The Final 5 Days of the Prophet’s Life

The Final 5 Days of the Prophet’s Life

Mawlana Ijaz Nawaz Attari Madani

  Allah Almighty sent many prophets to guide different nations. Eventually, He sent His final prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as the most superior messenger and universal guide for all nations. After the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم fulfilled his mission and firmly established true faith on earth, it was time for Allah’s promise, “You will taste death,” to be fulfilled.

Three matters of the unseen related to the passing of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم : The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knew the time of his demise:

*   During the farewell Hajj, he said, “After this year I will be unable to meet you.”^[1]

*   During Safar 11 AH, he visited al-Baqīʿ and remarked, “I have been granted Paradise, the treasures of this world, and the ability to remain in it forever. Then I was given an option to meet my Lord and acquire Paradise; and this is what I chose.”^[2]

*   When the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was in his final illness, he told Sayyidatunā Fāṭima al-Zahrāʾ رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا that this illness would be the cause of his death.^[3]

The onset, location, and duration of the final illness: There is a difference of opinion in regard to when the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم fell ill and how long it lasted. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم fell ill on Wednesday, 30^th Safar. According to a reliable opinion, he fell ill at the house of Sayyidatunā Maymūna رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا . Most ulema agree that the illness lasted for thirteen days.^[4]

Encouraging people to pray and treat slaves with care and respect: Sayyidunā Anas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ reports, when the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was nearing his death, he encouraged the people to observe the daily prayers and to treat slaves with kindness.^[5]

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم freed slaves: Whilst the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was ill, he freed 40 slaves.^[6]

Spending wealth in the Way of Allah: There were seven dinars in the house of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم at the time. He said to Sayyidah ʿĀʾisha al-Ṣiddīqa رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا , “Bring me the dinars so I can spend them in the Way of Allah.” The dinars were distributed by Sayyidunā ʿAlī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ and six or seven dirhams remained, which were spent too. There was no gold or silver left in the house of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .^[7]

No oil in the lamp: On Monday night, there was no oil in the lamp. So, Sayyidah ʿĀʾisha رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا sent a woman  from the Anṣār to bring some oil. The hadith master Shaykh ʿAbd al-Ḥaqq al-Dihlawī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states: Remarkably, they had just given charity, yet had no oil in the lamps in their own homes. There is a lesson in this for those who are ˹their true˺ followers: they never stored anything in their home, and if they had any wealth, they would spend it ˹in Allah’s way˺. Those who claim to love and obey the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should adopt these actions.^[8]

Speaking privately to the Lady of Paradise: The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم called Sayyida Fāṭima رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا during his final illness and whispered something to her which made her weep. Then he called her again and whispered something to her again, making her smile. When she was asked about it, she said, “The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم first told me that he would pass away because of this illness, so I wept. Then he told me that I would be the first of his family to follow him, so I smiled.”^[9]

Staying in Sayyidatunā ʿĀʾisha’s room: During the days of the Prophet’s صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم illness, he sought permission from his pure wives to spend the rest of his days for treatment at the home of Sayyidatunā ʿĀʾisha’ رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا . All the noble wives consented. He went to her home on 5^th Rab’i ul-Awwal. He stayed there for eight days until he passed away.^[10]

Appointing Sayyidunā Abū Bakr as the Imam: The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم continued to pray in Masjid Nabawi for as long as he physically could. When the illness prevented him from going to the masjid, he said three times, “Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ led the prayers from the Isha on Thursday until the Fajr on Monday. He led 17 prayers in total.^[11]

The speech of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم : On Thursday 8^th Rab’i ul-Awwal, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sat on the pulpit and delivered a speech in which he explained:

*   If I were to make someone my close friend other than Allah, then I would make Abū Bakr my friend. However, I love him for the sake of Islam.

*   Allah Almighty gave someone a choice to remain in this world forever or to attain Paradise and meet his Lord. That person preferred to meet Allah. (Only Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ understood this statement.)

*   With the exception of Abū Bakr, everyone close their windows which open into the masjid.

*   Abū Bakr has been the kindest to me in terms of wealth and companionship.

*   I advise you to be good towards the Anṣār. Accept those who are pious and forgive those who transgress.^[12]

A request for the funeral prayer: The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was in Sayyidah ʿĀʾisha’s رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا house and addressed the Companions regarding the funeral and other matters: “When I pass away, wash me, shroud me, and lay me on this bed near the edge of my grave. Then leave the room for a while as Jibrīl will offer the funeral prayer, then Mīkaʾīl, then Isrāfīl, then the Angel of Death and his armies. After this, the males of my family, then the females, then the people should enter in groups to offer the prayer.”^[13]

Bathing in the water of seven wells: During the Prophet’s صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم final illness, he stated, “Bring water from seven wells in seven water skins without untying their mouths.’’ The noble Companions brought the water and the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم used some of it to perform ghusl.^[14]

The use of miswak: During these days, Sayyidunā ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Abū Bakr رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا arrived with a green miswak. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم showed a liking towards it. So, Sayyidatunā ʿĀʾisha رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا softened it and gave it to him. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم used it for longer than he normally would.^[15]

The final supplication: The final supplication of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was:

اَللّٰھُمَّ اغْفِرْلِیْ وَارْحَمْنِیْ وَ اَلْحِقْنِیْ بِالرَّفِیْقِ الْاَعْلٰی

“Dear Allah! Forgive me, have mercy on me, and unite me with the Exalted Companion (the Lord Almighty).”^[16]

The arrival of the Angel of Death: Three days prior to the demise of the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , the Angel of Death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام arrived before the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and sought permission to take his soul. The Prophet   صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave him permission, and he took his soul three days later. Prior to this, the Angel of Death never sought permission from anyone before taking their soul. This is from the exclusive merits of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .^[17]

The passing away of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم : The mother of the believers, Sayyidatunā ʿĀʾisha رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا states: “The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم rested his head on my chest and passed away in my lap. It was my turn for the Prophet’s visit, and his soul left his pure body in my room.”^[18] اِنَّا لِلهِ وَاِنَّا اِلَیْهِ رٰجِعُوْن

Date of death, time, and age: The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed away on 12^th Rabi al-Awwal at the age of 63 years. Sayyidunā ʿAbd Allah b. ʿAbbās رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا states: “The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stayed in Makka for thirteen years ˹after the declaration of prophethood˺ and remained in Madina for 10. He passed away at the age of 63.”^[19]

Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states: “A thorough investigation reveals that ˹the date of death˺ was actually 13^th Rabi al-Awwal as the moon had been sighted in Makka, whilst it had not been sighted in Madina, and so the people in Madina counted it as being the 12^th. It was narrators from Madina reporting according to their calculations whose narrations spread, becoming the basis for the majority opinion.”^[20]