Download PDF: [S] Before the Holy Prophet left this World (Islamic Story)

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that, “Your beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was born on Monday. On Monday, he migrated from Mecca to Madina Shareef. On Monday, he arrived in Madina Shareef and he passed away on a Monday which was the 12th of Rabi ul Awwal. He remained ill for twelve days and the reason for his high fever was due to his severe headache.” (Al Mu’jamul Kabeer, no. 12984. 12/183)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ibn Abi Yaseed – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that, “The birth of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was in the year of the Elephant on the 12th of Rabil ul Awwal on Monday. On this day, he migrated from Mecca Shareef and on this day, he arrived in Madina Shareef. His physical passing from this world was on the 11th of Hijrah, in the month of Rabi ul Awwal on Monday between the time of Chast and Zawwal. (As Sayratun Nabwiyah. Ibn Hishaam. 1/161. Al Musnad Imam Ahmed bin Hambal, Musnad Abdullah ibn Abbas – may Allah be pleased with them – no. 2506. 1/594)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas – may Allah be pleased with them – narrates that when Surah Nasr was revealed, then the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – mentioned that he had been informed about his passing away. (Sunan Daarimi, no. 79. 1/51)

 

In this state of fever, he entered the house of Hadrat Sayyidah Ayesha – may Allah be pleased with her.

 

Imaamat of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Bilal – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates: “When I awoke in the morning, I then stood at the entrance of his blessed room and said, ‘Greetings upon you who is the blessing of Prophethood and Messengership and upon the blessed household’.

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then informed Hadrat Sayyidah Fatimah – may Allah be pleased with him – to inform Hadrat Sayyiduna Bilal – may Allah be pleased with him – to inform Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr to perform the Salaah.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Bilal – may Allah be pleased with him – then continues: “I then returned weeping from the blessed chambers. I then began to walk around the streets of Madina Shareef aimlessly and kept saying, ‘O My Leader, O my Master. If only the mother of Bilal had not given birth to him. I then arrived in the Masjid and found that the Masjid was full of people. I then met Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – and informed him about the words of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. I then began to read the Iqaamah. When I read, Ash hadu an Laa ilaaha illal laahu, he (Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – replied, ‘We bear witness with those who also bear witness.’ When I recited Ash hadu anna Mohammadur Rasooullulah, then I began to experience immense sadness and I started to weep and others also began to weep. After the Iqaamah, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – stepped forward and read the Salaah. However, after reciting the Bismillah and when he started to read the Surah Fatiha, he looked at the spot where the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – used to place his blessed feet and he started to weep. Others around him also started to weep.”

 

When the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – heard this, he asked his blessed daughter the reason for this and she informed him that they were crying because they had not seen him. He then picked up his blessed hands and made Du’a, “O Allah! Please command the Angel who is in charge of fever to lesson this on Your Prophet so that I may go outside and perform the Salaah and also bid farewell to my companions.”

 

The narrator continues, “When the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – felt that the fever had decreased, he then performed the Wudu and then with the support of Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali, Hadrat Sayyiduna Fadl bin Abbas and Hadrat Sayyiduna Usaamah bin Zaid – may Allah be pleased with him, he entered the Masjid. When the Muslims saw him coming, they began to make way so that he could reach the Mimbar Shareef. When he arrived at the Mimbar Shareef, he stood next to Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – and performed the Salaah. When he had completed the Salaah, he then sat on the Mimbar and declared after praising Allah Almighty, ‘O People! Have I not delivered to you Prophethood and have I not completed my advice and have I not delivered the Amaanah (or trust) to you?’ The blessed companions replied, ‘Why not O Prophet of Allah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, without doubt, you have delivered (the message of) Prophethood to us, you have completed your trust and have been good to this Ummah and you have worshipped Allah Almighty until your last moments (in this world) has arrived. May Allah Almighty give you for our sake, the best of reward from all other Prophets which has been given to every Prophet on behalf of his Ummah.’

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then alighted from the Mimbar Shareef and began to bid farewell to everyone. All the blessed companions were weeping as they did this.

 

The Angel of Death seeks permission to enter

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then entered the blessed room of Hadrat Sayyidah Ayesha – may Allah be pleased with her – and continued to have high fever until Malikul Maut appeared as a normal Bedouin and stood in front of the door. He then declared, “Greetings upon that person who is the light of Prophethood and Messengership and greetings upon the blessed household. Do I have permission to enter?”

 

Hadrat Sayyidah Fatimah – may Allah be pleased with her – replied, “O Bedouin! He is busy in his own condition (at this moment).”

 

When he asked for a second time, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – looked outside and then asked Hadrat Sayyidah Fatimah – may Allah be pleased with her, “Do you know who is addressing you?”

She replied that is an ordinary Bedouin. He said, “This is Malikul Maut, the one who breaks all desires and enjoyment. Give him permission to enter.”

 

He then entered the blessed room and greeted the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and after this, he declared, “O Prophet of Allah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him! Allah Almighty has commanded me that I am not to take away your soul without your permission. What is your command?”

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – replied, “Wait a while until Jibra’eel Ameen arrives and this is his time of arrival.”

 

Hadrat Sayyidah Ayesha – may Allah be pleased with her – adds that “such a message was presented to us of which we had no choice. It was as if great calamity had suddenly fallen upon us. No one in the blessed household could say anything, everyone remained silent.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Jibra’eel Ameen then arrived and mentioned, “Allah Almighty has conveyed His greetings to you and asks about your state and He is fully aware of your state, however, He wishes to convey upon you more Grace and Mercy.”

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – replied, “O Jibra’eel! Malikul Maut has sought permission from me,” and he then revealed the entire conversation between him and Malikul Maut.

 

Hadrat Jibra’eel Ameen then said, “O Muhammad! Your Lord wishes to see you. He has not revealed what He wishes to do. And by Allah, until today, Malikul Maut has never sought permission from anyone, but Allah Almighty certainly completes His favour and Grace upon you.”

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then declared to him, “Until Malikul Maut does not arrive, stand here.”

 

He then gave permission for the blessed females to enter. He then turned to Hadrat Sayyidah Fatimah and said, “O Fatimah, come closer to me.” She then came closer and bent near him and he whispered something in her ear. When she raised her blessed head, she was weeping. She could not even speak. The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then asked her to come closer again and again he whispered something in her ear and she began to smile, however, she could still not speak.

 

Hadrat Sayyidah Ayesha – may Allah be pleased with her – narrates that, “We were indeed surprised by her reaction and when we asked her later, she revealed that, ‘The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – had mentioned to me that today he will pass away and because of this, I began to weep. He then mentioned that he had made Du’a to Allah Almighty that among his household, he should meet me first and that I should stay with him. This made me very happy.’

 

“Malikul Maut then appeared again, greeted the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – again and again sought his blessed permission. He then asked, ‘O Prophet of Allah, what command do you give me?’ The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – replied, ‘Let me meet my Creator.’ Malikul Maut replied, ‘Yes, today is when you will meet, the moment of your passing is in front of you.’

 

“He then went outside. Jibra’eel Ameen also said, ‘O Prophet of Allah! This is the last time when I will descend on earth. Revelation has been folded away and the earth has been wrapped. I have no work with anyone else on earth. Until now, it has been only due to the love I have for you.’”

 

Hadrat Sayyidah Ayesha – may Allah be pleased with her – narrates: “By that Divine Being Who had sent the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – with the truth, no one within the room was able to speak. Through the awe we felt because of these words, we could not call anyone. We all stood there speechless and fearful.”

 

She continues, “I then stood up and walked towards him until I placed his blessed head on my chest. I then held on to his blessed chest. He began to lose consciousness until he became unconscious. There was so much of perspiration appearing from his forehead, that I have never seen any person like this before. I then continued to wipe away the blessed perspiration and I have never experienced such fragrance before. When he regained consciousness, I asked, ‘May my parents, my wealth, my life and my family be sacrificed for you, why is there so much of perspiration?’ He replied, ‘O Ayesha! The life of a true believer leaves through perspiration.’” (condensed)