But he had not Omar’s strength or decision; nor was his sense of justice so keen and stern. [Sidenote: Not so strong, or sternly just, as Omar.]This is illustrated in the matter of the two Khâlids. From the one--Khâlid ibn Saîd, though warned by Omar and Aly, he hesitated to withhold a command; and the disaster in Syria was the consequence. On the other hand, by refusing to degrade Khâlid, ‘the Sword of God,’ for injustice and cruelty and the scandal of taking to wife his victim’s widow, he became indirectly responsible for his acts. Yet to this unscrupulous agent it is due, more than to any other, that Islam survived and triumphed. But Abu Bekr was not wanting in firmness when the occasion demanded; for example, the despatch of Osâma’s army, and the defence of Medîna against the apostate tribes, when he stood almost alone and all around was dark, showed a boldness and steadfastness of purpose, which, more than anything else, contributed to turn the tide of rebellion and apostasy. [Sidenote: Faith in Mahomet the secret of his strength.] The secret of Abu Bekr’s strength was faith in Mahomet. He would say: ‘Call me not _the Caliph of the Lord_: I am but _the Caliph of the Prophet of the Lord_.’ The question with him ever was, What did Mahomet command? or, What now should he have done? From this he never swerved one hair’s-breadth. And so it was that he crushed apostasy, and laid secure the foundations of Islam, His reign was short, but, after Mahomet himself, there is no one to whom the Faith is more beholden. [Sidenote: Abu Bekr’s belief in Mahomet; presumptive evidence of Mahomet’s own sincerity.] For this reason, and because his belief in the Prophet is itself a strong evidence of the sincerity of Mahomet himself, I have dwelt at some length upon his life and character. Had Mahomet been from the first a conscious impostor, he never could have won the faith and friendship of a man who was not only sagacious and wise, but simple and sincere. Abu Bekr had no thought of personal aggrandisement. Endowed with sovereign and irresponsible power, he used it simply for the interests of Islam and the people’s good. He was too shrewd to be himself deceived, and too honest himself to act the part of a deceiver. CHAPTER XIV. ACCESSION OF OMAR--REINFORCEMENTS FOR IRAC--CAMPAIGN THERE UNDER ABU OBEID AND MOTHANNA. Jumâd II., A.H. XIII.--Moharram, A.H. XIV. August, A.D. 634–March, A.D. 635. [Sidenote: Accession of Omar.] On the morrow after Abu Bekr’s death, Omar ascended the pulpit, and addressed the people assembled in the Great Mosque. ‘The Arabs,’ he said, ‘are like a rebellious camel obliged to follow its driver, and it pertaineth to the driver to see which way he leadeth the same. By the Lord of the Káaba! even thus will I guide you in the way that ye should go.’ [Sidenote: His first two acts.]