Most Read in the Category of Farewell Hajj and the Death of the Prophet (pbuh)
1-)
After the Death of the Prophet (PBUH)
The pure soul of the Seal of the Prophets reached A’la al-Illiyyun (the Highest Rank). His wives put a cloth over his body and started to cry.
Usama heard from his mother that the Messenger of Allah was living his last moments, he postponed setting off and came to the Mosque with his army. When the Companions heard the cries and screams coming from the house of the Prophet, they were shocked. It was as if the sky had fallen on them. Everybody was stupefied; the eyes were shedding tears of sorrow and grief.
Even Hazrat Umar, who was a symbol of courage and justice, was affected badly from that terrible moment; he was terrified and shouted,
“The Messenger of Allah did not die. He is alive. He was struck by lightning like Moses. If anyone says, ‘Muhammad died’, I will split him into two with my sword.”[1]
Hazrat Abu Bakr Soothes People
When the Messenger of Allah died, Hazrat Abu Bakr was in his house in Sunh. They gave him the bad news. Hazrat Abu Bakr, who felt as if one part of his part broke off, went to the house of the Messenger of Allah quickly.
He lifted the cloth that covered the blessed face of the Messenger of Allah in terror and astonishment. His face was in the form of embodied light. He bowed down and kissed the Prophet’s bright and luminous forehead three times. He uttered the following words in tears:
“O Messenger of Allah! Your death is as clean and graceful as your life.”[2]
Then, he consoled the household of the Prophet.
Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar
After leaving the house of the Prophet, Hazrat Abu Bakr went to the Mosque. He heard Hazrat Umar say, “The Messenger of Allah did not die.” Thereupon, he said,
“Whoever worships Muhammad (pbuh) should know that Muhammad (pbuh) died. Whoever worships Allah should know that Allah is Hayy (immortal).”[3]
Then, he recited the following verse:
“Muhammad is no more than a Messenger: many were the Messengers that passed away before Him. If he died or was slain, will ye then turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah; but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those who (serve him) with gratitude”[4]
This verse had been sent down during the Battle of Uhud, when a rumor stating that Muhammad was killed became widespread. Though the Companions had read that verse, maybe, hundreds or thousands times, but they seemed to have forgotten it due to their sorrow at that time.
However, Hazrat Abu Bakr who maintained his strength did not forget it; he fulfilled a great service and duty by reminding the Companions about it.
Upon the speech and reminder of Hazrat Abu Bakr, the Companions came to their senses. They pulled themselves together and overcame their astonishment.
Then, Hazrat Abu Bakr recited the following verse:
“(O Prophet! Truly thou wilt die (one day), and truly they (too) will die (one day).”[5]
Hazrat Abu Bakr, who did not lose his strength, fulfilled a great service for the Islamic community through his speech.
The distinguished Companions realized and accepted that the Messenger of Allah had died; Hazrat Umar gave up saying, “the Messenger of Allah did not die.” And he came to his senses.
Madinah had never been so full of joy when the Messenger of Allah arrived in Madinah for the first time since the city was founded; the same Madinah was experiencing the saddest moments now; the skies of Madinah were covered with sorrow and grief.
Hazrat Abu Bakr is Elected as Caliph
Upon the death of the Messenger of Allah, Madinah was mourning. Eyes were shedding tears and hearts were shedding sorrow and grief.
However, mourning and sorrow would not settle things. It was necessary to elect a president, a Caliph, who would take care of the affairs of the Muslims and who would apply the decrees of Islam.
Soon, there was an attempt to choose the Caliph. The person that deserved this post more than everybody else was Hazrat Abu Bakr because the highest rank of the Companions were the most distinguished Companions that believed first in Makkah. And the most virtuous of them was Hazrat Abu Bakr. In fact, Hazrat Abbas and Hazrat Ali were closer to the Messenger of Allah than anybody else in terms of kinship but the Prophet regarded Hazrat Abu Bakr, who was his friend in cave, superior to all of the Companions. He showed it when he was ill too. He ordered all of the doors opening to the Mosque to be closed but let the door of Hazrat Abu Bakr open. He handed over the duty of leading prayers Hazrat Abu Bakr three days before his death. He made Abu Bakr lead prayers, one of the most important pillars of Islam. Therefore, he was the one that deserved being the Caliph after the death of the Messenger of Allah. And it happened like that.
After the long talks and negotiations made on Monday, the day when the Messenger of Allah died, from the afternoon until the evening, Hazrat Abu Bakr was elected the Caliph of the Messenger of Allah and people paid allegiance to him.
General Allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr
It was Rabiul-Awwal 13, Tuesday...
Hazrat Abu Bakr went to the Mosque of the Prophet and ascended to the pulpit.
Before he started to speak, Hazrat Umar stood up. After praising and thanking Allah, Hazrat Umar addressed the Muslims: “Allah made the best of you, the friend of the Messenger of Allah in the cave, your Caliph. Stand up and pay allegiance to him.”
The Muslims in the mosque stood up and paid general allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr.[6]
After the allegiance, Hazrat Abu Bakr praised and thanked Allah, and spoke as follows:
O people! I was elected as your governor and Caliph though I am not the best of you. If I do good deeds, help me; if I do bad deeds, show me the right way. Honesty is reliability. Telling lies is betrayal. Inshaallah, the weakest one of you will be the strongest one of you in my eye until I surrender him his right. Inshaallah, the strongest one of you will be the weakest one of you in my eye until I remove from him the rights of others.
O people! Do not give up fighting in the way of Allah. Know it very well that a nation that gives up jihad will be servile. Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger; if I do not obey Allah and His Messenger, do not obey me. I ask forgiveness for me and you from Allah.”[7]
The Prophet is Washed and Enshrouded
The Muslims were busy with electing the Caliph, who would take care of the affairs of the Muslims, on the 12th day of the month of Rabiul-Awwal from the afternoon until the evening; so washing and enshrouding the dead body of the Prophet was postponed to Tuesday. After the general allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr was completed in the Mosque of the Prophet on Tuesday, the dead body of the Messenger of Allah was started to be washed and enshrouded.
Hazrat Ali, Abbas, Fadl b. Abbas, Qusam b. Abbas, Usama b. Zayd and Shukran (Salih), the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah, were in the house of the Prophet in order to wash him.[8]
Ansar also wanted to contribute to this lofty service. They expressed their wish regarding the issue. Hazrat Ali allowed Aws b. Hawli on behalf of Ansar.[9]
Hazrat Ali washed the Messenger of Allah because he said to Hazrat Ali when he was alive, “You wash my body when I die.”[10]
Aws b. Hawli brought water with a pitcher; Abbas, Usama and Shukran poured water over the body of the Prophet. Hazrat Ali rubbed the body of the Prophet with the cloth that he wrapped around his hand. The body of the Prophet was very clean; it smelled nice. The house of the Prophet smelt very nice; they had not smelt such nice scent before. There was nothing in or on the body of the Prophet that were usually seen in dead bodies. While washing the Prophet, Hazrat Ali said, “May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! O Messenger of Allah! You are clean when you are alive and dead.”[11]
After the washing was completed, the Seal of the Prophet was enshrouded by Hazrat Ali, Abbas, Fadl b. Abbas and Shukran.[12]
Janazah Prayer of the Prophet is Performed
On the 13th of the month of Rabiul-Awwal, Tuesday, the washing and enshrouding of the Messenger of Allah was completed before noon. The body was put on the bed of the room of the Prophet. At first the men, then the women and last of all the children fulfilled their last duty toward the Prophet in awe and sorrow.
Burial of the Messenger of Allah
The issue of where to bury the Messenger of Allah was negotiated.
Some people suggested taking the body to Makkah; some suggested burying him in Madinah in the Cemetery of Baqi and others suggested burying him in the Mosque.[13]
However, Hazrat Abu Bakr said, “I heard this sentence from the Messenger of Allah and I have not forgotten it: ‘God Almighty removed the soul of each prophet where He wanted him to be buried.’ Therefore, we should bury the Messenger of Allah where his bed he lied on was.”[14]
This suggestion was adopted by the Companions. Thus, they decided to dig the place under the bed in the house of Aisha as the grave of the Messenger of Allah. Then, the bed was removed and that place was dug in the form of a grave.
Bilal Makes Muslims Cry
The Messenger of Allah had not been buried yet.
Bilal called the adhan with his touching voice. When he uttered, “Ashadu anna Muhammada’r-Rasulullah”, the Companions started to cry sobbingly. The Mosque of the Prophet was full of crying sounds.
It was the last adhan recited by Bilal. He did not recite adhan again after the death of the Messenger of Allah.
The Prophet is Put into the Grave
It was late Wednesday night.
The Companions placed the dead body of the Messenger of Allah into the grave among tears.
We have tried to narrate the phases of this unique life as much as we can; now we are finishing it with the following prayer:
O Allah! Do not keep us away from the sunnah of Your Messenger in this world; do not deprive us of his intercession in the hereafter!
[3]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 268; Bukhari, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 95.
[4]Aal-i Imran, 144.
[5]az-Zumar, 30.
[6]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 311; Tabari, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 203.
[7]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 311; Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 183; Tabari, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 203.
[8]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 312; Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 278-279.
[9]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 312; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 1, p. 260.
[10]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 278, 280-281.
[11]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 313; Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 281.
[12]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 291.
[13]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 314; Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 1, p. 292.
[14]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 292; Tirmidhi, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 338.
2-)
The Prophet Asks the Muslims to Forgive Him and He Forgives them
The Messenger of Allah wanted to meet his Companions and forgive one another when his illness was very severe one day.
He leaned on Hazrat Ali and Fadl b. Abbas, stood up with difficulty and went to the Mosque. He ascended to the pulpit and sat.
He said to Bilal,
“Call out to people and tell them to gather in the Mosque. I want to address them. This will be my last address and will.”
Bilal fulfilled this order. The mosque became full of people.
After praising and thanking Allah, the Messenger of Allah addressed his Companions as follows:
“O people! The time to leave you has approached. If I have hit any of you, here is my back; come and hit my back. If I have taken the property of any of you, come and ask it from me. Do not ever have the thought, “the Messenger will get angry with me if I ask my right.” I never get angry with anyone when they ask what they deserve. The best of you in my eye is the one that asks what I owe him or says that he waives his right. I want to go to the presence of my Lord without having any rights of any people.”[1]
There was a sad silence. The Messenger of Allah repeated his words: “O people! If I have hit any of you, here is my back; come and hit my back. If I have taken the property of any of you, here is my property; take it.”[2]
Somebody stood up and said, “O Messenger of Allah! You owe me three dirhams.”
The Prophet said, “I will never say to anyone that he is lying or never ask anyone to swear about this issue; however, I would like to know how I owe you this amount.”
The man said, “O Messenger of Allah! Once, a poor man came to you. You ordered me to give him three dirhams and I gave it to him. That is what I want.”
The Messenger of Allah said, “You are telling the truth.” He said to Fadl, “O Fadl! Give this man three dirhams.”[3]
The Doors Opening to the Mosque are Closed
After that the Messenger of Allah said, “Close all of the doors that open to the Mosque; leave only the door of Abu Bakr open.”[4]
Upon this order, all of the doors of the houses around the Mosque opening to the Mosque except Hazrat Abu Bakr’s were closed.[5]
Hazrat Abu Bakr is Appointed to Lead the Prayers
During the illness of the Messenger of Allah, he always came to the mosque when the adhan was called and led the prayer.
Three days before his death, his illness got worse. Therefore, he could not go to the mosque. He said, “Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.”[6]Thus, he left the duty of leading prayers to Hazrat Abu Bakr.[7]
The Prophet Leads the Prayer for the Last Time
Hazrat Abu Bakr was about to lead the noon prayer.
Meanwhile, the Messenger of Allah felt a bit relieved. He went to the Mosque with the help of Abbas and Hazrat Ali.
When Hz Abu Bakr understood that the Messenger of Allah was coming, he wanted to move back. The Prophet signed to him to stand there. Then, the Prophet ordered the people around him to make him sit next to Abu Bakr. They made him sit on the left of Abu Bakr. The Prophet led the prayer by sitting.[8]
This was the last prayer that the Messenger of Allah led in the Mosque of the Prophet.
Gabriel Comes to Ask about his Health
It was the tenth of Rabiul-Awwal, Saturday.
Gabriel was sent by God Almighty to ask about the health of the Messenger of Allah. He said,
“O Ahmad! Allah sent me to you. Although He knows what he will ask you better than you do, He is asking, ‘How are you?’”
The Messenger of Allah, who felt the longing for meeting Allah in his heart, said, “O Gabriel! I feel troubled and as if I will faint.”[9]
One Day before his Death
It was the eleventh day of Rabiul-Awwal, Sunday...
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), the Prophet of the jinn and people, had a very high temperature. His wives were around him. Aisha was next to his head.
Meanwhile, Usama came from the military headquarters. The Prophet was lying lost in thought. He had no power to move. Usama kissed his blessed hands and head. He was full of grief and sorrow. He stood opposite the Messenger of Allah respectfully. The Prophet did not say anything. He only raised his hands and wiped them on Usama. It was understood that he was praying for Usama.[10]
After the Messenger of Allah prayed for Usamah, Usamah went straight to his army.
Gabriel Comes for the Second Time
It was the eleventh of Rabiul-Awwal, Sunday...
Gabriel came again to ask about his health. He also informed the Prophet that Aswad al-Ansi, who claimed to be a prophet in Yemen, had been killed. The Messenger of Allah informed the Companions about it.[11]
That Monday
Monday was an important day for the Prophet... He was born on Rabiul-Awwal 12, Monday...
The Messenger of Allah felt a bit relieved on Monday. When he felt it, he stood up, made preparations and went to the Mosque.
Meanwhile, the Companions were performing the morning prayer behind Hazrat Abu Bakr. The Prophet was very glad to see this luminous scene and he smiled. He also performed the morning prayer behind Hazrat Abu Bakr.
When the Companions saw the Messenger of Allah with a smiling face among themselves, they became very happy thinking that the Prophet recovered.[12]
The Prophet in his own Room
The Messenger of Allah, who performed the morning prayer of his last day behind Hazrat Abu Bakr and rejoiced his Companions, went back to his room after the prayer. Then, he went to bed.
Meanwhile, Usama, the commander, came to say farewell.
The Messenger of Allah said, “Set off with the blessing of Allah today.”[13]
Upon this order, Usama b. Zayd went to the headquarters and ordered the mujahids to move.
Hazrat Abu Bakr Asks Permission to go to his House in Sunh
On Monday, Hazrat Abu Bakr noticed that the Messenger of Allah was better. Therefore, he went to the Messenger of Allah and said to him, “O Messenger of Allah! Thank God, you are better this morning. If you let me, I want to go to my house in Sunh.”
The Messenger of Allah said, “All right!”
Thereupon, Hazrat Abu Bakr went to his house in Sunh.[14]
He Addresses the Muslims and his Household
His last day... Monday...
The Messenger of Allah uttered the following sentences:
“O people! Dissensions like dark night troops are approaching.
O people! You cannot find any evidence against me because I rendered halal and haram whatever the Book of Allah rendered halal and haram only.
O Fatima, my daughter! O Safiyya, my aunt! Do deeds that will be accepted by Allah. Do not rely on me because I cannot save you from the torture of Allah.”[15]
What the Prophet Tells Hazrat Fatima
Fatima was the only daughter of the Prophet that was alive. She was the only child of the Prophet that he could love.
Hazrat Fatimatu’z-Zahra was the child of the Prophet that resembled him the most in terms of high ethics, walking and sitting style among his children.
On the last day of his illness, the Messenger of Allah summoned Hazrat Fatima, her only daughter, who was a symbol of high ethics and grace.
When she came, he made her sit on his left side. He whispered something to her ear.
Hazrat Fatima became very sad and grievous; then, she started to shed tears.
Then, the Prophet whispered something else to her ear. This time, Fatima, who was crying, started to smile and became happy.
When Hazrat Aisha, who was there at that time, asked Hazrat Fatima about the reason, she said,
“First, he said that he was going to leave this world and me soon; therefore, I cried. Then, he said, ‘You are going to meet me before anybody else in my family.’ So, I became happy.”[16]
Last Moments…
It was the 12th day of Rabiul-Awwal, Monday...
The sun was moving toward the west.
The blessed head of the Messenger of Allah was on the chest of Hazrat Aisha. He was having difficulty in breathing. His tongue was busy with mentioning the names of Allah. He repeated the same prayer: “Allahumma ar*Rafiq al-A’la (O Allah! Take me to the most sublime companion.)[17]” Even at this stage, he did not give up guiding his ummah; he said, “Treat the slaves you have well. Pay attention to salah (prayer) and keep performing prayers”[18]
This grievous scene was wounding Hazrat Fatima’s feelings. She hugged the Messenger of Allah saying, “O, the agony that my father suffers!” Then, she started to cry.
The Prophet said, “Your father will not suffer any agony from now on.” Then, he said, “My daughter! Do not cry. Say, ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun (To Allah we belong and to Him is our return)’ when I die.”[19]
Gabriel and Azrael Come Together
The Messenger of Allah was living his last minutes in this ephemeral world.
Meanwhile Gabriel arrived with Azrael. He asked the Messenger of Allah about his health. Then, he said, “Azrael, the angel of death asks your permission to enter.”
When the Messenger of Allah gave permission, Azrael entered the room and sat in front of the Prophet.
He said, “O Messenger of Allah! Allah ordered me to obey your orders. If you want, I will take your soul; if not, I will leave it to you.”
The Messenger of Allah looked at Gabriel. Gabriel said, “O Messenger of Allah! Mala’ al-A’la (Highest Assembly) is waiting for you.”
Thereupon, the Seal of the Prophets said, “O Azrael! Come and fulfill your duty.”[20]
The Prophet Meets his Lord
The Prophet’s head was on the chest of Hazrat Aisha. There was a bowl of water near him. He put his hands in the bowl and wiped his face with his wet hands. He said, “La ilahe illallah.” Then, he removed his hands from his face. His eyes stared at the ceiling. He passed away by repeating the sentence “Allahumma! Ar-Rafiq al-A’la!” [21]
It was the 11th year of the Migration the month of Rabiul-Awwal, 12, Monday / Ad 632, June, 8.
[1]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 255; Tabari, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 191; Ibn Kathir, Sirah, Vol. 4, p. 457.
[2]Ibn Kathir, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 457.
[3]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 255; Tabari, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 191.
[4]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 227-228; Muslim, Sahih, Vol. 4, p. 1854-1855.
[5]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 227.
[6]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 217.
[7]During the life of the Prophet, Hazrat Abu Bakr led prayers seventeen times.
[8]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 218; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 1, p. 356-357.
[9]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 259.
[10]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 119-120.
[11]Tabari, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 220.
[12]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 302; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 196.
[13]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 191.
[14]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 304; Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 191.
[15]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 303-304; Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 256; Tabari, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 196.
[16]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 247; Bukhari, Sahih, Vol. 3, p. 92; Muslim, Sahih, Vol. 4, p. 1904.
[17]Rafiq al- A’la means the congregation of the prophets who are in the highest ranks.
[18]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 254; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 1, p. 78.
[19]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 312.
[20]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 259; Ibn Kathir, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 550.
[21]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 229; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 6, p. 89; Bukhari, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 96; Ibn Kathir, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 475.
3-)
The Last Days of the Prophet Narrated by His Close Relatives
Hazrat Aisha narrates one of her memoirs with the Prophet as follows:
“When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) came to my house, I had a pain in my head. Due to the severity of the pain, I said, ‘O my head!’
When the Messenger of Allah heard it, he said, ‘It is not important; why are you sorry? If you die before me, I will enshroud you and perform your janazah prayer.’
I said, ‘Do you want my death?’”
Hazrat Aisha spoke like that because she did not understand that the Prophet was joking.
The Messenger of Allah ended his joke as follows:
“O Aisha! Your headache will be all right. The real headache is mine; it is very difficult to recover it from now on.”[1]
The Prophet and Hazrat Abu Bakr
Hazrat Abu Bakr, who was always at the peak of loyalty to the Prophet everywhere, went to the presence of the Messenger of Allah and stated that it would be an honor for him to serve him as follows:
“O Messenger of Allah! If you let me, I want to serve you when you are ill.”
The Messenger of Allah did not let him but his answer conquered Abu Bakr’s heart:
“O Abu Bakr! You have already received the reward for the service that you wanted to do. However, if I let others service me when I am ill, my daughter and my wives will be sorry.”
The Gravest Illness, the Greatest Pain
The Prophet could not lie still in his bed due to the severity of his illness and the high fever. He was turning to the right and left in his bed.
Those who were near him said, “O Messenger of Allah! If one of us showed that he suffered so much pain, you would scold him.”
The Messenger of Allah said,
“My illness is not like the ones that you know. Allah inflicts the most severe troubles, illnesses and misfortunes on His righteous and believing slaves. However, due to that trouble, illness and misfortune, He elevates the rank of that person and eliminates his sins.”
Hazrat Aisha said,
“We have never seen an illness more difficult and severe than the illness of the Messenger of Allah.”
Ibn Mas’ud Narrates
Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud describes the severity of the illness of the Prophet as follows:
“I went to the presence of the Prophet when his body was shaking due to the severity of the fever. I said,
‘O Messenger of Allah! You are suffering a lot due to the severity of the fever. O Messenger of Allah! This fever gives you double pain; it will definitely give you double reward.’ He approved what I said as follows:
‘Yes. There is no Muslim who suffers an illness and whose sins Allah does not shed like a tree sheds its leaves.’”[2]
Umm Bishr Narrates
Umm Bishr, Bishr b. Bara’s mother, who visited the Messenger of Allah when he was ill, narrates what she saw as follows:
“I went to see the Messenger of Allah. When I saw the severe temperature in his body, I could not help saying,
‘O Messenger of Allah! I have never seen such a fever.’
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,
‘Our illness is more severe than the illnesses of other people but the reward that we will get will be more.’”[3]
The Messenger of Allah Wants Pen and Paper to Have Something Written
It was the month of Rabiul-Awwal, 8, Thursday...
The most painful moments of the illness of the Messenger of Allah... There were Hazrat Umar and some other people around him. He said, “Bring me pen and paper; I will write you something so that you will never deviate from your way after that.”[4]
Hazrat Umar said, “His illness is dominant over the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). We have the Quran. Allah’s book is enough for us.”
They hesitated to bring pen and paper.
Some people confirmed the words of Umar. Others thought it was necessary to bring pen and paper. When the Messenger of Allah noticed that there was a disagreement, he said, “Leave me. Do not argue near me. Leave me alone.”[5]
Thus, what the Messenger of Allah wanted to be written could not be written.
The Day When His Illness Gets Better
The disease of the Messenger of Allah was getting worse day by day and hour by hour. Once, he wanted cold water. He had the water poured on his body.
After that, he felt a bit relieved. When he noticed it, he leaned on Hazrat Ali and Fadl b. Abbas and went to the mosque. He ascended to the pulpit and sat there. He addressed the Companions as follows:
“O people! I have heard that you panic because I will die. No prophet lived eternally among their ummah; how should I live? Know that I will meet my Lord soon; you will meet Him, too.
O Ansar! I advise you to do favors to muhajirs.
O muhajirs! I advise you to do favors to Ansar. They helped you. They allowed you to their land. They entertained you in their houses. Although they were in financial difficulty, they helped you. If any of you rules them, he should do favors to them.
O people! Everything happens in accordance with the pre-eternal divine will of God Almighty. Do not try to overcome Allah’s qada and qadar; you will be defeated. Do not try to trick God Almighty; you will be the one that loses. I am compassionate and merciful to you. You will meet me again. The place where we will meet is near the Pond of Kawthar. If you want to meet me near the Pond of Kawthar, keep your hands and tongues away from unnecessary things.
O people! Know it very well that committing sins causes to change bounties and kismets. If the majority of the people are good, their administrators will treat them justly. If the people tend to disobey and commit sins, their administrators will tend to oppress them and treat them unjustly.”[6]
After this address, the Prophet went to Aisha’s house and went to bed.
[1]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 292; Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 226; Tabari, Tarikh, Vol. 3, p. 191.
[2]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 207-208.
[3]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 8, p. 314.
[4]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 243; Bukhari, Sahih, Vol. 3, p. 91; Muslim, Sahih, Vol. 3, p. 1259.
[5]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 242; Bukhari, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 91; Muslim, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 1258.
[6]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 300; Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 251-252; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 272; Halabi, Insanu’l-Uyun, Vol. 3, p. 464.
4-)
The Emergence of Fake Prophets
After the Farewell Hajj of the Prophet, the Muslims that came from the places outside Madinah returned to their homeland. They conveyed the messages and teachings of the Prophet to their people.
The third verse of the chapter of al-Maida sent down during the Farewell Hajj stated that the religion had become perfect. This also indicated that the death of the Messenger of Allah was near. Some Muslims felt it. The fact that the Prophet became ill after the Farewell Hajj strengthened this feeling.
Meanwhile, some Arabs claimed to be prophets.
The first one of them was Abhala b. Ka’b, who was known as Aswad al-Ansi, from the tribe of Sons of Ans. He was a soothsayer and magician; he affected people very easily with his words.[1]
This man, who appeared in Yemen, claimed that he was a prophet and that angels brought revelation to him. He deceived many people of Yemen with lies and tricks. The people of Najran followed him. Then, he went to San’a and invaded San’a; thus, he expanded his rule of mischief.
The Muslim governors and officials who were in Yemen had to leave Yemen. Muadh b. Jabal went to Abu Musa al-Ash’ari, who was in Ma’rib. Then, they went to Hadramut together.
The Messenger of Allah was informed about the situation. He sent this message to the Muslims in Yemen: “Eliminate Abhalaone way or another.”[2]
Upon this order, the Muslims in Yemen took action and killed him in his house. The news that Aswad was killed reached the Prophet on Sunday, one day before his death. After Aswad, the liar was killed, the Muslim governors and officials returned to Yemen.
MUSAYLIMA AL-KADHDHAB CLAIMS TO BE A PROPHET
In the 10th year of the Migration, Musaylima al-Kadhdhab (the Liar) claimed to be a prophet in Yamama.
Musaylima had come to Madinah with the representatives of Sons of Hanifa and had become a Muslim by talking to the Prophet. When he returned to Yamama, he exited Islam.[3]
After his conversion from Islam, Musaylima started to claim and propagate that he was a partner of the Prophet. Thanks to his witchcraft, he deceived many people from the people of Sons of Hanif and Yamama; they gathered around him. Once, he dared to imitate the Quran. He made up some ridiculous words and recited them as if they were from the Quran. Some of the sentences that he made up were as follows:
“The elephant, what is the elephant, and who shall tell you what is the elephant? It has a poor tail, and a long trunk; and is a trifling part of the creations of thy God!”
Another passage that ridiculed Musaylima was as follows:
“Croak, frog, as thou wilt: part of thee in the water and part in the mud; thou hinderst not the drinker, nor dost thou befoul the stream! Wait on the ground until the rat brings you the news of death.”[4]
The Prophet sent a message to the Muslims around Najd and told them to eliminate Musaylima al-Kadhdhab.
After the death of the Messenger of Allah, Hazrat Abu Bakr sent an army under the command of Khalid b. Walid to attack Musaylima. Wahshi b. Harb killed him with the same spear that he had martyred Hazrat Hamza.
[3]Ibn Hisham, Sirah, Vol. 4, p. 223; Tabari, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 162.
[4]Ibn Sa’d, Tabaqat, Vol. 5, p. 551; Tabari, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 254.
5-)
Farewell Sermon
After praising and thanking God, the Prophet recited the following sermon, which contains unchanging and ageless criteria, to more than one hundred thousand (one hundred and twenty thousand) Companions and actually to all Muslims and the mankind:
“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be among you again.
O People! Just as you regard this month, this day, this city as sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust.
O my Companions!
Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Do not return to your previous deviation before me and do not kill one another.
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly.
O my Companions!Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Truly, the usury of the Era of Ignorance has been laid aside forever. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. God has judged that there shall be no interest and the first interest that I abolish is the one due to Abbas ibn 'Abd'al Muttalib (Prophet's uncle).
O my Companions! Every right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived, and the first such right I waive is that arising from the murder of Rabi`ah ibn Al-Harith, grandson of Abdulmuttalib (my uncle’s son).
O people!
Today, Satan has lost his power to affect you and to establish sovereignty in your land. However, avoid following him in small things; if you obey him in small things, he will be glad.
Avoid them to protect your religion.
O people! I advise you to show respect to the rights of women and fear God about them. You have taken them as your wives only under God's trust and with His permission.You have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve. If they allow anyone you do not approve into your house, you can beat them slightly. The women have the right to their food and clothing in accordance with the custom.
O Believers!I have left you with something which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray; that is, the Book of God.
Believers! Listen to my word well and memorize it! Every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim and that Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim that belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly.
My Companions! Do not oppress yourselves; you have rights over you.
O people! God Almighty gave the rights of everybody to their owners in the Quran. A will is not necessary for inheritance. A child that is born belongs to the owner of the bed. There is deprivation for a person that commits fornication. A person cannot attribute himself to anybody except his father or his master; if he attempts to do so, may the wrath of God, the curse of angels and the curse of all Muslims be upon him. God Almighty will not accept the repentance and witnessing of those people.
O people! Your Lord is one; your father is one, too. All of you are children of Adam. Adam was created out of dust. The one that is the most valuable in the eye of God is the one that fears Him the most. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab except by piety and good action.
O People! Tomorrow they will ask you about me, what will you say?”
They said, ‘We witness that you carried out the duty of being the Messenger of God, You carried out your task faithfully, and you advised us.’
Thereupon, the Messenger of God raised his blessed index finger and then brought it down over the congregation and said,
“O Lord, be my witness! O Lord, be my witness! O Lord, be my witness!”[1]
They Perform the Noon and Afternoon Prayers Together
When the Messenger of God ended the Farewell Sermon, which is a lofty and sacred lesson for the humanity, Bilal al-Habashi started to call the adhan for the noon prayer. The Messenger of God and the Companions listened to the adhan in awe. When the adhan ended, Bilal recited the iqama. The Messenger of God led the noon prayer for that magnificent congregation. Then, iqama was recited again; this time, the Prophet led the afternoon prayer. Thus, the Prophet combined the prayers of two different times with one adhan and two iqamas.[2]
First Sign
It was after the afternoon, near the evening. The Messenger of God was on his camel, Qaswa. Meanwhile the following verse was sent down:
“This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”[3]
When the Messenger of God recited this verse, the Companions became very happy and joyful. Only one of them was crying: Hazrat Abu Bakr... The Companions did not understand why he was crying. They asked him. He said,
“This verse indicates that the death of the Messenger of God (pbuh) is near; that is why I am crying.”[4]
What Hazrat Abu Bakr said and understood was true; this verse was the first indication that the time for the Messenger of God to pass away was approaching. Since all of the things that needed to proposed and conveyed were proposed and conveyed, the duty of the person who proposed and conveyed them would end.
Sources mention that Hazrat Umar also realized that secret.[5]
From Arafat to Muzdalifa
After the sun set on Friday, the Messenger of God went to Muzdalifa from Arafat on his camel, Qaswa, accompanied by Usama b. Zayd. Meanwhile the time for the evening prayer ended and the time for the night prayer started. The Messenger of God led the evening and the night prayer with one adhan and two iqamas.[6]
From Muzdalifa to Mina.
The Prophet spent the Friday night in Muzdalifa. After performing the morning prayer there on Saturday, he went to Mash’ar al-Haram.
The Messenger of God said to his Companions, “Collect small stones to be thrown at Jamra[7]” and showed them how to throw the stones.
Then, he threw seven small stones at Aqaba Jamra one by one. He uttered “Allahu akbar!” each time he threw a stone. Meanwhile, the Companions threw stones at Jamra in the same way.
After throwing seven stones at Aqaba Jamra, the Messenger of God returned to Mina.
Sacrificing an Animal
The Messenger of God went to the place of sacrificing. He slaughtered sixty-three animals, one animal for each year of his life, with his own hands.[8]He had his hair cut. He gave his hairs to his Companions as a memento. It was an indication that the time to leave his Companions was approaching. His following words strengthened this indication: “O people! Learn the procedure and principles of hajj from me. I do not know but you might not see me here after this hajj.”
Khalid b. Walid Gets Some Hair of the Fringe of the Prophet
While the front part of the hair of the Prophet was being cut, Khalid b. Walid said, “O Messenger of God! Give me some of your hair of the fringe.”
The Prophet accepted his wish, gave him some hairs from the front part of his head and prayed God to make him victorious all the time. Khalid wiped those hairs over his eyes and then placed them into the front part of his cone.
Due to the hair and prayer of the Messenger of God, Khalid became victorious in every battle that he joined. As a matter of fact, the Prophet said, “Wherever I sent Khalid, that place was conquered.”[9]
The Prophet’s Circumambulation of Ifada
The Messenger of God went to the Kaaba to perform thecircumambulation of Ifada (Ziyarah) before noon on the first day of Eid al-Adha. He ordered the Muslims to go there, too. He performed the noon prayer after the circumambulation. Then, he drank water from the Zamzam Well.[10]
The Messenger of God returned to Minah toward the evening of that day.
The Prophet Throws Stones on the Second and Third Days
On the second and third days of Eid al-Adha, when the sun moved toward the west, the Messenger of God went to the first Jamra near the Mina Mosque on foot. He threw the seven pebbles one by one. He uttered, “Allahu akbar!” as he threw each one of them.
Then he went to the second Jamra and then to the third Jamra, also called Jamratu’l-Aqaba. He threw seven stones at each jamra one by one. He uttered, “Allahu akbar!” as he threw each one of them.[11]
Going to Muhassab
It wa Dhul-Hijjah 13, Tuesday.
The Messenger of God went to the stony place called Muhassab from Mina. His tent had been set up there. He said to his Companions there, “May God enliven and brighten the faces of the people who listen to my words, memorize them and then convey them to other people. It is possible that a person who understands my words will convey them to a person who will understand them better. Know it very well that three things will not allow hatred and jealousy into the hearts of Muslims.” He listed them as follows:
“Sincere deeds for the sake of God, advising and obeying Muslim leaders, following Islamic community in creed and righteous deeds...”[12]
[1]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 250-252; Tabari, Tarikh, Vol. 3, p. 168-169; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 5, p. 30, 262, 412, Vol. 1, p. 384, 453; Muslim, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 41-42; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Vol. 2, p. 1024-1025.
[2]Waqidi, Maghazi, Vol. 3, p. 1102; Muslim, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 41; Ibn Majah, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 1025.
[3]Al-Maida, 3.
[4]M. Hamdi Yazır, Hak Dini Kur’an Dili, Vol. 2, p. 1569.
[5]Tabari, Tafsir, Vol. 6, p. 52; Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, Vol. 2, p. 13.
[6]Bukhari, Sahih, Vol. 2, p. 177; Muslim, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 42; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Vol. 2, p. 191.
[7]Jamra means small stones or pieces of stones or soil that are permissible to be used for tayammum. There are three small heaps of stones in Mina: Jamratu’l-Ula, Jamratu’l-Wusta and Jamratu’l-Aqaba.
[8]Muslim, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 42; Ibn Qayyim, ibid, Vol. 1, p. 275.
[9]Ibn Athir, Usdu’l Ghaba, Vol. 2, p. 111.
[10]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 182; Muslim, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 42-43; Ibn Majah, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 1026.
[11]Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 152; Nasai, Sunan, Vol. 5, p. 276-277.
[12]Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 80-82; Ibn Majah, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 1016.
6-)
Bibliography
Ahmed Cevdet Paşa (1822-1895). Kısas-ı Enbiya ve Tevarih-i Hulefa, Vol. 1, Istanbul 1966, Bedir Yayınevi.
Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (v. 241/855). Musnad, Vol. 1-6, Beirut 1398 (1978).
Balazuri, Abu’l-Abbas Ahmad Ibn Yahya (d. 279/892). Ansabu’l-Ashraf, Vol. 1, Egypt 1959, Daru’l-Maarif Printing-House.
Bukhari, Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Ismail (d. 256/869). al-Jamiu’s-Sahih, Vol. 1-4, Beirut, no date.
Canan, Doç. Dr. İbrahim. Tebliğ Terbiye ve Siyasî Taktik Açılarından Hicret, Istanbul 1981, Yeni Asya Yayınları.
Darimi, Abu Muhammad Abdullah Ibn Abdurrahman (v. 255/868). Sunan, c. 1-2, Beirut, no date.
Dikmen, Mehmet - Ateş, Bünyamin. Peygamberler Tarihi, Istanbul 1981, Yeni Asya Yayınları.
Abu Davud, Sulayman Ibnu’l-Ash’as as-Sijistani (202-275). Sunan, Daru Ihyau’s-Sunnati’n-Nabawiyya, no date.
Halabi, Ali Ibn Burhanu’d-Din (975/1044 H.) Insanu’l-Uyun, Vol. 1-3, Beirut 1400 (1980).
Hamidullah, Prof. Muhammad. İslam Peygamberi, Vol. 1-2, Istanbul, İrfan Yayınevi.
Ibn Abdilbarr, Abu Umar Yusuf (d. 463/1070). al-Istiab, Vol. 1-4, Egypt 1358 (1939), Mustafa Muhammad Printing-House.
Ibn Athir, Izzaddin Abu’l-Hasan Ali Ibn Abi’l-Karam Muhammad b. Muhammad b. Abdu’l-Karim (d. 630). Usdu’l-Ghaba fi Ma’rifati’s-Sahaba, Vol. 1-5, al-Maktabatu’l-Islamiyya, no date.
Ibn Hajar, Shihabu’d-Din Abu’l-Fadl, Ahmad Ibn Ali al-Asqalani (d. 852/1448). al-Isaba fi Tamyizi’s-Sahaba, Vol. 1-4, Baghdad, no date.
Ibn Hisham, Jamaluddin Abu Muhammad Abdulmalik (v. 218/838). as-Siratu’n-Nabawiyya, Vol. 1-4, Beirut 1391 (1971). Ihyau’t-Turathi’l-Arabi.
Yazır, Muhammad Hamdi. Hak Dini Kur’an Dili, Vol. 1-8, Istanbul 1935, Matbaa-i Ebuzziya.
7-)
Farewell Hajj
(10th Year of the Migration, the month of Dhul-Hijjah / AD 632, March)
It was the 10th year of the Migration, the month of Dhul-Qada.
The Messenger of God made preparations for hajj. He also ordered the Muslims in Madinah to make preparations for hajj. In addition, he sent Madinah.
Upon this news, thousands of Muslims who wanted go to hajj started to flood into Madinah. Soon, Madinah was full of the light of Islam and luminous faces. Tents were set up around Madinah.
Muslims were experiencing a unique atmosphere of a festival and the Messenger of God was praising and thanking God Almighty in the peace and happiness of seeing the magnificent result of the great cause that he conveyed to people.
Leaving Madinah
There were five days left for the end of the month of Dhul-Qada. It was Saturday.
The Messenger of God appointed Abu Dujana as-Saidi as his deputy in Madinah.[1]He had a bath in his house. He wore some nice perfume and put on new clothes. He left his house toward noon and went to the mosque. He led the noon prayer.[2]
The Prophet set off from Madinah with more than one hundred thousand Muslims who surrounded him like luminous circles and reached Dhul-Hulayfa. He spent the night there with his great congregation.
The next day, he performed the noon prayer and entered ihram there. Then, he headed toward Makkah with his Companions, each of whom is a star of the humanity.
The Messenger of God was on his camel, Qasva. More than one hundred thousand Companions were like planets that did not lose their orbits around the spiritual sun. They uttered talbiyah: “Labbayk! “Labbayk! Allahumma labbayk! Labbayka la sharika laka Llabbayk! Innal hamda wan’nimata laka wa’l-mulka la sharika laka.” (Here I am, O God, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner.)
It was as if the earth was like a single mouth and repeating the same “talbiyah” with hundreds of thousands of tongues. The earth and the sky were virtually sharing the joy and the excitement of the Messenger of God and his Companions.
Arriving in Makkah
It was Monday, the fourth of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, early in the morning.
The Messenger of God entered Makkah from the upper part of the city called Thaniyyatu’u-Kada with more than one hundred thousand Muslims. When he saw the magnificent Kaaba, the Prophet prayed as follows: “O my Lord! Increase the magnificence, honor and grandeur of this magnificent Kaaba.[3]
Then, the Prophet reached Baytullah. He made istilam toHajaru’l-Aswad[4]and started to circumambulate the Kaaba from that corner. During the first three laps of the circumambulation, he took short steps and jerked his shoulders, walking fast and pompously; he walked slowly during the remaining four laps of the circumambulation.
After completing the circumambulation by walking around the Kaaba seven times, he went to the Station of Ibrahim. He performed a prayer of two rak’ahs there.[5]Then, he made istilam to Hajaru’l-Aswad again. Meanwhile, he said to Hazrat Umar, “O Umar! You are strong. Do not shoulder others in order to touch Hajaru’l-Aswad. Do not disturb people especially weak ones. If there are not many people around, touch it. If it is very crowded, greet and kiss it from a distance with your hands; utter, ‘La ilaha illalah and Allahu akbar’.”[6]
The Prophet Performs Sa’y
The Messenger of God went up to Safa Hill after that. He praised and thanked God Almighty there. Then, he came down and performed sa’y between Safa and Marwa seven times.
Going to Mina
After staying in Makkah on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the Messenger of God went to Mina on Thursday. He performed the noon, afternoon, evening and night prayers there in congregation. He spent the night there. On Friday, the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, he set off from Minah after performing the morning prayer and headed toward Arafat. [7]
The earth and the sky were resounding with the talbiyahs uttered by the Companions.
[1]Ibn Hisham, Sirah, Vol. 4, p. 248; Halabi, Insanu’l-Uyun, Vol. 3, p. 312.
[2]Ibn Sa’d, Tabaqat, Vol. 2, p. 173-175; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Musnad, Vol. 3, p. 110; Ibn Qayyim, Zadu’l-Maad, Vol. 3, p. 213.
[3]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 173; Ibn Kathir, Sirah, Vol. 4, p. 301.
[4]Istilam means to touch Hajaru’l-Aswad, to kiss it or, if they are not possible, to raise one’s hands, the palms facing Hajar’ul-Aswad, and to greet it.
[5]Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 320; Muslim, Sahih, Vol. 4, p. 40; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Vol. 2, p. 1023.
[6]Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 1, p. 28.
[7]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 173; Ibn Qayyim, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 267.
8-)
Last Visits of the Messenger of God
The time of the Messenger of God to leave this ephemeral world was approaching day by day and hour by hour.
One night at midnight, the Messenger of God suddenly went out of his house. Hazrat Aisha said, “O Messenger of God! Where are you going?”
He said, “I was ordered to ask forgiveness for the people from my family buried in the Cemetery of Baqi; I am going there.”[1]
Abu Rafi and Abu Muwayhib, his freed slaves, were together with him. He stood among the graves in the Cemetery of Baqi for a long time, prayed and asked forgiveness for them. Then, he turned to Abu Muwayhib and told him that we would pass away to the eternal realm and see the face of God there:
“O Abu Muwayhib! I was left free to choose between the keys to the treasures of the world and the bounties of the hereafter; I chose the bounties of the hereafter!”[2]
When Abu Muwayhib heard what he said, he was stupefied. He started to cry; all of his feelings, his spirit and his heart started to cry along with his eyes.
After this significant visit, the Messenger of God returned to his home.
Visiting the Martyrs of Uhud
The Prophet was also ordered to pray and ask forgiveness for the martyrs of Uhud, too. Therefore, he went to Uhud one day. He prayed for a long time for his distinguished Companions that had been martyred there.
After he returned from Uhud, he went to the Mosque. He ascended to the pulpit. He addressed the Muslims: “I will be the first one among you to reach the Pond of Kawthar and the first one to meet you there.” He added:
“I do not fear that you will return to polytheism after me; however, I fear that you will be tempted by the world, envy one another and kill one another; I fear that you will perish like the ones that perished before you as a result of this.”[3]
In the House of Maymuna
The Messenger of God was in the house of Maymuna as it was her turn. Though he was ill, he paid great attention to the rights of his wives. His fever suddenly went up. All of his wives that he had invited were sorry and gloomy and they were standing around him.
The Prophet asked them, “Whose house shall I go tomorrow?”
He repeated this question several times. None of his wives answered.
The reason why he asked this question was the fact that he wanted to stay in Hazrat Aisha’s house when he was ill.
The wives of the Prophet soon realized this desire of the Prophet through their foresight and agreed that he should stay in Aisha’s house.
Thereupon, the Prophet left Maymuna’s house with the help of Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Abbas and went to Aisha’s house.[4]
[2]Ibn Hisham, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 292; Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 204; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 489.
[3]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 205; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 4, p. Muslim, Sahih, Vol. 4, p. 1796.
[4]Ibn Sa’d, ibid, Vol. 2, p. 232.
9-)
Farewell Circumambulation
It was Dhul-Hijjah 14, Wednesday.
Before the morning prayer, the Messenger of God told his Companions that they would go to the Kaaba for circumambulation. Then, he went to the Kaaba and performed the Farewell Circumambulation.[1]
Returning to Madinah
After the Farewell Circumambulation, the Messenger of Allah and his Companions set off from Makkah to go to Madinah. They stopped in the valley of Ghadir al-Khumm. The Prophet led the noon prayer there. After the prayer, he said to his Companions, “O people! Know that I am a human being, too. It will not be long before I am called to the eternal realm by the envoy of my Lord. I shall answer that call. I will leave you soon.” Then, he added,
“I am leaving for you two precious things and if you adhere to them both, you will never go astray after me. They are the Book of Allah, which contains guidance and light and my Ahl al-Bayt.”[2]
After these sentences, he held Hazrat Ali’s hand and said, “For whomever I am his friend (mawla), Ali is his friend.” Then, he prayed Allah as follows “O Allah! Love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him.”[3]
The words of the Messenger of Allah above, which stated that he would soon pass away to the eternal realm, saddened the Companions a lot. The Messenger of Allah, for whom they were ready to sacrifice their souls, whom they loved more than their own selves, was going to leave them.
They regarded themselves as orphans and started to cry.
Arriving in Madinah
When Madinah was seen, the Prophet uttered takbir three times. Then, he said his usual prayer: “There is no god but Allah, Who has no partner, to Whom the sovereignty belongs, to Whom all praise is due, and Who is Able to do all things. We are those who return (in safety), feel penitence, worship Allah, prostrate before our Lord and praise Him.”[4]
When the Prophet arrived in Madinah, he went straight to the mosque. After performing a prayer of two rak’ahs there, he went to his house.
This was the first and last hajj of the Messenger of Allah.
[2]It is significant that the Messenger of Allah mentions his Ahl al-Bayt as the second thing to be adhered to. It will be appropriate to quote what Badiuzzaman Said Nursi states regarding the issue:
“With his vision which penetrated the Unseen, the Most Noble Prophet (PBUH) saw that his Family would become like a light-giving tree within the world of Islam. The overwhelming majority of those who would perform the duty of guides instructing every level of the World of Islam in human attainment and perfection would emerge from his Family. He divined that his Community's prayer for his Family in the final section of the prescribed prayers: O God, grant blessings to our master Muhammad and to the Family of our master Muhammad, as You granted blessings to Abraham and to the Family of Abraham; indeed, You are Worthy of Praise, Most Exalted would be accepted. That is to say, like the vast majority of the luminous guides among the people of Abraham were prophets of the family and line of Abraham, he saw in his Community also, the spiritual poles of the Family of Muhammad performing the great duties of Islam, and in most of the paths and Sufi orders, like the prophets of Israel. Therefore, being commanded to say: قُلْ لَٓا اَسْئَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ اَجْرًا اِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ ﯺﰆالْقُرْبىٰ
(Say: I ask of you no recompense save love of close kin), he wanted his Community to love his Family.There are numerous narrations corroborating this fact. He repeatedly decreed: "I leave you two things. If you adhere to them, you will find salvation: one is God's Book, the other is my Family. For those who were the source and guardians of the Prophet's Practices, and were charged with complying with them in every respect, were his Family.
Thus, this is why this truth was made known in Hadiths under the heading of following the Book and the Prophet's Practices. That is to say, what was required from the Family of the Prophet in respect of the function of prophethood were the Practices of the Prophet. Just as someone who abandoned the Prophet's Practices could not truly be a member of his Family, so too such a person could not be a true friend to them.
Also, the reason he desired his Community to gather round his Family was that, with God's permission, he knew his Family were going to become very numerous with the passing of time, and that Islam was going to become weak. Therefore, an extremely strong and numerous mutually supportive group of people was necessary so that it could be the means to and center for the spiritual and moral progress of the World of Islam. With Divine permission, he thought of this, and desired that his Community should gather round his Family. Indeed, even if the members of the Prophet's Family were not greatly in advance of others in matters of belief and faith, they were still greatly ahead of them in regard to submission, partiality, and partisanship. For they were followers of Islam by nature, birth, and temperament. Even if natural partiality is weak and unworthy, or unjustifiable even, it cannot be given up. So, would it be possible for a person to give up his support for a truth to which all his forefathers—who were most strong, most constant and true, and most illustrious—had been bound, and through which they had won glory, and for which they had sacrificed their lives, a truth he felt clearly to be so fundamental and natural? Thus, due to this intense partiality and natural submission, the Family of the Prophet accepted the least hint in favor of the religion of Islam as though it was a powerful proof. For they were partial by nature. Others become partial after some powerful proof.” (Badiuzzaman Said Nursi, Lem’alar (Flashes), p. 19-20); Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 367; Muslim, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 1873.
[3]Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 281, 368, 370; Tirmidhi, ibid, Vol. 5, p. 633.
[4]Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, ibid, Vol. 4, p. 187-189; Abu Dawud, ibid, Vol. 3, p. 91.
