The Final Days

The water from those seven water-skins was begun to be poured over the Noble Messenger ﷺ until he himself said:

“That is enough.”

During these final days of his blessed life, the Noble Messenger ﷺ would say:

“O ‘Aishah! I now feel the pain caused by the poison that was given to me at Khaybar.”

This means that during his final days, the effect of that poison appeared again, and in this way, the departure of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ attained the rank of martyrdom.

After having water poured over himself, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out of his blessed chamber. At that time as well, a bandage was wrapped around his blessed head.

First of all, he ﷺ supplicated for the martyrs of Uhud. He continued supplicating for them for a long time.

Then he ﷺ said:

“Allah Almighty placed the world on one side before one of His servants, and on the other side He placed everything that is with Allah Almighty. Then He gave that servant the choice to choose either of the two. That servant chose for himself what is with Allah Almighty.”

He therefore began to weep and said:

“O Messenger of Allah! We will sacrifice our lives and our children for you.”

Seeing him weeping, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Abu Bakr, compose yourself.”

Then he ﷺ addressed the people and said:

“People! Of all people, the one whose favor upon me is greatest, in terms of companionship and spending his wealth, is Abu Bakr.”

This Hadith is authentic, and more than ten Companions have narrated it.

Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Close all the doors that open into the mosque, except the door of Abu Bakr, because I see light through this door.

In terms of companionship and friendship, I do not consider anyone superior to Abu Bakr.”

According to another narration:

“Abu Bakr is my companion and my comforter, so close every window that opens into the mosque except the window of Abu Bakr.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said regarding Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه:

“Do not cause me pain regarding my companion Abu Bakr.”

There is also this blessed statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ concerning Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه:

“When people called me a liar, Abu Bakr declared me truthful.

When people withheld their wealth, Abu Bakr spent his wealth generously for me.

When people left me without support, Abu Bakr cared for me and consoled me.”

Hazrat ‘Abbas رضي الله عنه said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:

“O Messenger of Allah! Why is it that you have allowed Abu Bakr’s door to remain open while you have ordered the doors of everyone else to be closed?”

In response, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“O ‘Abbas! I neither had them opened by my own command nor had them closed by my own command.”

The meaning was that Allah Almighty had commanded this to be done.

After having the water from seven water-skins poured over himself, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt some relief.

He then addressed the Muhajirun and said:

“O Muhajirun! Treat the Ansar well. Treat them with goodness, because these people were my place of refuge. I found a place of residence among them.

Therefore, in return for their good deeds, treat them well and overlook their shortcomings.”

After saying this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came down from the pulpit.

During his final illness, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه to lead the prayer.

It was the ‘Isha prayer.

When Bilal رضي الله عنه called the Adhan, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Bring some water for me in a vessel.”

He ﷺ performed Wudu and then intended to go to the mosque, but he became unconscious.

After some time, he regained consciousness and asked:

“Have the people offered the prayer?”

The Companions replied:

“The people are waiting for you.”

At that time, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ again ordered that water be brought. He performed Wudu and again intended to go to the mosque, but he again became unconscious.

After regaining consciousness, he ﷺ asked:

“Have the people offered the prayer?”

The Companions again replied:

“No, the people are waiting for you.”

Once again, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed Wudu and intended to go for the prayer, but he became unconscious.

When he regained consciousness, he ﷺ asked the same question again, and he was given the same answer.

Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a command to Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه that he should lead the Muslims in prayer.

When Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه received this command, he said to Hazrat ‘Umar al-Faruq رضي الله عنه:

“O ‘Umar, you lead the prayer.”

Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه replied:

“You are more deserving of it.”

Eventually, Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه led the prayer.

After this, Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه continued leading the prayers until the death of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

During the blessed lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه led seventeen prayers in this manner.

During this period, in one morning prayer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ joined the prayer behind him in the second rak‘ah and later completed his first rak‘ah.

For this prayer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to the mosque with the support of two men.

One of these two was Hazrat ‘Abbas رضي الله عنه.

Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه was leading the prayer at that time.

When he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ approaching, he immediately began moving backward so that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ could lead the prayer.

However, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured to him not to move backward.

Then he ﷺ instructed his two companions, and they seated him ﷺ on the left side of Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه.

Thus, Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه performed the prayer standing, and all the other Companions behind him also performed the prayer standing, while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ completed the prayer while sitting.

Imam Tirmidhi رحمه الله has written that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed behind Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه three times.

There is also a narration regarding this that Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه had begun to lead the prayer on the first occasion.

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard his voice, he said:

“No… no… no… Abu Bakr should lead the prayer.”

Upon hearing this statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه stepped back, and Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه stepped forward and led the prayer.

Then, on the final day, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ lifted his blessed head from behind the curtain and looked into the mosque.

The people were offering the prayer behind Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه.

Seeing this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled.

It was Monday—the very day on which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away.

After smiling and looking at the Companions, he ﷺ lowered the curtain.

At that time, the people felt that the condition of the Noble Messenger ﷺ was now much better than before and that his suffering had decreased.

Therefore, the Companions who were present around him returned to their homes.

Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه also went to a village called Sukh, near Madinah al-Munawwarah, where the house of his other respected wife was located.

This place was about one or one and a half miles from Madinah al-Munawwarah.

Before leaving, Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه had sought permission from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

The reason was that on that morning, there was great freshness and brightness on the blessed face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. His blessed face was radiant.

Therefore, the people thought that his condition had improved.

However, near midday, the fever of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became intense.

As soon as the news spread, all the blessed wives again came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

At that time, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was repeatedly losing consciousness.

Whenever he regained consciousness, he would say:

“I am going to the presence of my Exalted Companion.”