Indexed OCR Text

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The Life of Muhammad
Rasūlullah ¿ was on his bed with all his wives sitting around
him. When Abu Bakr 4% entered, all of them, except 'A'ishah
radiyallāhu 'anhā, covered their faces. Abu Bakr % removed
the sheet from Rasulullah's face, kissed his blessed forehead,
and cried out saying:
وا نبياه واخليلاه وصفياه
"O the Prophet of Allah! O the friend of Allah! O the chosen
one of Allah!"
Abu Bakr % said this three times.1
He then said: "May my parents be sacrificed for you. By Allah,
He will not cause you to taste death twice.2 The death that was
1 As narrated by Ahmad and others, as stated in al-Ittihaf Sharh al-Ihya',
vol. 10, p. 300.
2 Abu Bakr 4% said this in order to refute those who were claiming that
Rasûlullah # would return in order to kill the hypocrites. If this were the
case, it would mean that he would die twice. He therefore said that the death
which was destined for Rasûlullah % has come to him, now he is not going
to die again in this world. Allah % will not cause him to die two times as
had happened to some people in the past. The Banî Isrā'îl had fled their
homes out of fear of death. When they reached a particular spot, the wrath
of Allah % descended on them and they died. Their Prophet made du 'a for
them and they came back to life. Later, they died at their appropriate times
of death. In so doing, Allah caused them to taste death on two occasions.
This incident is related in the Qur'an in the following verse: "Have you seen
those people who came out of their homes in their thousands out of fear of
death. Allah said to them: 'Die!' He then gave them life again."
Or like the person who passed by a village and Allah % caused him to
remain dead for one hundred years and then gave him life again. Allah dig
says: "Or, like the person passed by a village and Allah caused him to die
for one hundred years. He then raised him again."
In short, Allah will not cause His Prophet to taste death two times as was
the case with the above-mentioned people.

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The Life of Muhammad
prescribed for you has come to you." On saying this, he came
out of the room and saw that 'Umar was in a highly
emotional state. Abu Bakr % said: "Rasūlullah # has passed
away. O 'Umar! Have you not heard these words of Allah de:
إِنَّكَ مَّتْ وَإِنَّهُمْ مَّيِّتُوْنَ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّنْ قَبْلِكَ الْخُلْدُ
'You shall certainly die and they shall certainly die [as well].
We did not permit eternity for any human since before.""
The people then left the assembly of 'Umar 4% and went to Abū
Bakr .
Abu Bakr's 4% sermon
Abu Bakr % went towards the pulpit, announced in a loud
voice that everyone should remain silent and be seated. When
they were all seated, he praised and glorified Allah , and then
delivered the following sermon:
"Whoever among you had been worshipping Allah, then surely
Allah is alive and does not die. Whoever among you had been
worshipping Muhammad , then Muhammad ¿ has certainly
died. Allah % says: 'Muhammad is nothing but a Messenger.
Messengers before him passed away. If he dies or is killed, are
you going to turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back on
his heels will never harm Allah in any way. Allah shall
certainly reward the grateful ones.' Allah addressed
Muhammad : 'You shall certainly die and they shall certainly
die [as well].' Allah s says: 'Everything is going to come to an
end except the essence of Allah. To Him belongs absolute
authority and it is to Him that you will be returned.' Allah
says: 'Everything that is on earth is to die. It is only the
countenance of your Sustainer, the possessor of might and
honour, that will remain.' Allah ; says: 'Every soul shall taste
death. You shall receive your recompense in full on the day of
resurrection.'

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The Life of Muhammad
"Surely Allah , caused Muhammad # to live until such a time
that he established the religion of Allah, clearly explained the
injunctions of Allah, conveyed the message of Allah, and
strove in the cause of Allah. Allah is then caused him to pass
away in a manner that he left you on a clear path. Now whoever
goes astray and is destroyed will do so after the truth had been
laid bare to him. He whose Sustainer is Allah, let him know
that Allah is alive and does not die. He who had been
worshipping Muhammad and considering him to be a deity, let
him know that his deity has died. Fear Allah then, O people,
hold on firmly to your religion, and place your trust on your
Sustainer. Surely the religion of Allah shall remain and the
promise of Allah will be fulfilled. Allah shall certainly help he
who helps Him, and He shall give honour to His religion. The
Book of Allah is with us. It is a light and a cure. It was through
this Book that Allah guided Muhammad . It contains the
lawful and unlawful things of Allah. By Allah, we are not
bothered in the least by the one who attacks us. The swords of
Allah are unsheathed, we have not laid them down. We will
wage jihad against those who fight against us just as we had
joined the Messenger of Allah # in waging jihad. The
opponents should therefore beware and blame none but
themselves."1
No sooner Abu Bakr 4% delivered these words, the Sahabah
came out of their stupor and the veils of absentmindedness
were raised. They were all convinced that Rasulullah % passed
away. It seemed as if they had never heard these verses of the
Qur'an before. They all began reciting these verses.2
1 Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 5, p. 243. Zurqānî, vol. 8, p. 280.
2 Zurqānî and Tabagāt of Ibn Sa'd.

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The Life of Muhammad
'Umar 4% says: "My condition was also as if I had heard these
verses for the first time. I then retracted from my previous
statements."1
Shah Walī Allah rahmatullahi 'alayh says that 'Umar 4% knew
very well that Rasulullah % would leave this world at some
time or the other. However, he assumed that what he had gone
through at that time was not death. That because of certain
internal preoccupation, Rasūlullah % had lost his external
senses as used to happen when he was receiving divine
revelation. After hearing this sermon of Abu Bakr 4%, he no
longer held this opinion and the fact of the matter was laid bare
before him. He therefore retracted from his statements.2 To
maintain such steadfastness and fortitude under such trying
circumstances was nothing but the virtue and merit of Abū
Bakr 48%.
It is stated in one narration that when Abu Bakr 4% received the
news of Rasūlullah's * demise, he immediately left his house
at Sunh and proceeded towards Madinah. He approached
crying, gasping for breath and panting. He entered the room of
Rasūlullah % in that very condition while sending salutations to
Rasūlullāh . Despite this grief and sorrow, he was fully
conscious and did not lose his senses in the least.
He exposed the blessed face of Rasūlullah % and kissed his
forehead. He continued crying and continued saying: "May my
parents be sacrificed for you. You remained pure both in life
and in death. By your demise, the chain of prophet-hood and
divine revelation have both come to an end. Both of which
never came to an end with the demise of any other Prophet.
You are beyond description and in no need of this crying. You
1 Qurtubî: Tafsîr, vol. 4, p. 223.
2 Qurratul 'Aynanyn, p. 270.

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The Life of Muhammad
are unique in that your being is such that others can take
consolation from your death. You benefited all of us to the
extent that we all became equal before you. Were it not for the
fact that your death was by your choice (Allah had given you
the choice to choose between this world and the hereafter) we
would all have sacrificed our lives for your life. Were it not for
the fact that you had prohibited us from excessive crying, we
would have finished all the water of our eyes. However, there
are two things which we cannot remove and wipe out: (1) the
sorrow of being separated from you, (2) our bodies becoming
thin because of our sorrow. These are two things that are
unseparable. O Allah! Convey this condition of ours [to our
Prophet]. And O Muhammad! Mention us by your Sustainer.
We hope that you will remember us."
"Had you not filled our hearts with peace and tranquillity by
remaining in your company, we would never have been able to
bear the loss of this separation."
Abu Bakr 4% then left the room and addressed the people.1
The remainder of Abu Bakr's % sermon
"I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, He
is one. He fulfilled His promise, helped His servant, and
vanquished the enemies single-handedly. So all praise belongs
to Allāh alone."
"I testify that Muhammad is His servant, His Messenger and
the seal of His Prophets. I testify that the Book [Qur'an] is
exactly as it was revealed, that the religion [Islam] is exactly as
He promulgated, that the Hadith is exactly as he [Muhammad
] related, that the words are exactly as he [Muhammad ]
said, and that Allah is the truth, the expounder of the truth."
1 This entire narration is quoted collectively from ar-Raud al-Anif, vol. 2, p.
376 and Ihyā' 'Ulum ad-Dîn.

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The Life of Muhammad
"O Allah! Send salutations to Muhammad, Your servant,
Messenger, Prophet, beloved, entrusted one, the best of Your
creation, the choicest of Your creation - with the best
salutations that You ever sent to any of Your creations. O
Allah! Make Your salutations, Your protection, Your mercy,
and Your blessings to descend on the leader of the Messengers,
the seal of Prophets, and the leader of the righteous,
Muhammad - the guide towards good, the leader of good, and
the Messenger of mercy. O Allah! Make him even closer [to
You], make his evidence greater, honour his position, and
convey him to the magam-e-mahmud (the place of intercession)
regarding which all the past and future generations will desire.
Enable us to benefit from his magam-e-mahmud on the day of
resurrection. Shower us with Your mercy in this world and in
the hereafter as compensation for him. Convey him to the
highest stages of paradise. O Allah! Send salutations to
Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and bless
Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You sent
salutations and blessings on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim,
surely You alone are praiseworthy, majestic."1
He then said: "O people! He who was worshipping Muhammad
should know that Muhammad has passed away. He who was
worshipping Allah should know that Allah is alive, He does not
die. Allah had already alluded to his [Muhammad's ] passing
away. There is therefore no need to become distressed. Allah
chose His Prophet # to be with Him than to be with you. And
He took him to His honourable abode. He left behind His Book
and the Sunnah of His Prophet with you. He who holds on
firmly to both of them has truly recognized the truth. He who
1 The sermon till this point is quoted from Ittihaf Sharh al-Ihya', p. 302.
Apart from the salutations, some parts of this sermon are also quoted in ar-
Raud al-Anif, vol. 2, p. 376. Then next paragraph of the sermon is quoted
from both books.

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The Life of Muhammad
separates the two (e.g. by believing in one and not in the other)
has not recognized the truth. O you who are believers! Be the
upholders of justice. Do not allow Satan to keep you
preoccupied with the death of your Prophet. Do not allow him
to move you away from your religion. Hasten towards good
before Satan can tempt you. Frustrate his efforts by hastening
towards good. Do not give him any time to come to you and
tempt you."
When he completed his sermon, he said: "O 'Umar! Is it true
what I heard about you, that you were standing at the door of
the Prophet % and saying: 'By that being in whose control is
the life of 'Umar, the Prophet of Allah has not died'? Do you
not remember what Rasulullah % said on such and such day?
And that Allah g said in His Book: 'You are to die and they
are also to die.' 'Umar 4% said: 'By Allah, it was as though I
had never heard this verse before. This was because of the
calamity that afflicted us [i.e. because we were so overcome by
grief over the demise of Rasulullah ]. I testify that the Book is
exactly as it was revealed, the Hadith is as he related, and that
Allah is alive, He does not die. To Allah we belong and to Him
is our return. Salutations of Allah % on His Messenger. We
hope that we will be rewarded by Allah for this calamity."1
The Ansar gather at Sagīfah Banī Sa'idah
After this tragic incident took place, Abu Bakr 4% learnt that the
Ansār gathered at Saqīfah Banī Sa'idah in order to discuss the
successor to Rasūlullah . The Muhajirun asked Abu Bakr
to go there and they will join him. Abu Bakr 45, 'Umar 4% and
some Muhajirūn all proceeded there. (Details will be given
soon, insha Allah)
1 Ar-Raud al-Anif, vol. 2, p. 376.

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The Life of Muhammad #
Abu Bakr 4% and 'Umar 4% feared that the people might become
hasty, pledge their allegiance to someone and this would be a
cause of sedition later on, and problems for the Muslims. When
this matter was sorted out and Abu Bakr 4% was unanimously
chosen as the caliph and successor to Rasulullah, the
Muslims began preparations for the enshrouding and burial of
Rasulullah . This meeting at the Saqifah took place on
Monday evening. The tragic news of Rasūlullah's * demise
was announced around mid-day, after which Abu Bakr 4% came
from his house in Sunh and delivered his sermon. At some time
in the evening the gathering at Saqifah took place.
The family of Rasulullah % was gathered in his room. When
Abu Bakr 4% and 'Umar 4%
heard about the gathering of the
Ansar in the Saqifah, they proceeded there. They thought that
Rasūlullah ¿ has passed away, the coming down of divine
revelation has come to an end, and Rasūlullah % had been
continually warning of impending trials and tribulations. In the
present circumstances, no forms of sedition, division and
disunity should take place which would completely turn the
organization of Islam upside down, which would cause the 23
year effort of Rasūlullah % to be reduced to disarray, and the
body of Islam becomes so disunited and scattered that it
becomes difficult to bring it together again.
When any king passes away, as long his successor is not
appointed, his burial arrangements are not made. Burial
arrangements are not as important as the matter concerning his
successor. Those who desire the well-being of the government
are concerned that there must be no disruption in the running of
the country. If not, the enemy will consider this to be an ideal
opportunity to attack and thereby be a cause of destruction for
the entire country. In fact, at times they might even conceal the
fact that the ruler has passed away. Only after appointing his
successor do they make the announcement of his death. This is
also the custom of Shi'ah governments.

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The Life of Muhammad
If, after the death of a king, two leaders are chosen, the country
will certainly be destroyed. Two rulers in a single country is a
certain cause of destruction. When Rasulullah % passed away,
the threat of rebellion from the hypocrites and unbelievers
existed. Abu Bakr and 'Umar therefore felt that the
protection of the Islamic state was the first priority. They felt
that the burial arrangements of Rasulullah % were not a very
difficult task. They are more the responsibility of the family
members. It was not necessary for all the Sahabah & to join in
this. The members of the family could also fulfil this service.
The difficulties that Rasulullah % bore in order to raise the
banner of Islam and destroy the power of unbelief cannot be
imagined at present. Rasūlullah ¿ has now departed from this
fleeting world to the eternal life of the hereafter. If a proper
deputy for his responsibilities is not appointed, there is the fear
that this huge edifice of Islam will be reduced to bits in the
blink of an eye. All the toiling, difficulties, battles, military
expeditions, propagation, etc. that were borne over all these
years will be reduced to dust and the flag of unbelief will be
raised once again. Satan will once again bring people onto his
path. Prophet-hood came to an end with Rasūlullah . So if
that previous darkness were to spread in the world, from where
will the light of guidance appear again?
Abu Bakr 4% and 'Umar 4% therefore felt that the moment
Rasūlullah % passed away, his successor should be appointed.
In so doing, the leadership and political responsibilities of
Islam may continue, and its authority continue to flourish. No
hypocrite or enemy of Islam must be able to raise his head. The
well-being and success of the entire ummah lies in this. Abū
Bakr 4% and 'Umar
were concerned about this. Since the
family of Rasulullah were occupied with the burial
arrangements, they did not pay too much attention to this. All
the Sahabah & knew that when the Prophets pass away, their
bodies do not begin decomposing. There was therefore no fear

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The Life of Muhammad
of harm in delaying the burial of Rasulullah . With their
intelligence and foresight, Abu Bakr 4% and 'Umar > shut the
doors of sedition and saved the Muslims from disunity. If there
is any delay in the burial arrangements, it is not so serious. But
if the political arrangements for Islam were not made, the
consequences could have been disastrous. In such a situation,
even the burial arrangements would not have been made
properly.
The Ansar were prepared to have one leader from them and one
from the Muhajirun. This was a very great misconception. For a
country to have two leaders would be the real reason for its
destruction. Abu Bakr and 'Umar
therefore gave
particular attention to this and the matter of succession was
resolved. They then turned their attention to the burial
arrangements with complete peace of mind. May Allah % be
pleased with them and reward them on behalf of Islam and the
Muslims.
Abu Bakr 4% had went to the Saqifah in order to resolve the
matter of succession. However, no one knew that Allah ( had
already destined that he would be the very one to succeed
Rasūlullāh . He was forced into accepting this position. Is it
any fault of his that he was chosen? He tried his utmost to delay
this matter. But in his presence, the people looked up to no one
else. Abu Bakr4
's did not even imagine that he would be
appointed as the caliph of Islam. He went solely to prevent any
sedition. He did not know that this position of caliph will be
placed on his head.
ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللهِ يُؤْتِيْهِ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ
"This is the virtue of Allah which He bestows on whomever He
wills."

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The Life of Muhammad
The burial arrangements
After pledging their allegiance to Abu Bakr 4%, the people
began the burial arrangements. When they intended bathing
Rasūlullah , the question of whether his clothes should be
removed or not arose. The people were suddenly put into a daze
and they heard an unseen voice saying that the Messenger's %
clothes should not be removed. He should be bathed in his
clothes. He was thus given a bath with his clothes on and then
they were removed [for the shroud].
'Alī 4% was giving the bath, 'Abbas 4 and his two sons, Fadl
and Qathm, were changing the position of Rasūlullah %, while
Usamah and Shugran were pouring the water.1
After the bath, Rasulullah # was enshrouded in three lengths of
cloth which did not contain a shirt and turban. The clothes in
which he was bathed were removed.
The question then arose as to where he should be buried. Abū
Bakr 4% said: "I heard Rasulullah % saying that the Messenger
is buried in the very place where he passes away." (Narrated by
Tirmidhi and Ibn Mājah)
Rasūlullah's bed was therefore moved from its spot and his
grave was dug there. However, there was a difference with
regard to the type of grave that should be dug. The Muhajirūn
said that the type that is dug in Makkah should be dug, viz. a
standard grave with an indentation on one side where the body
is tucked in. The Ansar said that the Madinah type of grave
should be dug, viz. a standard grave with a trench at the center
of the bottom of the grave. Abu 'Ubaydah 4% and Abu Talhah
were experts at digging each of these graves respectively. It
was therefore decided to call both of them. The one who
reaches first will dig the type of grave that he is an expert at.
1 Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 5, p. 260.

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The Life of Muhammad
Abu Talhah 4% reached first and so a trench type of grave was
dug.1
The grave was dug in the shape of a camel's hump, as narrated
by Imām Bukhārī rahmatullāhi ‘alayh.
Note: The Hadith wherein it is stated that each Prophet is
buried at the place where he passes away means that it is
preferable to do so. If he is buried at some other place because
of some impediment, there is no harm in this.
The janazah salah
Ibn Mājah rahmatullahi 'alayh narrates from 'Abdullah ibn
Abbas 4% that when they completed all the burial arrangements
on Monday, the blessed body of Rasūlullah % was placed in
front of his grave. Groups after groups would come into the
room and offer the janazah salah individually. No one was the
imam for this salah. Each person came, offered his salah and
left.
A narration in Tirmidhī states that the people asked Abu Bakr
as to whether the janazah salah for Rasulullah * should be
read. He replied in the affirmative. They asked him the
procedure. He said that one group at a time should go into the
room, say the takbir (Allah is the greatest), and after sending
salutations and reciting the prescribed supplication, he should
return. Everyone should offer the salah in this way.
Qādī 'Iyad rahmatullahi 'alayh says that the correct opinion is
that the janazah salah was offered for Rasūlullah . This is the
opinion of the general body of scholars. Imam Shafi'ī
rahmatullāhi 'alayh affirms this with certainty in his Kitab al-
Umm.
1 Zurqānî, vol. 8, pp. 289-292. Also Tabagāt of Ibn Sa'd, vol. 2, p. 59.

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The Life of Muhammad
Some scholars are of the opinion that the janazah salah was not
offered for Rasulullah . People merely entered the room in
groups, sent salutations, made a supplication and returned.
A narration of Ibn Sa'd states that Abu Bakr 4% and 'Umar
entered the room of Rasūlullah % with a group, stood before the
body of Rasulullah % and read the following:
السلام عليك أيها النبي ورحمة الله اللهم إنا نشهد أنه قد بلغ ما أنزل إليه ونصح لأمته
وجاهد في سبيل الله حتى أعز الله دينه وتمت كلمته فاجعلنا يا إلهنا ممن يتبع القول للذي
أنزل معه واجمع بيننا وبينه حتى يعرفنا ونعرفه فإنه كان بالمؤمنين رؤفا رحيما لا نبتغي
بالإيمان بدلا ولا نشتري به ثمنا.
"Peace and mercy of Allah be on you O Prophet! O Allah! We
testify that he conveyed whatever was revealed to him. He
advised his followers and fought in the cause of Allah until
Allah elevated His religion and fulfilled His promise. O Allah!
Make us among those who follow the revelation that was sent
to him and join us with him so that we may recognize each
other. Surely he was kind and merciful to the believers. We do
not desire anything in exchange for īman and we will not sell it
for any price."
The people who were present said amin to this supplication.
When the men completed, the women went in. They were
followed by the children. 1
Note: This narration clearly shows that Abu Bakr 4% and 'Umar
offered the janāzah salah. This matter is absolute and
certain. Therefore, the Shi'ah claim that the first three caliphs
did not take part in the janāzah salah is an absolute lie. The
1 Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 5, p. 265.

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The Life of Muhammad
mind too cannot accept that they did not participate in the
janāzah.
The Musnad of Bazzar and the Mustadrak of Hakim state that
when Rasūlullah % was on his death bed, he summoned his
family members. They asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Who
should perform your janāzah salah?" He replied: "When you
are over with my burial arrangements, you should all leave my
room for a little while. Jibra'il & will be the first one to offer
the janazah salah. He will be followed by Mīkā'il, Israfil, the
angel of death, and then the remaining angels. Thereafter, you
should all come in groups and send salutations to me."
'Allāmah Suhaylī says that Allah % says the following with
regard to Rasūlullah :
إِنَّ اللّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلَّوْنَ عَلَى النَِّيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوْا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوْا تَسْلِيْمًا.
"Surely Allah and His angels send salutations on the Prophet. O
you who believe! Send salutations and peace on him."
This verse commands each believer to send individual
salutations to him. Just as it was incumbent to send salutations
without any imam and without any congregation when he was
alive, so too after his demise, salutations are to be sent without
any imam and without any congregation.1
Note: Ibn Dahiyyah states that 30 000 people offered the
janāzah salāh for Rasūlullāh .
Burial
Rasūlullah % passed away on a Monday afternoon. It was the
same time as when he had emigrated from Makkah and entered
Madinah. The majority of scholars are of the opinion that he
Zurqānî, Sharh Muwattā', vol. 2, p. 16. Also Sharh Mawāhib, vol. 8, p.
291.

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The Life of Muhammad %
was buried on Wednesday. Some narrations in this regard are
very clear, in which there can be no misunderstanding. Others
are of the opinion that he was buried on Tuesday.
'Alī %, 'Abbas 4% and his two sons, Fadl
and Qathm
lowered Rasulullah % into his grave. When they completed the
burial, the grave was heaped in the shape of a camel's hump.
Water was then sprinkled on it.1
After completing the burial, the Sahabah & returned to their
homes, sad and dejected. They continued reciting:
إِنَّا للهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ
"To Allah we belong and to Him is our return."
نفسي الفداء لقبر أنت ساكنه - فيه العفاف وفيه الجود والكرم
ألا يا ضريحا ضم نفسا زكية - عليك سلام الله في القرب والبعد
علیك سلام الله ما هبت الصبا - وما ناح قمري علی البان والرند
وما سجعت ورق وغنت حمامة - وما اشتاق ذو وجد إلي ساكني نجد
وما لي سوى حبي لكم آل أحمد - أمرغ من شوقي على بابكم خدي
Additional points
1. The reader has read about the demise of Rasūlullah %. We
now present a few additional points in this regard.
Preparation for the journey to the hereafter is a Sunnah of all
the Prophets of Allah %. They learn of the approach of their
death through divine revelation and unseen indications.
1 Tabagāt of Ibn Sa'd, vol. 2, p. 76.

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The Life of Muhammad
The righteous servants sometimes learn of their impending
death through inspiration and true dreams. Although prophet-
hood has ended, true dreams are still existent in the ummah.
Through these true dreams, knowledge of certain future events
are sometimes given either explicitly or through indications and
references. However, it should be always borne in mind that no
one has the choice to see a dream. It is Allah g alone who
shows a dream to whomever He wills, whenever He wills, as
much as He wills and as He wills. If He does not want to show
a dream, He will not do so. There is no set rule or pattern for
this.
As for the general masses of Muslims, they are sometimes
given an indication of their impending death either through
dreams, by the demands of their old age, or through illness. At
times by seeing his contemporaries and peers passing away, a
person realizes that his time is also drawing close and that he
should make preparations. The most clear and explicit
indication of the approach of death is when a person reaches the
age of 60 and old-age overtakes him. Allah š says:
أَوَ لَمْ نُعَمِّزَكُمْ مَّا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيْهِ مَنْ تَذَكَّرَ وَجَآءَكُمُ النَّذِيْرُ
"Did We not grant you a life so that whoever was to ponder
could ponder therein? And a warner had come to you." (Sūrah
Fātir, verse 37)
Nevertheless, there are many ways of Allah % warning a
person of the approach of his death so that he may make
appropriate preparations. It should be borne in mind that the
Prophets are the chosen servants of Allah g. Their forgiveness
is absolute and certain. On the other hand, we are sinners,
drowning in mistakes and shortcomings. We should therefore
leave no stone unturned in making preparations for death. We
should repent as much as possible and seek forgiveness as
much as possible. We should recited this supplication:

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فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ أَنْتَ وَلِيّ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ تَوَقَّنِيْ مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِيْ بِالصَّالِحِيْنَ
آمِيْنَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ.
"The Originator of the heavens and the earth. You are my
master in this world and in the hereafter. Cause me to die as a
Muslim and include me with the righteous. Let it be so, O
Sustainer of the worlds."
2. The incident concerning Qirtās
With regard to the incident of Qirtas, the Shi'ah accuse 'Umar
of refusing to give Rasulullah % a piece of paper in order to
make a bequest. In so doing, 'Umar 4% disobeyed Rasulullah
A reply to this is that Rasulullah % did not address 'Umar
specifically but all those who were present in the room to bring
him some writing paper, ink and pen. It is obvious that the
majority of those who were in the room were the family
members of Rasūlullah , including 'Alī 4% and 'Abbas 45. If
'Umar 4% did not bring these writing materials, who stopped
'Alī 4% and 'Abbas 4% from doing so? Since they too did not
bring these items, it proves that they were also of the same
opinion as that of 'Umar 4%, viz. seeing the pain and suffering
that Rasūlullah * is going through, he should not be burdened
with these matters. If this order of Rasulullah * was a legal
order in the sense of being wajib or fard, then all those who
were present should be considered to be sinners and acting
against the order of Rasulullah . Why should 'Umar 4% alone
be accused of this?
Moreover, after this conversation, Rasulullah remained in
this world for another five days. He did not ask for these
writing materials again nor did the Sahabah or any of his
family members mention anything about it. This proves that
this order of Rasulullah was not legally binding. If not,

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Rasulullah would have certainly asked for whatever he
wanted to be written. Allah % says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُوْلُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنْ أَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ
"O Messenger! Convey whatever is revealed to you. If you do
not do so, you would not have conveyed His message."
Even 'Alī % would have brought the writing materials in those
five days, fulfilled this order of Rasūlullah * and not been
included among those who disobeyed his order. 'Umar 4% was
not the guard at the door of Rasulullah & whereby no one could
have brought the writing materials without his permission. This
request of 'Umar
[not to bring the writing materials and
thereby cause unnecessary pain to Rasulullah ] was similar to
the time on the occasion of the peace treaty of Hudaybiyah
when Rasulullah ordered 'Ali to wipe out the word
"Rasūlullah" but 'Alī 4% did not listen. Although this act of 'Alī
was outwardly an act of disobedience, in reality it showed
his perfect love for Rasūlullah ¿ and his perfect respect for
Rasūlullah . Thousands of acts of obedience can be sacrificed
for this one act.
When 'Umar % said: "The Book of Allah is sufficient for us",
he did not mean that they had no need for the Hadith of
Rasūlullah . What he meant was that the religion of Islam is
now complete. All necessary matters have been explained. No
new order of the religion remains. It is possible that because of
his kindness, Rasūlullah % fears us falling into deviation after
his demise, i.e. that there might be shortcomings in our
commitment to Islam. Out of his love and kindness for
Rasūlullah , 'Umar 4% said: "O Messenger of Allah! There is
no need for you to bear this pain during your illness. The Book
of Allah is sufficient to save us from deviation." This request of
'Umar as is the essence of love and desiring the well-being of
Rasūlullah . Allah forbid, it was not an act of disobedience.

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If it is claimed that Rasulullah * actually wanted to write down
something about the caliphate, we say: he could have wanted to
write the caliphate in favour of Abu Bakr 4% or in favour of 'Alī
. If it was in favour of Abu Bakr 4%, Rasulullah _ had already
put off this matter and said: "Allah and the believers will not
accept the caliphate of anyone but Abu Bakr's." Rasūlullah
left this matter to Allah , and then to the unanimous decision
of the Muslims.
If Rasulullah % wanted to write the caliphate in favour of 'Alī
then according to the Shi'ah, there was no need for this,
because according to them, Rasulullah # had already indicated
that he is going to be the next caliph in the presence of
thousands of Muslims at Ghadir Khum and he had said: "The
person who is my friend, 'Alī is also his friend." This incident,
according to the Shi'ah, was known to everyone. Why, then,
was there a need to write it down in a small room in the
presence of a few family members?
,
3. Abu Bakr 4% is appointed imam for the salah
The fact that Rasulullah appointed Abu Bakr 4% as the imam
for the salah when the former was on his death bed is
established from Ahādīth. Shaykh Jalal ad-Dīn Suyūtī writes in
Tārīkh al-Khulafa' that this Hadith is established through
tawātur (an unbroken chain of narrators who are so many in
number that it is impossible for them to have fabricated a lie). It
has been narrated separately by 'A'ishah radiyallahu 'anhā,
'Alī 4%
,
'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud , 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas 4%,
'Abdullah ibn 'Umar 4%, 'Abdullah ibn Zam'ah 4% and Hafsah
radiyallāhu 'anhā.
The Sahih of Imam Bukhārī rahmatullahi 'alayh narrates that
when Rasulullah # instructed that Abu Bakr % should lead the
people in salāh, 'Ā'ishah radiyallahu 'anhā refused three times.
But each time, Rasūlullah % insisted that Abu Bakr % should
be instructed to lead the salah. Rasulullah % had emphasised on

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the Muslims on numerous occasions that the imam for salah
must be a person who surpasses the others in his knowledge,
recitation of the Qur'an, devoutness, and piety. On the other
hand, the Shi'ah say that it is only the most superior and most
honourable who is permitted to be appointed as an imam.
Bearing in mind the guidelines set down by Rasūlullah , it
becomes absolutely clear that since Rasulullah appointed
Abu Bakr 4% as the imam for the salah, it means that he
considered him to be the most knowledgeable and the most
pious. All the commentators of the Qur'an are unanimous that
the following verses were revealed in reference to Abu Bakr 4%:
وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الأَنْقَى الَّذِيْ يُؤْتِيْ مَالَهُ يَتَزَّى. وَمَا لَأَحَدٍ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزَى إِلَّ ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ
رَبِّهِ الأَعْلَى وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَى.
"He who fears [Allah] the most shall be kept away from it.
Who gives his wealth in order to purify his heart. He owes no
favour to anyone which he has to pay back. But only seeking
the pleasure of his Sustainer who is the most high. In time, he
will be pleased." (Sūrah al-Layl, verses 17-21)
In the above verses, Abu Bakr 4% is referred to as "He who
fears [Allah] the most". In another verse of the Qur'an, Allah is
says:
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ
"Surely the most honourable amongst you in the sight of Allah
is the one who fears [Allah] the most."
We ask the Shi'ah, if Abu Bakr 4% was an unbeliever, a fasiq or
a hypocrite, why did Rasūlullah % appoint him as an imam?
And why did Rasulullah follow him in some of the salahs?
After the demise of Rasūlullah , why did 'Alī % offer salah
behind Abu Bakr 4%, 'Umar % and 'Uthman %? Ibn Kathir
rahmatullāhi 'alayh writes: