Final answer:
Abu Bakr was crucial to Islam as he was the first Caliph following Prophet Muhammad's death, ensuring the continuation and spread of the faith. He stabilized the Muslim community, maintained unity, and played an essential role in forming the political structure and articulating Islamic law. Therefore the correct answer is a. he helped the religion survive after muhammad's death.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abu Bakr was important to Islam because he played a crucial role in ensuring the survival of the faith after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. When Muhammad died, he did not name a successor which led to an urgent question about the leadership of the Muslim community. Abu Bakr, who was Muhammad's father-in-law and one of his earliest and closest companions, was appointed the first Caliph, also known as a successor of Muhammad. As the Caliph, Abu Bakr became the head of the Ummah, representing both spiritual and political authority to Muslims.
During his reign, Abu Bakr and his successors, such as Umar and Uthman, the Muslim armies expanded rapidly by keeping the Arab tribes loyal and as a means to spread the faith. Abu Bakr also had to suppress revolts and maintain the unity of the ummah. His leadership helped define the political structure of the Islamic community and stabilize it during a critical time of transition. The Rashidun caliphs, which include Abu Bakr, were significant in articulating what made Islam different from other monotheistic religions, committing the Quran to writing and interpreting religious law.