Abu Bakr was probably a Judaized Nestorian Ishmaelite under the guidance of Kaʽb al-Aḥbār. He took much delight in announcing in 632 "Those who follow Muhammad, know that he is dead. As for those who follow The Father, know that he is alive forever!"

Kaʽb al-Aḥbār and his followers set about the difficult task to replace the idea that Jesus was God's temple if there was to be any hope of rebuilding a Shrine for the Jews on the Temple Mount.