Indexed OCR Text

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The Life of Muhammad
Rasulullah would therefore recite the following wherever he
was - sitting, walking, going, returning, etc.
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيْمُ.
"Glory to You O our Sustainer! And praise to You. O Allah!
Forgive me and accept my repentance. Surely You are the one
who accepts repentance, the merciful."
At times he would recite:
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ وَأَتُّوْبُ إِلَيْهِ
"Glory to Allah and praise to Him. I seek forgiveness from
Allah and I turn to Him in repentance."
At times he would recite:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ اَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْكَ
"Glory to You O Allah, and praise to You. I seek Your
forgiveness and I turn to You in repentance."1
On one occasion, Rasūlullah % said to Fatimah radiyallahu
'anhā: "Jibra'il used to come to me every Ramadan and make
one recitation of the Qur'an with me. This year he came and
made two recitations. I think that my time of departure has
drawn near." Rasūlullah used to remain secluded in the
musjid in the month Ramadan for 10 days every year. This
year, he remained secluded for 20 days. When the verse:
"Today have I perfected your religion for you ... " was revealed
to Rasūlullah ¿ on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage, he
understood the import of it. In his sermon of the Farewell
Pilgrimage, he therefore said to the people: "It is possible that I
1 All these narrations are related in Tafsîr ad-Durr al-Manthûr, vol. 6, p.
408, under the commentary of Sûrah an-Nasr.

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The Life of Muhammad
will not meet you next year. And I may not be able to perform
the hajj with you again." In his sermon at Ghadir Khum, he
said: "I am a human, and no human has ever lived forever. It is
possible that the envoy of my Sustainer will soon come to take
me." On his return from the Farewell Pilgrimage, he went to
Jannatul Baqī' (the graveyard of Madinah) and, after a period
of eight years, offered the janazah salah for those who were
martyred at Uhud and supplicated for their well-being. This is
what a person normally does when he is bidding farewell. He
then went into the musjid, climbed the pulpit and delivered a
sermon. He addressed the people saying: "I am going before
you so that I may make the necessary arrangements for you at
the haud-e-kauthar, etc. Our meeting place will be at haud-e-
kauthar. I can see it this very moment from where I am
standing now. I have been given the keys to the treasures of this
world. I do not have this fear that you will collectively fall into
polytheism." In other words, I do not have this fear that the
entire ummah will fall into polytheism as was the case with
previous nations. "However, I fear that you will fall greedily
towards this world, compete with each other to acquire it, fight
with each other for it, and thereby be destroyed."1
Rasūlullah _ falls ill
In one of the last 10 nights of Safar, Rasulullah % woke up, got
his slave, Abū Muhaybah up and said to him: "I have been
ordered to seek forgiveness for the people of Jannatul Baqi'."
When Rasulullah % returned from there, he suddenly felt ill and
complained of a headache and flu.
It was the turn of the mother of the believers, Maymūnah
radiyallāhu 'anhā. It was a Wednesday. In this sick condition,
he continued going to his other wives according to the days that
1 Zurqānî, vol. 8, pp. 250, 251, 255.

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The Life of Muhammad
were allotted to them. When his condition worsened, he sought
permission from them to spend his time with 'A'ishah
radiyallahu 'anhā. He went to her room on a Monday. He
passed away in her room the following week on a Monday.
Rasūlullah remained ill for 13-14 days. The last week of his
life was spent under the care of 'A'ishah radiyallahu 'anhā.1
It is stated in a Tradition that when Jibra'il & came to
Rasūlullāh ¿ with Surah an-Nasr, he said to him: "O Jibra'il!
This surah gives me the news of my demise." Jibra'il & said:
"The after life is better for you than this world."
During his illness, Rasūlullah & received the information that
the following people had become apostates and were claiming
prophet-hood: Aswad 'Ansī, Musaylamah and Tulayhah Asdī.
He emphasised on the Sahabah & the importance of waging
jihad against them and sent a group of Ansar to quell the
rebellion of Aswad 'Ansī. The latter was killed about a day
before Rasūlullah's % demise.2
It is related in the Sahīh of Imam Bukhārī rahmatullahi 'alayh
that 'A'ishah radiyallahu 'anha said: "During this illness of
his, Rasūlullah % used to say that this illness was the effect of
the poison that he had consumed at Khaybar." Another
Tradition of Sahīh Bukhārī states that it was his noble habit that
whenever he fell ill, he would recite the following surahs:
Sūrah al-Ikhlās, Sūrah al-Falaq, Sūrah an-Nās, and then blow
onto himself and pass his hand across his entire body. 'Ã'ishah
radiyallāhu 'anhā says: "During this final illness of his, I used
to recite these surahs and blow onto him. However, I would
pass my hands over his body as a source of blessing."
1 Ibid.
2 Ibn al-Athîr, vol. 2, p. 153.

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The Life of Muhammad %
Fatimah radiyallāhu 'anhā cries and smiles
During this illness, Rasūlullah % called for Fatimah radiyallahu
'anhā and whispered something into her ears. She began
crying. Rasūlullah % again said something in her ears and she
began smiling. 'Ā'ishah radiyallāhu ‘anhā says: "After
Rasūlullah % passed away, we asked her about this." She said:
"Rasūlullah said to me that Jibra'il aca used to recite the
entire Qur'an once every Ramadan. But this year he read it
twice to him. He feels that he is going to pass away this year. I
therefore began crying. He then said to me that from his family,
I will be the first one to join him. On hearing this, I smiled."
Fatimah radiyallāhu 'anhā passed away six months after the
demise of Rasulullah. Another Tradition states that
Rasūlullah % said to her: "You will be the leader of all the
women in paradise."1
Ā'ishah radiyallahu 'anhā says: "When Rasulullah % returned
from Jannatul Baqi', I had a headache. Because of the pain I
was experiencing, I cried out: "O my head!" When Rasūlullah
heard this, he also cried out: "O my head! It is possible that I
will pass away in this way." 'Ā'ishah radiyallahu 'anhā says:
"He then said to me: 'O 'A'ishah! If you pass away before me,
of what loss will it be to me? I will make arrangements for your
shroud and burial, I will offer the janāzah salah for you, and
seek forgiveness for you." 'Ā'ishah radiyallāhu 'anhā replied:
"It is as though you want me to die. If I were to depart from this
world, you will bring another wife into this very house of mine
on that very day." What she meant was that he will forget her
and become engrossed with his other wives. On hearing this,
Rasūlullah % smiled thinking to himself that she is unaware
1 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 8, p. 103.

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The Life of Muhammad %
that I am the one who is departing from this world and that she
will remain alive after my demise.1
The incident of Qirtās
About four days before his demise, when Rasūlullah's % illness
intensified, he asked those who were present in the room to
bring him writing paper, pen and ink so that he may dictate
some words of advice after which the Muslims cannot go
astray. On hearing this, those who were present disagreed.
'Umar 4% said to him: "You are ill, you are experiencing much
pain. It is not appropriate for us to cause you trouble in such a
condition. The Book of Allah is with us (which is sufficient to
save us from going astray)." Some Sahabah & agreed with
'Umar 4% while others said that the writing material should be
brought and they said: "Has Rasulullah & ever said anything
foolish or unintelligible during his illnesses and state of
unconsciousness? Ask him: he is the Messenger and Prophet of
Allah . His heart and tongue are protected from error. He is
not like others who begin speaking nonsense when they fall
ill." A Hadith states that on one occasion Rasulullah # pointed
to his tongue and said: "I take an oath by that being in whose
control is my life that nothing but the truth emanates from this
tongue."
The statement "Has Rasulullah & ever said anything foolish or
unintelligible
during
his
illnesses and
state
of
unconsciousness?" is not that of 'Umar % but those who did
not agree with him. 'Umar
was of the opinion that
Rasūlullah % should not be put through the pain of dictating
something. Those who felt that the writing material should be
brought made the above statement. Their view was that since
Rasūlullah % is asking for the writing material to be brought,
1 Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 5, p. 224.

186
The Life of Muhammad %
why should it not be done? There is no possibility of anything
wrong or nonsensical emanating from his mouth. It is for this
reason that they posed this question in this particular tone. They
certainly did not believe in such a thing [that Rasulullah
would say anything unintelligible]. Those narrations in which
this statement is quoted without the interrogatory particle are
also understood in the same light and the interrogatory particle
is considered to be there [although not written].
When those who were present began arguing and differing
among themselves, Rasulullah % asked them to leave and said
to them: "Leave me as I am. I am in a better condition that what
you are calling me towards." Thereafter, despite the pain that
he was suffering, he issued three words of advice to them:
1. The polytheists should be expelled from the Arabian
peninsula. No polytheist should be permitted to live
there.
2. Whenever delegations come to meet them, they should
give them gifts and presents when bidding farewell to
them, as had been his practice.
3. Rasūlullah % did not say the third thing, or the narrator
forgot it. (Bukhārī and Muslim)
Some are of the opinion that the third advice was any of the
following: they should practise on the Qur'an, they must send
the army of Usamah
,
they must not turn his grave into a
place of worship and prostration, they must be particular about
their salah, they must see to the slaves.1
It is not known whether the words of advice which he gave
orally were the same as those which he wanted to have written
1 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 8, p. 103.

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The Life of Muhammad %
down or whether he had something else in his mind. Allah dlg
knows best.
The Sahih of Imam Bukharī and Imam Muslim relate on the
authority of 'A'ishah radiyallahu 'anhā that during this illness
of his Rasūlullah % said: "I wish to talk to Abu Bakr and his
son, Abdur Rahman. Send someone to call them so that I may
give them some words of advice, make him [Abu Bakr %] my
successor so that no one may be able to say anything [against
him] and no one may desire [this leadership once he has been
appointed]. I have now changed my mind and decided not to
give him these words of advice. I know for a fact that Allah
will not permit anyone else to become the caliph after me. Even
the believers will not accept the caliphate of anyone besides
Abu Bakr." Another Tradition has the following words:
معاذ الله ان يختلف الناس على أبي بكر
"Allah forbid that the people differ with regard to [the caliphate
of] Abū Bakr."
It becomes quite clear from these Traditions that it was
Rasūlullah's heartfelt desire that Abu Bakr % should be the
caliph after him. However, he left it in the hands of fate,
destiny and the unanimous decision of the ummah to do this.
Fate and destiny would decide that Abu Bakr 4% would be the
caliph and his caliphate will be established by the unanimous
decision of the senior Companions of Rasulullah . All the
Muslims will accept his caliphate. The words of Imam Bukhārī
rahmatullahi 'alayh also indicate that these words show that
Rasūlullah % wanted to write down the caliphate of Abu Bakr
It is for this reason that Imam Bukhārī rahmatullahi 'alayh
included this Hadith under Kitab al-Ahkām, under the chapter,

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The Life of Muhammad
Bab al-Istikhlaf - the chapter on appointing a caliph. This
shows that this Hadith gives reference to the caliphate.1
When this incident [of Rasulullah asking for writing
material] took place and the people began differing and arguing
with each other, Rasūlullah % asked them to leave because it
was not appropriate to argue in his presence. The people then
left.
When the people left, Rasulullah # rested till the time of zuhr
salah. When he felt a bit better and the intensity of his illness
decreased, he asked for seven containers of water to be poured
on his head and said: "Perhaps I will experience more comfort
and I may give some advice to the people." Accordingly, this
water was poured on him and he felt much more comfortable.
He then took support from Abbas % and 'Alī % on either side
of him and went to the musjid. He performed the zuhr salah
and then delivered a sermon. This was his final sermon. This is
according to the Tradition of Sahih Bukhārī. The Tradition of
Sahih Muslim states that this took place four days before his
demise. Ibn Hajar 'Asqalanī says that according to this
Tradition, this sermon was delivered on a Thursday.2
Rasūlullah's final sermon
After completing the salah, Rasūlullah % went onto the pulpit,
and after praising and glorifying Allah , he spoke about the
martyrs of Uhud. He asked for forgiveness for them. He then
addressed the Muhajirun saying: "You will be in the majority
while the Ansar will be in the minority. Look, the Ansar gave
me refuge. You must be kind to those who are good and
1 Refer to Zurqānî, p. 257, Qastalānî, vol. 10, p. 260, and Fath al-Bārî, vol.
13, p. 177 for more details.
2 Zurqānî, vol. 8, p. 258.

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The Life of Muhammad
righteous among them. And you must overlook those who err
among them."
He then said: "O people! Allah has given to a servant of His to
choose between enjoying the bounties of this world or those of
the hereafter that are with Allah. That servant has chosen to
enjoy the bounties that are with Allah in the hereafter." Abū
Bakr 4% who was the most knowledgeable among the Sahabah
immediately understood that the servant referred to was none
other than Rasūlullah . He therefore began crying and said:
"O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you."
Rasulullah said: "Wait and remain firm." He then turned
towards the musjid and asked the people to shut all the doors of
the musjid and that only one door, that of Abu Bakr 4%, be left
open. " He then said: "As regards his life, wealth,
companionship and friendship, Abu Bakr 4% is the one who is
kindest to me. There isn't anyone who was kinder to me than
him. I repaid all those who did favours to me, except for Abū
Bakr. The reward for his favours will be given by Allah dis
personally on the day of resurrection. Were I to make someone
apart from Allah & my bosom friend, I would have made Abū
Bakr. However, he enjoys Islamic brotherhood and friendship.
He surpasses everyone in this regard. There is no one equal to
him in this brotherhood and friendship."2
1 It is stated in a narration of Sa'd ibn Abî Waqqas % that Rasûlullah
issued the order that all the doors except the door of 'Alî 4% be closed.
(Narrated by Ahmad and Nasa'î) It should be kept in mind that this order
was issued at the time when the Musjid-e-Nabawî was being constructed,
i.e. just after the emigration to Madînah. As for the order to shut all the
doors except that of Abu Bakr
4%, this incident took place during
Rasûlullah's final illness. It is a principle that the latter order abrogates
the former.
2 Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 5, p. 229. Fath al-Bārî, vol. 7, p. 10.
Ittihaf Sharh Ihyā' 'Ulûm ad-Dîn, vol. 10, p. 287.

190
The Life of Muhammad %
In short, Rasulullah # enumerated those merits of Abu Bakr
which were not shared by anyone else. He did this so that these
virtues and merits of his may be well known to the people and
there may be no difference with regard to his succession after
him. In order to emphasize this, Rasulullah % appointed him to
the leadership (imamat) of the greatest of acts of worship, viz.
salah. It was for this reason that at the time of giving Abu Bakr
the pledge of allegiance, the Sahabah said: "If Rasūlullah
chose him for our din (leadership in salah) why should we
not choose him for our wordly affairs (caliphate and
leadership)?"1
In this sermon Rasulullah also asked that the army of
Usamah 4% be despatched quickly. He also said: "I know that
some people (according to Ibn Sa'd, this refers to the
hypocrites) object to the leadership of Usamah [for this army]
in the sense that why should a youngster be given leadership
when there are so many other senior people present? Listen!
Even before this, there were people who objected to his father's
(Zayd's) leadership. By Allah! His father was qualified for that
post and so is his son, Usamah, qualified for this post.
Furthermore, he is extremely beloved to me."
Rasūlullah then said: "Allah's curse befell the Jews and
Christians who turned the graves of their Prophets into places
of prostration." Rasulullah wanted to warn the ummah
against turning his grave into a place of prostration.
Rasūlullah % said: "O people! The news has reached me that
you have become fearful of the demise of your Prophet. Has
any Prophet before me remained forever with his people, that I
should now remain forever with you? Allah s says:
1 Zurqānî, vol. 8, p. 254.

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The Life of Muhammad
وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّنْ قَبْلِكَ الْخُلْدَ
"We did not allow any human before you to remain till
eternity."
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلاَّ رَسُوْلٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ
"Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers before him also
passed away."
"Listen! I have to meet Allah and you also have to meet Allah.
I advise all the Muslims to treat the early Muhajirun with
kindness. And I advise the early Muhajirūn to remain steadfast
on the fear of Allah and good deeds. Allah % says:
وَالْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الإِنْسَانَ لَفِيْ خُسْرٍ إِلاَّ الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا
بِالصَّبْرِ.
"By the token of time, man is certainly in loss. Except those
who have iman and did good deeds. And they advise each other
in matters of truth and they advise each other to exercise
patience."
"O Muslims! I advise you to treat the Ansar well and with
kindness. They are the ones who gave refuge to Islam and
īman. They made you partners in their homes, lands, orchards
and fruits. They gave preference to you over themselves despite
being in need and in poverty. Allah &# says:
وَيُؤْثِرُوْنَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ
"They give preference over themselves even though they
themselves may be in dire circumstances."
"Listen! I am leaving before you. You will also meet me. Our
meeting place will the the Haud-e-Kauthar."

192
The Life of Muhammad %
Rasulullah % then got off the pulpit and went to his room.1
Rasūlullah's last salah with congregation
As long as he had the strength, Rasulullah # would come to the
musjid for salah and continue leading the Sahabah & in salah.
The last salah which he lead was the maghrib salah of
Thursday. He passed away four days later on a Monday. Imam
Bukhārī rahmatullahi 'alayh reports on the authority of Umm
Fadl radiyallahu 'anhā that Rasulullah ¿ led us in the maghrib
salah in which he recited Sūrah wal-Mursalat. He did not lead
us in any salah thereafter, and then he passed away. When the
time for the 'isha salah came, he asked whether the people had
performed their salah. The reply was given to him that the
people were waiting for him. He tried getting up several times
but the severity of his illness would cause him to fall
unconscious. He eventually said: "Order Abu Bakr to lead the
salah on my behalf." 'A'ishah radiyallāhu 'anhā said to him:
"O Messenger of Allah! Abu Bakr is very soft-hearted. If he
were to stand in your place, he will be overcome by emotion
and he will not be able to lead the people in salah. He will start
crying and people will not hear his recitation. You should
therefore order 'Umar to lead the salah." Although this is what
'Ā'ishah radiyallāhu 'anhā said to Rasūlullah , in her heart
she felt that the person who stands in the place of Rasulullah
will consider him to be an ill omen [indicating the departure of
Rasūlullah % from this world]. Rasulullah # therefore said to
her: "You are like the women in the time of Yusuf . You say
one thing while you have something else in your heart. Inform
Abu Bakr that none but he has to lead the people in salah."
It is stated in Sahīh Bukhārī that Rasūlullah % said this to
'A'ishah radiyallahu 'anha three times, each time she refused.
1 Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 5, p. 229.

193
The Life of Muhammad *
But Rasūlullah persisted and emphasised that none but Abū
Bakr 4% should lead the salah. Eventually, Abu Bakr 4% began
leading the people in salah.
In his Ihyā' 'Ulūm ad-Din, Imam Ghazzālī rahmatullahi 'alayh
quotes the Tradition of 'A'ishah radiyallahu 'anha expressing
her inner feelings as to why she disliked her father to lead the
people in salāh:
'A'ishah said: The reason why I disliked my father leading the
salah so that he may remain totally aloof from the world. This
is because honour and leadership are not without dangers.
There is the fear of destruction in this. It is only he whom Allah
keeps safe can save himself from the temptation of this
world. Furthermore, I feared that the person who stands in the
place of Rasūlullah % while the latter is still alive, people will
become jealous of him and they might harm him in some way
out of their jealousy. And that they may also consider him to be
a bearer of ill luck. But since the order and decision of Allah is
is this, that my father should stand in the place of Rasulullah ,
and lead the people in his place, then my supplication is that
Allah should protect him from every religious and worldly
threat."
Glory be to Allah ! Look at the deep understanding and
foresight of 'A'ishah radiyallahu 'anha, the daughter of Abū
Bakr . She is looking at this imamat in salah as a prelude to
the future caliphate and leadership. And she is trying her
utmost that her father should not become the imam in salah nor
the future leader. This minor and major imamat should go to
someone else and not to her father so that he may be totally
protected from the trials and temptations of both this material
and spiritual world. This was the condition of the daughter. As
for the father, listen to his words which he said at the time
when he was given the pledge of allegiance:

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The Life of Muhammad
"I take an oath by Allah that I never hoped for this caliphate in
my heart nor did I verbally ask for it by way of supplication. I
have only accepted it out of fear that the Muslims will fall into
sedition."
This is the status of a siddiq and a siddīqah (the absolute
honesty of father and daughter) that their hearts are totally pure
of greed for wealth and position. However, it should be
understood that when the Prophet and Messenger of Allah 5%
persists in appointing someone as an imam, such a person will
certainly be imam al-muttagin - the leader of the righteous.
Such a person's internal and external self will be pure from any
desire for such leadership. No form of sedition or tribulation
will ever have the courage to even look at such a person.
It should be borne in mind that divine support and assistance
are always with a Prophet. Therefore when the Prophet
appointed someone in his place, that person will also receive
divine help and guidance. This is because the Messenger of
Allah cannot appoint someone in his place without the order of
Allah .
When a king appoints someone to his throne during his
lifetime, it is synonymous to making him the heir incumbent to
the throne. In like manner, when the Prophet appoints
someone in his place to lead the salah, it is synonymous to
appointing him as his successor.
On Saturday or Sunday when he felt a bit better, Rasulullah
took support of 'Abbas 4% and 'Alī
and entered the musjid.
Abu Bakr 4% was leading the zuhr salah at that time. Rasūlullah
went and sat down to the right of Abu Bakr 4% and led the
people for the remainder of the salah. Rasulullah # was now
the imam and Abu Bakr
began following him. The
remainder of the people completed their salah by following the
takbīrs of Abū Bakr 4. (Bukhārī)

195
The Life of Muhammad *
This zuhr salah was the last salah which Rasulullah _ led.
After this, he did not come to the musjid at all. As for the
previously mentioned narration of Umm Fadl radiyallahu
'anhā that Rasūlullah's last salah was the maghrib salah, this
refers to where Rasulullah _ was the imam for the entire salah
- from beginning till end.
On Saturday, Usamah 4% and other Sahabah & who were to
leave for jihad came to meet Rasulullah . They bid farewell to
Rasūlullah and left. They left Madinah and stopped over at
Juruf. They left in obedience to the instruction of Rasūlullah ,
but because of his illness, they did not have the heart to leave.
Rasūlullah's % condition worsened on Sunday. On hearing this,
Usamah 4% came back to visit Rasūlullah . He saw that his
condition was quite bad and that he was unable to speak.
Usamah bent down and kissed Resulullah's forehead.
Rasūlullah % raised both his hands towards the sky and then
placed them on Usamah 45. Usamah 4% says: "I think that
Rasūlullāh
was supplicating for me." He then returned to
Juruf.
The Sahih of Imam Bukhārī narrates from 'A'ishah radiyallahu
'anha that they assumed that Rasulullah # was suffering from
pleurisy. They therefore placed some medicine into his mouth.
Rasūlullah ¿ indicated to them to stop but they thought that he
was merely portraying a natural dislike just as when a person is
ill and shows a natural dislike for a certain medicine. Later,
when his condition improved, he asked: "Did I not stop you?
The punishment is that medicine be put in the mouths of all of
you, apart from 'Abbas because he did not join you'll in this
persistence."
The day of Rasulullah's _ demise
It was a Monday when Rasulullah # left this fleeting world for
the eternal life of the hereafter and met with Allah g. On the
morning of this Monday he raised the curtain of his room and

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saw that the people were standing in lines and offering their
fajr salah. On seeing the Sahabah & he smiled and his face
turned white, hoping that the Sahabah & would not break their
salah out of extreme happiness.
Abu Bakr % intended to go back [from the spot where he was
leading the salah]. Rasulullah ¿ indicated to him to continue.
Due to his weakness, Rasūlullah % could not stand up fully. He
lowered the curtain of his room and went back inside.
(Bukhārī)
Rasūlullah's raising the curtain and looking at the Sahabah
was the last time that he appeared before them. And it was the
final opportunity of their seeing the beauty of Rasūlullah . A
poet says:
وكنت أرى كالموت من بين ساعة - فكيف ببين كان موعده الحشر
"I used to consider a single moment's separation [from him] to
be death. Now what can I say about this separation after which
the next meeting time will only be on the day of resurrection ?! "
When Abu Bakr > completed the fajr salah, he went directly
to the blessed room of Rasulullah . He said to 'A'ishah
radiyallāhu 'anhā: "I see that he is enjoying peace at present,
and the previous pain and discomfort seems to have improved."
Abu Bakr 4% had two wives, one of whom lived just outside
Madinah. That day was the turn of the one who was living
outside Madinah. He therefore sought permission from
Rasulullah and went to her.1
The narration of Ibn Ishaq is as follows: "O Prophet of Allah! I
see that you have got up in a good condition this morning by
the bounty and grace of Allah s. Today is the turn of Bint
Khārijah. Can I go to her?" He replied: "Yes."
1 Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 5, p. 244.

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The Life of Muhammad %
When the others heard that Rasulullah % was feeling quite well,
they also returned to their homes.1
'Alī
came out of the room, people asked him about
Rasūlullāh's condition. He replied that all praise is due to
Allah deg; that he is feeling quite well. The people were satisfied
with this and therefore dispersed. 'Abbas % held 'Ali des by the
hand and said to him: "O 'Alī! I swear by Allah that after three
days there will be another ruler and you will be his subject. By
Allah, I think that Rasūlullah % is going to pass away in this
illness. I think we better ask him as to who should be the caliph
after him. If it is one of us, we will know of it. If not, he will
advise us as to who it should be." 'Alī s replied: "It is possible
that he will refuse to give it to one of us. If he does that, we will
be deprived of it forever. By Allah, I will not say a single word
in this regard to him."2
Rasūlullah in the throes of death
The people assumed that Rasulullah's condition had
improved and they therefore dispersed. After a short while, he
began experiencing the pangs of death. He placed his head in
the lap of 'A'ishah radiyallahu 'anha and lied down. Just then,
her brother, Abdur Rahman 4% came in with a miswāk in his
hand. Rasūlullah % began looking at him. 'A'ishah radiyallāhu
'anhā asked: "O Rasūlullah! Should I get a miswāk for you?"
Rasulullah nodded in the affirmative. She then asked:
"Should I soften it for you?" He again nodded in the
affirmative. She softened it by chewing on it and then gave it to
him. Later on, 'A'ishah radiyallahu 'anhā used to proudly
express this great favour of Allah g that He caused her saliva
to mix with that of Rasulullah's & during this final hour of his,
1 Ibn Hishām, vol. 4, p. 302.
2 Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 5, p. 227.

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The Life of Muhammad
that he passed away in her room, when it was her turn, and on
her shoulder.
Note: Mullā 'Alī Qārī rahmatullahi 'alayh quotes from the
senior scholars of the past that the person who is constant in
using the miswak will automatically recite the kalimah at the
time of death, while this will not be the case of the one who
consumes opium.
A glass of water was kept at Rasūlullah's side. He repeteadly
extended his hand towards it, dipped his hand in it and wiped
his face with it. While doing this, he would say: "There is none
worthy of worship but Allah. Surely there are many pangs of
death." He then looked at the ceiling, raised his hands and said:
"O Allah! I want to go to ar-Rafiq al-A'la - the highest
companionship." This refers to the sanctified place which is the
abode of the Prophets and Messengers.
'A'ishah radiyallahu 'anhā says: "I had heard Rasūlullah
saying on several occasions that the soul of a Messenger is not
taken until he is not shown his abode in paradise, and until he is
not given the choice to either remain in this world or to leave it.
When he said the above words, I immediately understood that
he will no longer remain with us. That he has already chosen to
be in the close companionship of Allah . When he said:
اللّهُمَّ فِي الرَّفِيْقِ الأَعْلَى
"O Allah! I desire to be in the highest companionship."
His soul had traversed this realm towards the upper realm and
his hands [which had been raised] fell down. (Bukhārī)
إِنَّا للهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ
"To Allah we belong and to Him is our return."

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The Life of Muhammad %
The date of Rasulullah's demise
This heart-rending and soul-tearing incident which deprived
this world from the blessings of prophet-hood and messenger-
ship and the illumination of divine revelation took place on a
Monday afternoon, on the 12th of Rabī' al-Awwal.
There is no difference of opinion with regard to the fact that
Rasūlullah ¿ passed away in Rabi' al-Awwal on a Monday.
There is difference with regard to the time and the actual date
of Rabī' al-Awwal.
The Maghazī of Ibn Ishaq states that Rasulullah % passed away
at mid-morning. The Maghazī of Mūsa ibn 'Uqbah states on the
authority of Zuhrī and 'Urwah ibn Zubayr that Rasūlullah
passed away at mid-day. This narration is more authentic. This
is not a serious difference because there is a very small gap
between these two times.
However, there is severe differences with regard to the exact
date of Rasūlullah's % demise. The famous opinion is that it
was the 12th of Rabī' al-Awwal. Mūsa ibn 'Uqbah, Layth ibn
Sa'd and Khwarizmī state that it was the 1st of Rabi' al-Awwal.
Kalbī and Abū Muhannaf state that it was the 2nd of Rabī' al-
Awwal. 'Allamah Suhaylī in Raud al-Anif and Hafiz Ibn Hajar
'Asqalānī in his commentary to Sahīh Bukhārī consider this
opinion to be more acceptable.1
At the time of his demise, Rasūlullah # was 63 years old. This
is the unanimous and authentic opinion. Others state that he
was 65 years old while yet others state that he was 60 years
old.2
1 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 8, p. 98.
2 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 8, p. 114.

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The Life of Muhammad %
The uneasiness of the Sahabah
No sooner this sign of resurrection reached the ears of the
Sahabah , it was as though the resurrection had begun. The
moment they received this news, they lost their senses. Panic
descended on Madinah. Whoever received this news fell at a
loss. 'Uthman 4% was in a state of stupor. He was sitting against
a wall, and due to his extreme sorrow, was unable to speak.
'Alī % cried so profusely that he fell unconscious. The
mountain of grief and pain that befell on 'A'ishah radiyallahu
'anhā and the other wives of Rasulullah * cannot be even
described. 'Abbas % was also at a loss in this severe grief.
'Umar 4 suffered the most grief and affliction. He unsheathed
his sword, stood up and announced in a loud voice: "The
hypocrites assume that Rasūlullah % has passed away. He
certainly has not passed away. Rather he is gone to his
Sustainer just as Musa sua went to Allah on Mt. Sinai and
then returned. By Allah, Rasulullah % will certainly come back
just like that and then completely uproot the hypocrites." 'Umar
was in a state of fervour, with his sword unsheathed. No one
had the courage to tell him that Rasulullah & had indeed passed
away.
Abu Bakr 4% was not present at the time when Rasulullah
passed away. That Monday morning when he saw that he was
feeling a bit well, he said to Rasūlullah : "O Messenger of
Allah! All praise is due to Allah that you are feeling a bit well.
If you permit me, I would like to go home." Rasūlullah
permitted him to go. Abu Bakr 4% went home after obtaining
this permission from Rasūlullah . His house was outside
Madinah. He went home, and Rasūlullah % passed away at
around mid-day. When he heard this heart-rending news, he
immediately mounted his horse and came to Madinah. He
dismounted at the entrance of Musjid-e-Nabawī and advanced
towards Rasulullah'sroom very dejectedly. He asked
'A'ishah radiyallahu 'anha for permission and entered.