Ibn Majah

1؎: For As‘ad bin Zurarah or Sa‘d bin Zurarah, see: Tuhfat al-Ashraf and al-Isabah.

2؎: As‘ad bin Zurarah was a chief of the Ansar and a great, complete believer. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did everything possible to treat him, but no one has any power over death. Even the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not have the authority to prevent someone’s death when it came. However, the Jews, who were faithless from the beginning, found an opportunity to say that if he were a true Messenger, he would have warded off death from his companion. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) refuted them and said: “What connection does the Messenger have with this? I do not even have control over my own soul, so how could I have control over another’s soul?” And it is regrettable that the Jews did not even understand that all the previous Prophets and Messengers, when their time of death came, passed away. In fact, Harun (alayhis salam), who was the brother of Musa (alayhis salam), died during the lifetime of Musa (alayhis salam), and Musa (alayhis salam) could not save him. Can anyone prevent the command of Allah? Whether a saint or a Prophet, all are helpless servants and slaves before Allah Ta‘ala.