The Last Week:

When his sickness grew severe he asked 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 leaning ! while he was walking ! on Al"#adl $in Al"A$$as and Ali $in A$i Tali$. Head $anded as he was% he dragged his &eet till he came into her a$ode. It was there that he s'ent the last week o& his li&e. (uring that 'eriod% Aishah used to recite Al")uawwidhat *+ha'ters ,,- and ,,. o& the /ur 0n1 and other su''lications which he had already taught her.

Five days before death:

2n Wednesday% &ive days $e&ore he died the 3ro'het s tem'erature rose so high signalling the severeness o& his disease. He &ainted and su&&ered &rom 'ain. "3our out on me seven /ira$ *water skin 'ots1 o& various water wells so that I may go out to meet 'eo'le and talk to them." So they seated him in a container *usually used &or washing1and 'oured out water on him till he said: "That is enough. That is enough." Then he &elt well enough to enter the )os4ue. He entered it $and"headed% sat on the 'ul'it and made a s'eech to the 'eo'le who were gathering together around him. He said: 5 "The curse o& All0h &alls u'on the 6ews and +hristians &or they have made their 3ro'hets tom$s 'laces o& worshi'." Then he said: 5 "(o not make my tom$ a worshi''ed idol." Then he o&&ered himsel& and invited the 'eo'le to re'ay any in7uries he might have in&licted on them% saying: 5 "He whom I have ever lashed his $ack% I o&&er him my $ack so that he may avenge himsel& on me. He whom I have ever $las'hemed his honour% here I am o&&ering my honour so that he may avenge himsel&." Then he descended% and 'er&ormed the noon 'rayer. Again he returned to the 'ul'it and sat on it. He resumed his &irst s'eech a$out enmity and some other things.

A man then said: "8ou owe me three (irhams." The 3ro'het said: "#adl% 'ay him the money." He went on saying: 5 "I admonish you to $e good to Al"Ansar *the Hel'ers1. They are my &amily and with them I &ound shelter. They have ac4uitted themselves credi$ly o& the res'onsi$ility that &ell u'on them and now there remains what you have to do. 8ou should &ully acknowledge and a''reciate the &avour that they have shown% and should overlook their &aults." In another version: 5 "The num$er o& $elievers would increase% $ut the num$er o& Hel'ers would decrease to the e9tent that they would $e among men as salt in the &ood. So he who &rom among you occu'ies a 'osition o& res'onsi$ility and is 'ower&ul enough to do harm or good to the 'eo'le% he should &ully acknowledge and a''reciate the &avour that these $ene&actors have shown and overlook their &aults." And said: 5 "All0h% the :reat% has given a slave o& His the o''ortunity to make a choice $etween whatever he desires o& All0h s 'rovisions in this world% and what He kee's &or him in the world% $ut he has o'ted &or the latter." A$u Sa;d Al"<hudri said: "='on hearing that% A$u >akr cried and said: We sacri&ice our &athers and mothers &or your sake. We wondered why A$u >akr said such a thing. 3eo'le said: ?ook at that old man@ The )essenger o& All0h says a$out a slave o& All0h who was granted the right $etween the $est &ortunes o& this world and the $ounty o& All0h in the Herea&ter% $ut he says: We sacri&ice our &athers and mothers &or your sake@ It was later on that we realiAed what he had aimed at. The )essenger o& All0h was the slave in&ormed to choose. We also acknowledged that A$u >akr was the most learned among us." Then the )essenger o& All0h said: 5 "The &ellow I &eel most secure in his com'any is A$u >akr. I& I were to make &riendshi' with any other one than All0h% I would have A$u >akr a $osom &riend o& mine. #or him I &eel a&&ection and $rotherhood o& Islam. Bo gate shall $e ke't o'en in the )os4ue e9ce't that o& A$u >akr s."

Four days before his death:

2n Thursday% &our days $e&ore the death o& the )essenger o& All0h % he said to 'eo'le ! though he was su&&ering &rom a severe 'ain: "+ome here. I will cause you to write something so that you will never &all into error." ='on this =mar $in Al"<hatta$ said: "The 3ro'het o& All0h is su&&ering &rom acute 'ain and you have the /ur 0n with youC the >ook o& All0h is su&&icient unto you." 2thers however wanted the writing to $e made. When )uhammad heard them de$ating over it% he ordered them to go away and leave him alone. That day he recommended three things: ,. 6ews% +hristians and 'olytheists should $e e9'elled out o& Ara$ia. D. He recommended that delegations should $e honoured and entertained% in a way similar to the one he used to do. -. As &or the third ! the narrator said that he had &orgotten it. It could have $een adherence to the Holy >ook and the Sunnah. It was likely to $e the accom'lishment and the mo$iliAation o& 2samah s army% or it could have $een 'er&ormance o& 'rayers and $eing attentive to slaves. In s'ite o& the strain o& disease and su&&ering &rom 'ain% the 3ro'het used to lead all the 'rayers till that Thursday ! &our days $e&ore he died. 2n that day he led the sunset 'rayer and recited: 5 ">y the winds *or angels or the )essengers o& All0h1 sent &orth one a&ter another."EFF:,G In the evening he grew so sick that he could not overcome the strain o& disease or go out to enter the )os4ue. Aishah said: The 3ro'het asked: "Have the 'eo'le 'er&ormed the 'rayer?" "Bo. They haven t. They are waiting &or you." "3ut some water in the washing 'ot." Said he. We did what he ordered. So he washed and wanted to stand u'% $ut he &ainted. When he came round he asked again "Have the 'eo'le 'rayed?" Then the same se4uence o& events took 'lace again and again &or the second and the third times &rom the time he washed to the time he &ainted a&ter his attem'ts to stand u'. There&ore he sent to A$u >akr to lead the 'rayer himsel&. A$u >akr then led the 'rayer during those days. They were seventeen 'rayers in the li&etime o& )uhammad . Three or &our times Aishah talked to the 3ro'het to e9em't A$u >akr &rom leadershi' in 'rayer lest 'eo'le should des'air o& him% $ut he re&used and said:

5 "8ou *women1 are like the women who tried to entice 6ose'h *8usu&1 into immorality. +onvey my re4uest to A$u >akr to lead the 'rayer."

A Day or Two prior to Death:

2n Saturday or on Sunday% the 3ro'het &elt that he was well enough to 'er&orm the 'rayerC so he went out leaning on two men in order to 'er&orm the noon 'rayer. A$u >akr% who was then a$out to lead the 'rayer withdrew when he saw him comingC $ut the 3ro'het made him a gesture to stay where he was and said: "Seat me ne9t to him." They seated him on the le&t hand side o& A$u >akr. The 3ro'het led the 'rayer% and A$u >akr &ollowed him and raised his said% so

voice at every All0hu Ak$ar *i.e. All0h is the :reatest1 the 3ro'het that the 'eo'le may hear clearly.

A Day before his Death:

2n Sunday% a day $e&ore he died% the 3ro'het set his slaves &ree% 'aid as a charity the seven (inars he owned and gave his wea'ons as a 'resent to the )uslims. So when night &ell Aishah had to $orrow some oil &rom her neigh$our to light her oil"lantern. Hven his armour was mortgaged as a security with a 6ew &or thirty Sa *a cu$ic measure1o& $arley.

The Last Day Alive:

In a narration $y Anas $in )alik% he said: "While the )uslims were 'er&orming the dawn 'rayer on )onday ! led $y A$u >akr% they were sur'rised to see the )essenger o& All0h raising the curtain o& Aishah s room. He looked at them while they were 'raying aligned 'ro'erly and smiled cheer&ully. Seeing him% A$u >akr withdrew to 7oin the lines and give way to him to lead the 'rayer. #or he thought that the 3ro'het wanted to go out and 'ray." Anas said: "The )uslims% who were 'raying% were so delighted that they were almost too enra'tured at their 'rayers. The )essenger o& All0h made them a gesture to continue their 'rayer% went into the room and drew down the curtain." The )essenger o& All0h did not live &or the ne9t 'rayer time.

When it was daytime% the 3ro'het called #atimah and told her something in a secret voice that made her cry. Then he whis'ered to her something else which made her laugh. Aishah en4uired &rom her a&ter the 3ro'het s death% as to this wee'ing and laughing to which #atimah re'lied: "The &irst time he disclosed to me that he would not recover &rom his illness and I we't. Then he told me that I would $e the &irst o& his &amily to 7oin him% so I laughed." He gave #atimah glad tidings that she would $ecome the lady o& all women o& the world. #atimah witnessed the great 'ain that a&&licted her &ather. So she said: "What great 'ain my &ather is in@". To these words% the 3ro'het remarked: 5 "He will not su&&er any more when today is over." He asked that Al"Hasan and Al"Husain $e $rought to him. He kissed them and recommended that they $e looked a&ter. He asked to see his wives. They were $rought to him. He 'reached them and told them to remem$er All0h. 3ain grew so much severe that the trace o& 'oison he had at <hai$ar came to light. It was so sore that he said to Aishah: "I still &eel the 'ain&ul e&&ect o& that &ood I tasted at <hai$ar. I &eel as i& death is a''roaching." He ordered the 'eo'le to 'er&orm the 'rayers and $e attentive to slaves. He re'eated it several times.

The Prophet

breathes his Last:

When the 'angs o& death started% Aishah leant him against her. She used to say: 2ne o& All0h s $ounties u'on me is that the )essenger o& All0h died in my house% while I am still alive. He died $etween my chest and neck while he was leaning against me. All0h has mi9ed his saliva with mine at his death. #or A$dur Iahman ! the son o& A$u >akr ! came in with a Siwak *i.e. the root o& a desert 'lant used &or $rushing teeth1 in his hand% while I was leaning the )essenger o& All0h against me. I noticed that he was looking at the Siwak% so I asked him ! &or I knew that he wanted it ! "Would you like me to take it &or you?" He nodded in agreement. I took it and gave it to him. As it was too hard &or him% I asked him "Shall I so&ten it &or you?" He nodded in agreement. So I so&tened it with my saliva and he 'assed it *on his teeth1. In another version it is said: "So he $rushed *Istanna1 his teeth as nice as he could." There was a water container *Iakwa1 availa$le at his hand with some water in. He 'ut his hand in it and wi'ed his &ace with it and said: 5 "There is no god $ut All0h. (eath is &ull o& agonies." As soon as he had &inished his Siwak $rushing% he raised his hand or his &inger u'% looked u'wards to the ceiling and moved his li's. So Aishah listened to him. She heard him say: "With those on whom 8ou have $estowed 8our :race with the 3ro'hets and the Truth&ul ones *As"Siddee4een1% the martyrs and the good doers. 2 All0h% &orgive me and have mercy u'on me and 7oin me to the +om'anionshi' on high." Then at intervals he uttered these words: "The most e9alted +om'anionshi' on high. To All0h we turn and to Him we turn $ack &or hel' and last a$ode." This event took 'lace at high morning time on )onday% the twel&th o& Ia$i Al"Awwal% in the eleventh year o& Al"Hi7rah. He was si9ty"three years and &our days old when he died.

The Companions on ern over the Prophets Death:

The great *loss1 news was soon known $y every$ody in )adinah. (ark grie&

s'read on all areas and horiAons o& )adinah. Anas said: 5 "I have never witnessed a day $etter or $righter than that day on which the )essenger o& All0h came to usC and I have never witnessed a more aw&ul or

darker day than that one on which the )essenger o& All0h died on." When he died% #atimah said: "2 #ather% whom his ?ord res'onded to his su''lication@2 #ather% whose a$ode is 3aradise. 2 #ather% whom I announce his death to :a$riel."

!"mars Attitude:
=mar% who was so stunned that he almost lost consciousness and stood $e&ore 'eo'le addressing them: "Some o& the hy'ocrites claim that the )essenger o& All0h died. The )essenger o& All0h did not die% $ut went to his ?ord in the same way as )oses $in Imran did. He stayed away &or &orty nights% $ut &inally came $ack though they said he had $een dead. >y All0h% the )essenger o& All0h will come $ack and he will cut o&& the hands and legs o& those who claim his death."

Abu #akrs Attitude:

A$u >akr le&t his house at As"Sunh and came &orth to the )os4ue on a mare"$ack. At the )os4ue% he dismounted and entered. He talked to no$ody $ut went on till he entered Aishah s a$ode% and went directly to where the )essenger o& All0h was. The 3ro'het was covered with a 8emeni mantle. He uncovered his &ace and tended down% kissed him and cried. Then he said: "I sacri&ice my &ather and mother &or your sake. All0h% verily% will not cause you to die twice. 8ou have 7ust e9'erienced the death that All0h had ordained." Then he went out and &ound =mar talking to 'eo'le. He said: "=mar% $e seated."

=mar re&used to do so. 3eo'le 'arted =mar and came towards A$u >akr% who started a s'eech saying: 5 "And now% he who worshi's )uhammad . )uhammad is dead now. >ut he who worshi's All0h% He is Hver ?iving and He never dies. All0h says: )uhammad * 1is no more than a )essenger% and indeed *many1 )essengers have 'assed away $e&ore him. I& he dies or is killed% will you then turn $ack on your heels *as dis$elievers1? And he who turns $ack on his heels% not the least harm will he do to All0h% and All0h will give reward to those who are grate&ul. " E-:,..G I$n A$$as said: ">y All0h% it sounded as i& 'eo'le had never heard such a /ur 0nic verse till A$u >akr recited it as a reminder. So 'eo'le started reciting it till there was no man who did not recite it." I$n Al")usaiya$ said that =mar had said: ">y All0h% as soon as I heard A$u >akr say it% I &ell down to the ground. I &elt as i& my legs had $een una$le to carry me so I colla'sed when I heard him say it. 2nly then did I realiAe that )uhammad had really died."

#urial and Farewell Preparations to his $onourable #ody:

(is'ute a$out who would succeed him $roke out even $e&ore having the )essenger o& All0h s $ody 're'ared &or $urial. ?ots o& arguments% discussions% dialogues took 'lace $etween the Hel'ers and Hmigrants in the roo&ed 'assage *'ortico1 o& >ani Saida. #inally they acknowledged A$u >akr " may Allah $e 'leased with him " as a cali'h. They s'ent the whole )onday there till it was night. 3eo'le were so $usy with their arguments that it was late night ! 7ust a$out dawn o& Tuesday ! yet his $lessed $ody was still lying on his $ed covered with an inked"garment. He was locked in the room. 2n Tuesday% his $ody was washed with his clothes on. He was washed $y Al"A$$as% Ali% Al"#adl and /athm ! the two sons o& Al"A$$as% as well as Sha4ran ! the )essenger s &reed slave% 2samah $in Jaid and Aws $in <hauli. Al"A$$as% Al"#adl and /athm turned his $ody round% whereas 2samah and Sha4ran 'oured out water. Ali washed him and Aws leant him against his chest. They shrouded him in three white Sahooli cotton cloth which had neither a headcloth nor a casing and inserted him in. A sort o& disagreement arose with regard to a $urial 'lace. A$u >akr said: "I heard

the )essenger o& All0h say: A dead 3ro'het is $uried where he dies. So A$u Talhah li&ted the $ed on which he died% dug underneath and cut the ground to make the tom$. 3eo'le entered the room ten $y ten. They 'rayed &or the 3ro'het . The &irst to 'ray &or him were 'eo'le o& his clan. Then the Hmigrants% then the Hel'ers. Women 'rayed &or him a&ter men. The young were the last to 'ray. This 'rocess took Tuesday long and Wednesday night *i.e. the night which 'recedes Wednesday morning1. Aishah said: "We did not know that the 3ro'het was $eing $uried till we heard the sound o& tools digging the ground at the de'th o& Wednesday night."