By Shaykh Safiur-Rahmaan al-Mubarakpuri [d.1427H]
Symptoms of Farewell
When the Call to Islam grew complete, the new faith dominated. Allaah’s Messenger [sall-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam] started to develop certain grave symptoms. They could be perceived through his statements and deeds.
In Ramadan, in the tenth year of Al-Hijra, he secluded himself for twenty days in contrast to ten, as was in practice previously.
The angel Gabriel reviewed the Qur’aan twice with him as against once in a year. His words in the Farewell Pilgrimage [i.e. Al-Wida]:
“I do not know whether I will ever meet you at this place after this year.”
The revelation of Surat An-Nasr in the Days of At-Tashreeq. When it was revealed to him, he realized that it was the parting time and that the Surah was an announcement of his approaching death.
During the early days of Safar in the eleventh year of Al-Hijra, the Prophet [sall-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam] went out to Uhud and observed a Farewell prayer for the martyrs. It looked like he was saying good-bye to both the dead and the living. He then ascended the pulpit and addressed the people saying:
“I am to precede you and I have been made a witness upon you. By Allaah, you will meet me at the Haud [Tank] very soon. I have been given the keys of the treasures of the earth or the keys to the earth. By Allaah, I do not fear for you that you will turn polytheist after me. But I do fear for you that you will compete each other in acquiring the worldly riches.” [1]
One day, at midnight he went to Al-Baqi’ cemetery, and begged Allaah to forgive the martyrs of Islam. He said:
“Peace be upon you, O inhabitants of the grave! The morning that dawns upon you is more relieving than that which dawns upon the living. Afflictions are approaching like cloudy lumps of a dark night the last of which follows the first. The last one is bearing more evil than the first.”
He comforted them saying:
“We are also coming to you.”
The Start of the Disease
On Monday the twenty-ninth of Safar in the eleventh year of Al-Hijra, he participated in funeral rites in Al-Baqi’. On the way back he had a headache, his temperature rose so high that the hear effect could be felt over his forehead.
He led the Muslims in prayer for eleven days although he was sick. The total number of his sick days was either thirteen or fourteen.
The Last Week
When his sickness grew severe, he used to ask his wives: “Where shall I stay tomorrow?” “Where shall I stay?” They understood what he wanted. So they allowed him to stay wherever he wished. He moved to ‘Aishah’s room while he was leaning on Al-Fadl bin Al-’Abbas and ‘Ali bin Abi Talib [radee Allaahu anhum]. Head banded as he was, he dragged his feet till he came into her room. It was there that he spent the last week of his life. During that period, ‘Aishah [radee Allaahu 'anha] used to recite Al-Mu’awwidhat [Chapters 113 and 114 of the Qur'aan] and other supplications already taught by him, and after blowing her breath on them move her hands on his body for blessings.
Five Days Before his Death
On Wednesday, five days before he died, the Prophet’s temperature rose very high signaling the severity of his disease. He fainted and suffered from pain. “Pour out one me seven Qirab [water skin pots] of various water wells so that I may go out to meet people and talk to them,” he said. So, they seated him in a container and poured out water on him till he said: “That is enough. That is enough.” Then he felt well enough to enter the Mosque. He entered it with his head wrapped, sat on the pulpit and gave a speech to the people who were gathering together around him. He said:
“The curse of Allaah falls upon the Jews and Christians for they made their Prophets’ graves places of worship.” [2]
Then he said:
“Do not make my grave a worshipped idol.” [3]
Then he offered himself and invited the people to repay any injuries he might have inflicted on them, saying:
“He whom I have ever lashed his back, I offer him my back so that he may avenge himself on me. He whom I have ever blasphemed his honour, here I am offering my honour so that he may avenge himself.”
Then he descended, and performed the noon prayer. Again he returned to the pulpit and sat on it. He resumed his first speech about enmity and some other things.
A man then said:
“You owe me three Dirhams.” The Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] said:
“Fadl, pay him the money.”
He went on saying:
“I admonish you to be good to Al-Ansar (the Helpers). They are my family and with them I found shelter. They have acquitted themselves credibly of the responsibility that fell upon them and now there remains what you have to do. You should fully acknowledge and appreciate the favour that they have shown, and should overlook their faults.”
In another version:
“The number of believers would increase, but the number of Helpers would decrease to the extent that they would be among men as salt in the food. So he who from among you occupies a position of responsibility and is powerful enough to do harm or good to the people, he should fully acknowledge and appreciate the favour that these benefactors have shown and overlook their faults.” [4]
And said:
“Allaah, the Great, has given a slave of His the opportunity to make a choice between whatever he desires of Allaah’s provisions in this world, and what He keeps for him in the world, but he has opted for the latter.”
Abu Sa‘id Al-Khudri said:
“Upon hearing that, Abu Bakr cried and said: ‘We sacrifice our fathers and mothers for your sake.’ We wondered why Abu Bakr said such a thing. People said: ‘Look at that old man! The Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] says about a slave of Allaah who was granted the right between the best fortunes of this world and the bounty of Allaah in the Hereafter, but he says: ‘We sacrifice our fathers and mothers for your sake!’ It was later on that we realised what he had aimed at. The Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] was the slave informed to choose. We also acknowledged that Abu Bakr was the most learned among us.” [5]
Then the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] said:
“The fellow I feel most secure in his company is Abu Bakr. If I were to make friendship with any other one than Allaah, I would have Abu Bakr a bosom friend of mine. For him I feel affection and brotherhood of Islam. No gate shall be kept open in the Mosque except that of Abu Bakr’s.” [6]
Four Days Before his Death
On Thursday, four days before the death of the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam], he said to people – though he was suffering from a severe pain: “Come here. I will cause you to write something so that you will never fall into error.” Upon this ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab said: “The Prophet of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] is suffering from acute pain and you have the Qur’aan with you; the Book of Allaah is sufficient unto you.” Others however wanted the writing to be made. When Muhammad [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] heard them debating over it, he ordered them to go away and leave him alone. [7]
That day he recommended three things:
1. Jews, Christians and polytheists should be expelled out of Arabia.
2. He recommended that delegations should be honoured and entertained, in a way similar to the one he used to do.
3. As for the third – the narrator said that he had forgotten it. It could have been adherence to the Holy Book and the Sunnah. It was likely to be the accomplishment and the mobilisation of Usamah’s army, or it could have been performance of prayers and being attentive to slaves.
In spite of the strain of disease and suffering from pain, the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] used to lead all the prayers till that Thursday – four days before he died. On that day he led the sunset prayer and recited:
“By the winds [or angels or the Messengers of Allaah] sent forth one after another.” [Al-Mursalat 77:1] [8]
In the evening he grew so sick that he could not overcome the strain of disease or go out to enter the Mosque. ‘Aishah [radee Allaahu ‘anha] said that the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] asked: “Have the people performed the prayer?” “No. They haven’t. They are waiting for you.” “Put some water in the washing pot,” he said. We did what he ordered. So he washed and wanted to stand up, but he fainted. When he came round he asked again: “Have the people prayed?” Then the same sequence of events took place again and again for the second and the third times from the time he washed to the time he fainted after his attempts to stand up. Therefore he sent a message to Abu Bakr to lead the prayer himself. Abu Bakr then led the prayer during those days. [9] They were seventeen prayers in the lifetime the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam]. Three or four times ‘Aishah talked to the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] to exempt Abu Bakr from leadership in prayer because of his gentleness, but he refused and said:
“You [women] are like the women who tried to entice Joseph [Yusuf] into immorality. Convey my request to Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.”
A Day or Two prior to his Death
On Saturday or on Sunday, the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] felt that he was well enough to perform the prayer; so he went out leaning on two men in order to perform the noon prayer. Abu Bakr [radee Allaahu ‘anhu], who was then about to lead the prayer withdrew when he saw him coming; but the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] made him a gesture to stay where he was and said: “Seat me next to him.” They seated him on the left hand side of Abu Bakr. The Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] led the prayer, and Abu Bakr followed him and raised his voice at every ‘Allaahu Akbar’ (i.e. Allaah is the Greatest) the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] said, so that the people may hear clearly. [10]
A Day before his Death
On Sunday, a day before he died, the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] set his slaves free, paid as a charity the seven Dinars he owned and gave his weapons as a present to the Muslims. So when night fell ‘Aishah had to borrow some oil from her neighbour to light her oil-lantern. Even his armour was mortgaged as a security with a Jew for thirty Sa‘ of barley.
The Last Day Alive
In a narration by Anas bin Maalik, he said: “While the Muslims were performing the dawn prayer on Monday – led by Abu Bakr, they were surprised to see the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] raising the curtain of ‘Aishah’s room. He looked at them while they were praying aligned properly and smiled cheerfully. Seeing him, Abu Bakr withdrew to join the lines and give way to him to lead the prayer. For he thought that the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] wanted to go out and pray.” Anas said: “The Muslims, who were praying, were so delighted that they were almost too enraptured at their prayers. The Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] made them a gesture to continue their prayer, went into the room and drew down the curtain.” [11]
Allaah’s Messenger [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] was not alive for the next prayer.
When it was daytime, the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] called Fatimah [radee Allaahu ‘anha] and told her something in a secret voice that made her cry. Then he whispered to her something else which made her laugh. ‘Aishah [radee Allaahu anha] enquired from her after the Prophet’s death, as to this weeping and laughing to which Fatimah replied: “The first time he disclosed to me that he would not recover from his illness and I wept. Then he told me that I would be the first of his family to join him, so I laughed.” [12]
He gave Fatimah glad tidings that she would become the lady of all women of the world. [13]
Fatimah witnessed the great pain that afflicted her father. So she said: “What great pain my father is in!” To these words, the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] remarked:
“He will not suffer any more when today is over.” [14]
He asked that Al-Hasan and Al-Husain [radee Allaahu ‘anhum] be brought to him. He kissed them and recommended that they be looked after. He asked to see his wives. They were brought to him. He preached to them and told them to remember Allaah.
Pain grew so much severe that the trace of poison he had at Khaibar came to light. It was so sore that he said to ‘Aishah: “I still feel the painful effect of that food I tasted at Khaibar. I feel as if death is approaching.” [15]
He ordered the people to perform the prayers and be attentive to slaves. He repeated it several times. [16]
The Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] Breathes his Last
When the pangs of death started, ‘Aishah [radee Allaahu ‘anha] leant him against her. She used to say: “One of Allaah’s bounties upon me is that the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] died in my house, while I am still alive. He died between my chest and neck while he was leaning against me. Allaah has mixed his saliva with mine at his death. For ‘Abdur-Rahmaan – the son of Abu Bakr – came in with a Siwak [i.e. the root of a desert plant used for brushing teeth] in his hand, while I was leaning the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] against me. I noticed that he was looking at the Siwak, so I asked him – for I knew that he wanted it – ‘Would you like me to take it for you?’ He nodded in agreement. I took it and gave it to him. As it was too hard for him, I asked him: ‘Shall I soften it for you?’ He nodded in agreement. So I softened it with my saliva and he passed it [on his teeth].”
In another version it is said: “So he brushed his teeth as well as he could.” There was a water container (Rakwa) available at his hand with some water in. He put his hand in it and wiped his face with it and said:
“There is no god but Allaah. Death is full of agonies.” [17]
As soon as he had finished brushing his teeth, he raised his hand or his finger up, looked upwards to the ceiling and moved his lips. So ‘Aishah listened to him. She heard him say:
“With those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace with the Prophets and the Truthful ones, the martyrs and the good doers. O Allaah, forgive me and have mercy upon me and join me to the Companionship on high.” [18]
Then he repeated the last words three times:
“The most exalted Companionship on high.”
And at the same time, his hand came down and he joined the most exalted Companionship on high.
“To Allaah we turn and to Him we turn back for help and last abode.”
This event took place in the morning on Monday, the twelfth of Rabi‘ ul-Awwal, in the eleventh year of Al-Hijrah. He was sixty-three years and four days old when he died.
The Companions’ Concern over the Prophet’s [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] Death
The great [loss] news was soon known by everybody in Madinah. Dark grief spread on all areas and horizons of Madinah. Anas said: “I have never witnessed a day better or brighter than that day on which the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] came to us; and I have never witnessed a more awful or darker day than that one on which the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] died on.” [19]
When he died, Fatimah [radee Allaahu ‘anha] said: “O Father, whom his Lord responded to his supplication! O Father, whose abode is Paradise. O Father, whom I announce his death to Gabriel.” [20]
‘Umar’s Attitude
‘Umar [radee Allaahu ‘anhu] was so stunned that he almost lost consciousness and stood before people addressing them: “Some of the hypocrites claim that the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] died. The Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] did not die, but went to his Lord in the same way as Moosaa bin ‘Imran did. He stayed away for forty nights, but finally came back though they said he had been dead. By Allaah, the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] will come back and he will cut off the hands and legs of those who claim his death.” [21]
Abu Bakr’s Attitude
Abu Bakr [radee Allaahu ‘anhu] left his house at As-Sunh and came forth to the Mosque on a mare-back. At the Mosque, he dismounted and entered. He talked to nobody but went on till he entered ‘Aishah’s room, and went directly to where the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] was. The Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] was covered with a Yemeni mantle. He uncovered his face and tended down, kissed him and cried.
Then he said: “I sacrifice my father and mother for your sake. Allaah, verily, will not cause you to die twice. You have just experienced the death that Allaah had ordained.”
Then he went out and found ‘Umar [radee Allaahu ‘anhu] talking to people. He said: “‘Umar, be seated.” ‘Umar refused to do so. People parted ‘Umar [radee Allaahu ‘anhu] and came towards Abu Bakr [radee Allaahu ‘anhu], who started a speech saying:
“And now, he who worships Muhammad [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] [he should know that] Muhammad [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] is dead. But he who worships Allaah, He is Ever Living and He never dies. Allaah says:
‘Muhammad [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] is no more than a Messenger, and indeed [many] Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels [as disbelievers]? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allaah, and Allaah will give reward to those who are grateful.’ [Aali Imran 3:144].”
Ibn ‘Abbas [radee Allaahu ‘anhum] said: “By Allaah, it sounded as if people had never heard such a Qur’aanic verse till Abu Bakr recited it as a reminder. So people started reciting it till there was no man who did not recite it.”
Ibn Al-Musaiyab [radee Allaahu ‘anhu] said that ‘Umar [radee Allaahu ‘anhu] had said: “By Allaah, as soon as I heard Abu Bakr say it, I fell down to the ground. I felt as if my legs had been unable to carry me so I collapsed when I heard him say it. Only then did I realise that Muhammad [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] had really died.” [22]
Burial and Farewell Preparations to his Honourable Body
Dispute about who would succeed him [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] broke out even before having the Messenger of Allaah’s [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] body prepared for burial. Lots of arguments, discussions, dialogues took place between the Helpers and Emigrants in the roofed passage [portico] of Bani Sa‘ida. Finally they acknowledged Abu Bakr [radee Allaahu ‘anhu] as a caliph. They spent the whole Monday there till it was night. People were so busy with their arguments that it was late night – just about dawn of Tuesday – yet his blessed body was still lying on his bed covered with a garment. The room was looked from the outside.
On Tuesday, his body was washed with his clothes on. He was washed by Al-‘Abbas, ‘Ali, Al-Fadl and Qathm – the two sons of Al-‘Abbas, as well as Shaqran – the Messenger’s freed slave, Usamah bin Zaid and Aws bin Khauli [radee Allaahu ‘anhum]
Al-‘Abbas, Al-Fadl and Qathm turned his body round, whereas Osamah and Shaqran poured out water. ‘Ali washed him and Aws leant him against his chest.
The Prophet’s body was washed three times with water and berry leaves. The water came from Ghars. Sa’d bin Khaithamah’s well in Quba’ which the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] used to drink from. They shrouded him in three white Yemeni cotton sheets with neither a turban [23] nor a shirt.
A sort of disagreement arose with regard to a burial place. Abu Bakr [radee Allaahu ‘anhu] said: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] say: ‘A dead Prophet is buried where he dies.’ So Abu Talhah [radee Allaahu ‘anhu] lifted the bed on which he died, dug underneath and cut the ground for the grave. It was a Lahd type of grave with a niche in the side.
People entered the room ten by ten. They prayed the funeral prayer individually without an Imaam to lead the prayer. The first to pray for him were people of his tribe, then the Emigrants, then the Helpers. Women prayed for him after men. The young were the last to pray.
This process lasted all day Tuesday and most of Wednesday until the night came. ‘Aishah [radee Allaahu ‘anha] said: “We did not know that the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] was being buried till we heard the sound of tools digging the ground at the depth of the night before Wednesday.” [24]
Footnotes:
[1] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/585
[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/62, Muatta’ Imam Malik p.360
[3] Muatta’ Imam Malik p.65
[4] Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/536
[5] Mishkatul-Masabih 2/546
[6] Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/22, 429, 449, 2/638; Mishkatul-Masabih 2/548
[7] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/637
[8] Mishkatul-Masabih 1/102
[9] Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/99
[10] Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/98, 99
[11] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/640
[12] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/638
[13] Rahmatul-lil-‘Alamin 1/282
[14] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/641
[15] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/637
[16] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/637
[17] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/640
[18] ibid 2/638-641
[19] Mishkatul-Masabih 2/547
[20] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/641
[21] Ibn Hisham 2/655
[22] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/640, 641
[23] Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/169, Sahih Muslim 1/306
[24] Mukhtasar Seeratir-Rasul p. 471: Ibn Hisham 2/649-665: Talqih Fuhum Ahlil-Athar p. 38, 29: Rahmatul-lil-‘Alamin 1/277-286
Transcribed [by islamictects.wordpress.com] from: The Sealed Nectar, Pgs. 408-417, by Shaykh Safiur-Rahmaan al-Mubarakpuri, Translated by Mahir Abu Dhahab, Revised and edited by Abu Khaliyl, Published by Darussalam
