Abu Bakr bin Umar al-Aydarus was a Ba Alawi figure of Tarim from the al-Aydarus family. Al-Mashra al-Rawi gives his lineage as Abu Bakr bin Umar bin Abdullah bin Alawi bin Abdullah al-Aydarus. He was born and raised in Tarim and kept the company of his brothers Ahmad and Ali as well as other religious figures of his time.
The biography remembers him for a modest way of life, regular worship, hospitality and service to people around him. It also says that rulers accepted his intercession and responded to his requests on behalf of others.
A karama in the received tradition
Al-Mashra al-Rawi relates that a ruler once became angry with one of Abu Bakr’s servants and ordered the servant’s hand to be cut off. Abu Bakr sent an intercession on the man’s behalf and declared that the hand of his servant would not be cut. The account says that the ruler was unable to carry out the punishment, became fearful for himself and released the servant. This episode is preserved as part of the traditional devotional remembrance of Abu Bakr.
Abu Bakr died in Tarim in 985 AH, during his father’s lifetime, and was buried in Zanbal Cemetery.
Lineage and source note
Primary source: Al-Mashra al-Rawi fi Manaqib al-Sada al-Kiram Al Abi Alawi, volume 2, biography of Abu Bakr bin Umar al-Aydarus. It records his Tarim upbringing, family associations, devotional life, intercession with rulers, the traditional episode concerning his servant, death in 985 AH and burial at Zanbal.