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THE JOURNEY TO ALLAH, THE SUBLIME
SYMTOMPS OF FAREWELL:
When the Call to Islam grew complete and the new faith dominated the whole situation. The
Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) started to develop certain symptoms that bespoke of leave-
taking. They could be perceived through his statements and deeds:
1. In Ramadan in the tenth year of Al-Hijra he secluded himself for twenty days in contrast to
ten, previously.
2. The archangel Gabriel reviewed the Qur’ân twice with him.
3. His words in the Farewell Pilgrimage (i.e.
Al-Wida‘
):
4. “I do not know whether I will ever meet you at this place once again after this current year.”
5. 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.
6. On the early days of Safar in the eleventh year of Al-Hijra, the Prophet (Peace be upon him)
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:
7. “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.”
8. 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 DISEAS:
On Monday the twenty-ninth of Safar in the e leventh 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 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) a nd 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 their Prophets’
tombs places of worship.”
Then he said:
·
“Do not make my tomb a worshipped idol.”
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.”
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