Ali (A.S.)     - The Miracle of Muhammad (S.A.W.
Who is this Ali?
The genealogy of Ali (A.S.)
Abu Talib (A.S.) - The Obliger of Islam.
The Birth of Ali (A.S.)
Ali (A.S.) - Under the guidance of the Prophet (S.A.W.)
The personality of Ali (A.S.)

The fate of Ali (A.S.)'s followers.
Ali (A.S.) - As viewed by the historians
The proclamation of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)
The death of Khadija (S.A.)
The death of Abu Talib (A.S.)
The Hijrat
The Prophet (S.A.W.) in Madina
The marriage of Fatema (S.A.)
The battle of Badr
The battle of Ohad
The battle of Khandaq
The treaty of Hudaibia
The battle of Khaibar
The conquest of Mecca
The battle of Hunain
The despatch of Surah Baraat
Mubahela (Maledictory Conflict)
The expedition to Yemen
The last Hajj
Ghadeer -e-Khum
The Last days of the Prophet (S.A.W.)
The will of the Prophet (S.A.W.)
The death of the Prophet (S.A.W.)
The conspiracy of Saqifa
Abu Bakr becomes Caliph
The regime of A bu Bakr
The usurping of Fadaq
The death of Fatema (S.A.)
   

THE DEATH OF THE PROPHET (S.A.W.)

 

From Saturday, the Prophet (S.A.W)’s health began to deteriorate further but he continued to lead the prayers till Monday morning when he could come to the mosque with the support of Ali (A.S.) and Fazl Ibne Abbas. When he returned home after the prayers he was completely exhausted. But he asked his daughter Fatema (S.A.) to bring her sons Hasan (A.S.) and Hussain to him. When Hasan (A.S.) and Hussain came he kissed them and embraced them. He then said in a feeble voice, "Call my friend" and somebody brought Abu Bakr before him. The Prophet (S.A.W) raised his head and seeing Abu Bakr said, "Go away I will call you when I need you." Abu Bakr went away. The Prophet (S.A.W) again said "Call my friend." This time Umar was brought and the Prophet (S.A.W) seeing Umar said, "Go away I will call you when I need you." Umar too went away [Riazun Nazra, page 180]. The Prophet (S.A.W) then told Fatema (S.A.) to call Ali (A.S.). Fatema (S.A.) said, "Perhaps you have sent him for some work he will come soon."

When Ali (A.S.) came the Prophet (S.A.W) took him in his chaddor and embraced him. Then he aked Ali (A.S.) to take him in his arms. Ali (A.S.) took the Prophet (S.A.W) in his arms. The Prophet (S.A.W) resting his head of Ali (A.S.)’s shoulders said, "My end is near now O Ali. You are my brother, my Vazir and the payer of my debts. You know I have a loan from a Jew for the expedition of Osama, you repay it." Ali (A.S.) promised to pay the loan. The Prophet (S.A.W) further said, "Pay all those creditors who come to you saying that they owe me money." Ali (A.S.) promised him that he will pay all such people. The Prophet (S.A.W) then said, "Fulfil the promises I have made to the people." Ali (A.S.) promised to fulfil the promises of the Prophet (S.A.W). The Prophet (S.A.W) then said, "After my death wash my body and lay me in my grave with your hands. Turn my face towards Kaaba and offer my funeral prayers. O Ali don’t leave me till you bury me. You will be harassed a lot after my death but bear with patience. You will see the people running after the lust of this world but you choose the life hereafter. Ali you will be the first to meet me at Kausar." The Prophet (S.A.W) continued to talk with Ali (A.S.) till he breathed his last. His last words were Assalat Assalat Assalat (Namaz Namaz Namaz) saying this, he became silent and the saliva from mouth fell on Ali (A.S.) [Madarejun Naboova, Vol. 2, page 511].

The ladies behind the curtain began to weep. Ali (A.S.) too could not control himself, and with the help of his uncle Abbas he removed the head of the Prophet (S.A.W) from his chest and laid it on the bed. He then closed the eyes of the Prophet (S.A.W) and covered the body with a sheet, and started making preparations for the burial.

As the news of the Prophet (S.A.W)’s death spread, Umar who had not gone out of Madina with Osama was moving around the Prophet (S.A.W)’s house rushed in a raising the sheet from the Prophet (S.A.W)’s face watched it for sometime, then came out shouting, "The Prophet is not dead but has gone to meet the Lord as Moses had gone. Allah will soon send him back and on his return the Prophet will cut the hands and legs of every one." Umar then pulled his sword and came to the mosque where many people had gathered on hearing the news of the Prophet (S.A.W)’s demise. Warning everyone he said, "Whosoever says that the Prophet is dead will be cut into two."

Abu Bakr who had also not gone with Osama and was staying at Sakh with his new wife rushed to the house of the Prophet (S.A.W) after being informed by his daughter Aisha. He saw Umar threatening the Muslims but did not stop him and came to the room where the Prophet (S.A.W) was lying. Removing the sheet from the Prophet (S.A.W)’s face he lifted it looked at it carefully, then kissing the forehead he said, "Yes thou were, and sweet thou art in death. Alas my master thou art dead indeed." He then kept the head down covered it with the sheet and came to the mosque where Umar was still shouting and threatening the people.
"Be quiet Umar and cool down,"
said Abu Bakr to him. But Umar continued his threats for sometime. Abu Bakr then turned towards the Muslims gathered in the mosque and said, "Have you forgotten the verse which was revealed to the Prophet after the battle of Ohad that, "Mohammad is but a man with a mission, verily other Prophet died before him. What then if he were to die or to be killed. Would ye turn upon your heels" and do you not know the verse (of Quran) "O Mohammad thou shall die and verily they shall die". Whosoever worshippeth Mohammad let him know that Mohammad is indeed dead but whosoever worshipeth Allah let him know that Allah is immortal. He liveth and dieth not."

The people began to cry and Umar dropped down. Somebody then from behind the house of the Prophet (S.A.W) called, "O Ibnal Khattab (Umar) come out." Umar shouted back, "Go away we are busy with the Prophet's burial". The caller (who could not be identified by any historian or researcher till today) shouted, "Some very serious thing is happening, don’t lose a moment and come out soon." Umar taking Abu Bakr with him immediately went out of the house where the unidentified man informed them that the Ansars have assembled at Saqifa Bani Saeda and are contemplating to make Saad Bin Obaada as their leader. If you have any such desire then don’t lose this moment. If they decide anything today it will be difficult to challenge it afterwards. Umar and Abu Bakr immediately left for Saqifa Bani Saeda. On the way they met Abu Obaida whom they took with them. Leaving the dead body of the Prophet (S.A.W) unbathed and unburied.

Soon after the death of the Prophet (S.A.W), Ali (A.S.), Fazl Ibne Abbas and all the Hashmis began preparing for the burial of the Prophet (S.A.W). As per the wishes of the Prophet (S.A.W) Ali (A.S.) dug his grave at the very place where the Prophet (S.A.W) had breathed his last. Then Ali (A.S.) washed the body and Fazal Ibne Abbas and Osama supplied water. Ali (A.S.) then shrouded the body with his own hands and offered Namaz-e- Janaza (funeral prayer) alone. Then he came to the mosques and asked the Muslims to offer prayers in groups. First the family members of the Prophet (S.A.W) went and offered the prayers, then went immigrants followed by Ansars [Tabaqate Ibne Saad, Vol. 2, page 61].

When the prayers were over, burial arrangements started. Ansars requested Ali (A.S.) that they should also be allowed to participate in the burial. Ali (A.S.) invited Aws Bin Khooli a very respectable member of their clan to help him. Ali (A.S.) entered the grave from one end and asked Aws Bin Khooli to enter the grave from the other end. Then both of them lowered the body into the grave. Ali (A.S.) then asked Aws to go out of the grave. Ali (A.S.) then opened the shroud and turned the face of the Prophet (S.A.W) towards Qibla. Then lifting his hands he prayed, "O Allah he is Your first creation. His apparent death is not a sign of his mortality. He lifted the gloom prevailing before the creation started. He was proof of Thy glory and benevolence. He had come to us from the realm of Thy love and glory and was our guide towards that realm. His soul was the semblance of Thy Supreme Might. His body was the masterpiece of Thy creation and his mind was Thy treasure house."

Saying these prayers Ali (A.S.) came out of the grave and closed it. He then gave the grave the shape of a square and put a stone on the upperside of the grave. Then Bilal poured water on it [Mudarijun Naboova, Vol. 2, page 525]. The Prophet (S.A.W) was buried after three days [Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 6, page 4]. The Prophet (S.A.W) lived for sixty-three years. Out of which ten years were spent in Madina. In these ten years he fought about sixty five battles big and small.

The death of the Prophet (S.A.W) was a big shock to his daughter Fatema (S.A.) who was very dear to him. The tragedy became more painful when the people who called themselves heir to the Prophet (S.A.W) grabbed power and began to harass her. She was not allowed to weep on his grave and had to go to the graveyard of Jannatul Baqi to mourn her father. They complained that her cries disturb their peace. Ali (A.S.) had to erect a shed behind Jannatul Baqi where Fatema (S.A.) sat and cried for her father. This shed was called as Baitul Huzn (the house of grief) which was recently destroyed by the accursed Wahhabi government. Wailing on the grave of her father she said, "When somebody dies the feeling of sorrow and his remembrance decreases slowly day by day. But by Allah who knows no diminishing that the remembrance of my father is increasing day by day. From the day when death created distance between us, I am remembering him and consoling myself saying that death is the only way for us. One who has not died today will die tomorrow. Till these who have disappeared under the heaps of mud. That only if you could hear my cries, my weeping and my sighs. I have suffered such hardships that had they befallen on bright days they would have turned into black nights. I was safe under the shadow of Mohammad, and I feared no tyranny or tyrant. He was my strong shield. Now, I have to listen to every wretched person and I fear the wraths of tyrants. I shield myself with my chaddor against their tyrannies. And when the dove weeps sitting on the tree in the night, I too cry with it till morning. I have made friendship with sorrows and the tears that fell from my eyes are my swords. To smell the dust of Mohammad’s grave is now a must for me. If I don’t smell I will die. I am living because of its essence that I am feeling."