Bari)