The Sealed Nectar (63 page)

"Yes. It is." Said we. Then he said:

"(Shedding) the blood of one another and eating or taking one another’s
provisions (unwillingly) and your honour are all inviolable (
Haram
). It is
unlawful to violate their holiness. They must be as sacred to one another as
this sacred day, in this sacred month, in this sacred town."

"You will go back to be resurrected (after death) to your Lord. There you
will be accounted for your deeds. So do not turn into people who go astray
and kill one another."

"Have I not delivered the Message (of my Lord)?" "Yes you have." Said
they. "O Allâh! Bear witness! Let him that is present convey it unto him who
is absent. For haply, many people to whom the Message is conveyed may be
more mindful of it than the audience,." said he.
[Sahih Al- Bukhari 1/234]

In another version it is said that the Prophet [pbuh] had said in that very speech:

"He whoever plunges into misfortune will certainly aggrieve himself. So let
no one of you inflict an evil upon his parents. Verily Satan has utterly
despaired being worshipped in this country of yours; but he will be obeyed
at your committing trivial things you disdain. Satan will be contented with
such things."
[At- Tirmidhi 2/38, 135; Mishkat Al- Masabih 1/234]

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The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] spent
At- Tashreeq
Days (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul- Hijjah) in Mina performing the ritual teachings of Islam, remembering Allâh (praying), following the ways of guidance of Ibrahim, wiping out all traces and features or polytheism. On some days of
At- Tashreeq
he delivered some speeches as well. In a version to Abu Da’ûd with good reference to Sira,’ the daughter of Nabhan; she said: "The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] made us a speech at the
Ru’us
(Heads) Day in which he said: "Is it not this the middle day of
At- Tashreeq
Days." [Abu Da'ud 1/269]

His speech that day was similar to that of
An- Nahr
Day’s. It was made after the revelation of
Surat An- Nasr.

On the second day of
An- Nafr
(i.e. Departure) — on the thirteenth of Dhul- Hijjah, the Prophet [pbuh] proceeded with
An- Nafr
to Mina and stayed at a high place of a mountain side at Bani Kinanah from Al- Abtah. He spent the rest of that day and night there — where he performed the noon, the afternoon, the sunset and the evening prayers.

Then he slept for a short while and mounted leaving for the Ka‘bah. He performed the Farewell Circumambulation (
Tawaf Al- Wada‘)
, after ordering his Companions to do the same thing.

Upon the accomplishment of his religious rituals he quickened his move to the purified Madinah. He went there not to seek rest but to resume the strife and struggle in the way of Allâh. [Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/631, 2/631; Ibn Hisham 2/601-605; Za'd Al-Ma'ad 1/196, 218-220]

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The Last Expeditions

The pride of the Byzantine State made it deny Muslims their right to live. The Byzantine arrogance made them even kill those agents of theirs, who embraced Islam. Killing Farwah bin ‘Amr Al- Judhami, who was their agent on Mu’an, was an evidence of their arrogance. Due to that arrogance and presumptuousness of the Byzantines, the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] started to mobilize a great army in Safar in the eleventh year of Al- Hijra and made it under the command of Osamah bin Zaid bin Haritha with orders to have the horses of Muslims tread on the lands bordering Al- Balqa’ and Ad- Darum of Palestine. His aim was to terrorize Byzantines and to implant confidence into the hearts of Arabs who were settled at the borders of the Byzantines. His other purpose was to deliver a message to everybody there, so that no one may dare say that the Church brutality can’t go with impunity; and that Islamization is not synonymous with fear and vulnerability.

The leadership of Osamah was subject to criticism. Because he was still too young, people tarried at joining his expedition. The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] addressed people saying:

"No wonder now you contest his leadership, for you have already contested
the ex- leadership of his father. Yes, by Allâh, his father, who was one of the
most beloved people to me, was quite efficient for leadership; and this son
of his is one of the most beloved individuals to me after his father."
[Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/612]

So people started tending towards Osamah and joined his army. The number of volunteers in his army was so enormous that they formed such a long queue that they had to descend the escarpment — which was a parasang off Madinah. The anxiety- provoking news about the Messenger of Allâh’s sickness, however, made the expedition tarry again in order to know what Allâh had willed as regards His Messenger [pbuh].

It was Allâh’s Will that Osamah’s expedition would be the first one dispatched during the caliphate of the veracious Abu Bakr. [Ibn Hisham 2/560, 606; Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/612]

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The Journey to Allâh, the Sublime

Symptoms of Farewell

When the Call to Islam grew complete and the new faith dominated the whole situation. The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] started to develop certain symptoms that bespoke of leave- taking. They could be perceived through his statements and deeds: In Ramadan in the tenth year of Al- Hijra he secluded himself for twenty days in contrast to ten, previously.

The archangel Gabriel reviewed the Qur’ân twice with him.

His words in the Farewell Pilgrimage (i.e. Al- Wida‘):
"I do not know whether
I will ever meet you at this place once again after this current year."

The revelation of
An- Nasr
Chapter amid
At- Tashreeq
Days. So when it was sent down on him, he realized that it was the parting time and that
Surah
was an announcement of his approaching death.

On the early days of Safar in the eleventh year of Al- Hijra, the Prophet [pbuh]

went out to Uhud and observed a farewell prayer to the martyrs. It looked like saying goodbye to both the dead and the living alike. He then ascended the pulpit and addressed the people saying:
"I am to precede you and I
have been made witness upon you. By Allâh, you will meet me at the

‘Fountain’ very soon. I have been given the keys of worldly treasures.

By Allâh, I do not fear for you that you will turn polytheists after me.

But I do fear that acquisition of worldly riches should entice you to
strike one another’s neck."
[Sahih Al- Bukhari 2/585]

One day, at midnight he went to Al- Baqee‘ cemetry, and implored Allâh to forgive the martyrs of Islam. He said: "Peace be upon you tomb- dwellers!

May that morning that dawns upon you be more relieving than that which dawn upon the living. Afflictions are approaching them like cloudy lumps of a dark night — the last of which follows the first. The last one is bearing more evil than the first." He comforted them saying: "We will follow you."

The Start of the Disease

On Monday the twenty- ninth of Safar in the eleventh year of Al- Hijra, he participated in funeral rites in Al- Baqee‘. On the way back he had a headache, his temperature rose so high that the heat effect could be felt over his headband.

He led the Muslims in prayer for eleven days though he was sick. The total number of his sick days were either thirteen or fourteen.

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 304

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wherever he wished. He moved to ‘Aishah’s room leaning — while he was walking —

on Al- Fadl bin Al- ‘Abbas and ‘Ali bin Abi Talib. Head banded as he was, he dragged his feet till he came into her abode. It was there that he spent the last week of his life.

During that period, ‘Aishah used to recite
Al- Mu‘awwidhat
(Chapters 113 and 114 of the Qur’ân) and other supplications which he had already taught her.

Five days before death

On Wednesday, five days before he died the Prophet’s temperature rose so high signalling the severeness of his disease. He fainted and suffered from pain. "Pour out on me seven
Qirab
(water skin pots) of various water wells so that I may go out to meet people and talk to them." So they seated him in a container (usually used for washing) and poured out water on him till he said: "That is enough. That is enough."

Then he felt well enough to enter the Mosque. He entered it band- headed, sat on the pulpit and made a speech to the people who were gathering together around him. He said:

"The curse of Allâh falls upon the Jews and Christians for they have made
t heir Prophets’ tombs places of worship."
[Sahih Al- Bukhari 1/62; Mustta' Imam Malik p.360]

Then he said:

"Do not make my tomb a worshipped idol."
[Muatta' Imam Malik p.65]

Then he offered himself and invited the people to repay any injuries he might have inflicted on them, saying:

"He whom I have ever lashed his back, I offer him my back so that he may
avenge himself on me. He whom I have ever blasphemed his honour, here I
am offering my honour so that he may avenge himself."

Then he descended, and performed the noon prayer. Again he returned to the pulpit and sat on it. He resumed his first speech about enmity and some other things.

A man then said: "You owe me three Dirhams." The Prophet [pbuh] said: "Fadl, pay him the money." He went on saying:

"I admonish you to be good to
Al- Ansar
(the Helpers). They are my family
and with them I found shelter. They have acquitted themselves credibly of
the responsibility that fell upon them and now there remains what you have
to do. You should fully acknowledge and appreciate the favour that they
have shown, and should overlook their faults."

In another version:

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"The number of believers would increase, but the number of Helpers would
decrease to the extent that they would be among men as salt in the food. So
he who from among you occupies a position of responsibility and is powerful
enough to do harm or good to the people, he should fully acknowledge and
appreciate the favour that these benefactors have shown and overlook their
faults."
[Sahih Al- Bukhari 1/536]

And said:

"Allâh, the Great, has given a slave of His the opportunity to make a choice
between whatever he desires of Allâh’s provisions in this world, and what
He keeps for him in the world, but he has opted for the latter."

Abu Sa‘îd Al- Khudri said: "Upon hearing that, Abu Bakr cried and said: ‘We sacrifice our fathers and mothers for your sake.’ We wondered why Abu Bakr said such a thing. People said: ‘Look at that old man! The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] says about a slave of Allâh who was granted the right between the best fortunes of this world and the bounty of Allâh in the Hereafter, but he says: We sacrifice our fathers and mothers for your sake!’ It was later on that we realized what he had aimed at. The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] was the slave informed to choose. We also acknowledged that Abu Bakr was the most learned among us." [Mishkat Al-Masabih 2/546]

Then the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] said:

"The fellow I feel most secure in his company is Abu Bakr. If I were to make
friendship with any other one than Allâh, I would have Abu Bakr a bosom
friend of mine. For him I feel affection and brotherhood of Islam. No gate
shall be kept open in the Mosque except that of Abu Bakr’s."
[Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/22, 429, 449, 2/638; Mishkat Al- Masabih 2/548]

Four days before his death

On Thursday, four days before the death of the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh], he said to people — though he was suffering from a severe pain: "Come here. I will cause you to write something so that you will never fall into error." Upon this ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab said: "The Prophet of Allâh [pbuh] is suffering from acute pain and you have the Qur’ân with you; the Book of Allâh is sufficient unto you." Others however wanted the writing to be made. When Muhammad [pbuh] heard them debating over it, he ordered them to go away and leave him alone. [Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/637]

That day he recommended three things:

1. Jews, Christians and polytheists should be expelled out of Arabia.

2. He recommended that delegations should be honoured and entertained, in a way similar to the one he used to do.

3. As for the third — the narrator said that he had forgotten it. It could have been adherence to the Holy Book and the
Sunnah
. It was likely to be the accomplishment and the mobilization of Osamah’s army, or it could have been performance of prayers and being attentive to slaves.

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In spite of the strain of disease and suffering from pain, the Prophet [pbuh] used to lead all the prayers till that Thursday — four days before he died. On that day he led the sunset prayer and recited:

"By the winds (or angels or the Messengers of Allâh) sent forth one after
another."
[Al- Qur'an 77:1] [Mishkat Al-Masabih 1/102]

In the evening he grew so sick that he could not overcome the strain of disease or go out to enter the Mosque. ‘Aishah said: The Prophet [pbuh] asked: "Have the people performed the prayer?" "No. They haven’t. They are waiting for you." "Put some water in the washing pot." Said he. We did what he ordered. So he washed and wanted to stand up, but he fainted. When he came round he asked again "Have the people prayed?" Then the same sequence of events took place again and again for the second and the third times from the time he washed to the time he fainted after his attempts to stand up. Therefore he sent to Abu Bakr to lead the prayer himself. Abu Bakr then led the prayer during those days. [Sahih Al- Bukhari 1/99]