due to the intensity of the illness, at that time), my brother Abdur Rahman رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ came to me. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ had a Miswak in his hand. The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم started looking at him. I knew that the Holy Rasool        صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم likes Miswak. Therefore, I humbly said: ‘Shall I take the Miswak for you?’ The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said “yes” through the gesture of his blessed head. So, I took that Miswak from Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ. The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم felt it to be hard. I humbly said: “Shall I soften it?” The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied from the gesture of his blessed head: “Yes”. So I (chewed and) softened the Miswak.

Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had a bowl of water in front of him. He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would dip his blessed hand in, touch his blessed face with it and say:    “لَآ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ، اِنَّ لِلْمَوْتِ سَکَرَاتٍ i.e. there is no God but Allah. Indeed, there are hardships in death.”  Then, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم raised his blessed hand and said: فِی الرَّفِیْقِ الْاَعْلٰی i.e. in the Jama’at of the blessed Ambiya عَلَیْہِمُ الصَّلٰوۃُ وَالسَّلَام”. To the extent that the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed away. (Bukhari, vol. 3, pp. 157, Hadees 4449)     

O devotees of Rasool! You see what a great rank Umm-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyidah ‘Aishah Siddiqah, Tayyibah, Taahirah, ‘Afeefah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا possesses in the blessed court of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. She رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا was not only blessed with the special closeness of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم during his apparent life, but was also blessed with the same honour during the last moments of his apparent life.

اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Umm-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyidah ‘Aishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا remembered this favour all her life and mentioned her dignity and greatness in order to express this blessing.

Ten superiorities

Umm-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyidah ‘Aishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا states: ‘I have been given ten superiorities over the blessed wives of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’ It was humbly asked, ‘O Umm-ul-Mu`mineen! What are those ten superiorities?’ She رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا said: