On his last morning he lifts the curtain of his room and smiles to see the Muslims in rows behind Abu Bakr. Resting against ‘Aishah, his last words are a prayer for “the most exalted Companionship on high”. Madinah is stunned; ‘Umar refuses to believe it until Abu Bakr reminds the people: whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad has died, but whoever worships Allah, Allah is Ever-Living and never dies.
As the book dates it: high morning, Monday 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal, 11 A.H., aged 63 years and 4 days
O Allah, forgive me and have mercy upon me and join me to the Companionship on high.
Who was there
- AB‘Aishah bint Abi BakrAbu Bakr’s daughter; the book calls her the most learned woman in jurisprudence. The Prophet ﷺ died in her room.
- ABAbu Bakr as-SiddiqThe Prophet’s close friend, who believed on the very first day of the call, hid with him in the cave of Thawr, and led the prayer in his last days.
- U‘Umar bin al-KhattabOnce set on killing the Prophet ﷺ, he accepted Islam and the Muslims began to pray openly at the Ka’bah.
- FMFatimah bint MuhammadThe Prophet’s daughter, married to ‘Ali between Badr and Uhud; mother of al-Hasan and al-Husain.