Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that when the blessed soul of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken, at that time Hazrat Abu Bakr was in a corner of Madinah. Then he came and entered upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was covered. He placed his mouth on the forehead of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), kissed him, and began to weep, saying: "May my parents be sacrificed for you. You were fragrant in life and are fragrant in death." Then when Hazrat Abu Bakr left from there, he passed by Umar bin Khattab, who was saying: "The Messenger of Allah has not died, and he will not die until Allah causes the hypocrites to die and until Allah disgraces the hypocrites." The narrator says: Due to the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the hypocrites felt joy, so they raised their heads. Hazrat Abu Bakr said: "O man! Stop (be quiet), for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has passed away. Have you not heard the saying of Allah: {إِنَّک مَیِّتٌ ، وَإِنَّہُمْ مَیِّتُونَ } and the command of Allah: { وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِنْ قَبْلِکَ الْخُلْدَ ، أَفَإِنْ مِتَّ فَہُمُ الْخَالِدُونَ }." Then Hazrat Abu Bakr came to the pulpit and ascended it. He praised and glorified Allah and then said: "O people! If Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was your god whom you worshipped, then know for certain that your god Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) has passed away. And if your God is the One who is in the heavens, then believe that your God has not died." Then Hazrat Abu Bakr recited this verse: { وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلاَّ رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِہِ الرُّسُلُ ، أَفَإِنْ مَاتَ ، أَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَی أَعْقَابِکُمْ } until he completed the verse. Then he descended, and (now) the Muslims felt joy at these words and were greatly pleased, while the hypocrites were afflicted with calamity. Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "By Him in whose hand is my soul, it seemed as if there were veils over our faces which were then removed."

Hazrat Ibn Jurayj narrates from his father that the companions were uncertain about the burial place of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): where should he be buried? Hazrat Abu Bakr said: I heard the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say, "A prophet is not moved from his place, and he is buried where he passes away." Thus, the companions moved the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) bed to one side, and his grave was dug at the place of his bed.

It is narrated from Hazrat Jarir that I was in Yemen when I met two men from among the people of Yemen whose names were Dhu’l-Kila‘ and Dhu ‘Amr. So I began to tell them about the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and both of them said, “If what you are saying is true, then your companion (the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him) completed his lifespan three days ago.” So I set out, and they also set out, until when we had covered some distance, an army was coming towards us from the direction of Madinah. We asked them, and they replied, “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, has passed away, and Hazrat Abu Bakr has been appointed as the Caliph. All the people are committed to righteousness.” The narrator says: Then both of them said to me, “Inform your companion (Hazrat Abu Bakr) that we came, and perhaps we will return, Insha’Allah.” And then both of them went towards Yemen. The narrator says: I informed Hazrat Abu Bakr of what they had said, so he said, “Why did you not bring them with you?!” The narrator says: After that, Dhu ‘Amr said to me, “O Jarir! You have a certain honor and nobility over me, and I will tell you something. You, the people of Arabia, will always remain in a state of goodness as long as your condition is such that when your leader passes away, you appoint another as leader. But when the sword comes, then your leaders will be kings, and their anger will be like the anger of kings, and their pleasure will be like the pleasure of kings.”

It is narrated from Hazrat Ata that he says: We have received this information that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, people would enter (the chamber) to offer prayer over him, and then leave. Then, in the same way, other people would go inside. The narrator says: I asked Hazrat Ata, "Did they offer prayer and supplicate?" Ata said, "They offered prayer and sought forgiveness."

Hazrat Ja'far narrates from his father that no imam led the funeral prayer of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, people would enter (the chamber) in groups, offer the funeral prayer over the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and then leave.

It is narrated from Hazrat Tariq bin Shihab that when the blessed soul of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken, Umm Ayman began to weep. She was asked, "O Umm Ayman! Why are you weeping?" She replied, "I am weeping because the heavenly revelations (now) have been cut off from us."

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, Hazrat Abu Bakr said to Hazrat Umar or Hazrat Umar said to Hazrat Abu Bakr, "Let us go to Umm Ayman so that we may visit her." So we went to her, and she began to weep. The two Shaykhs said to Umm Ayman, "O Umm Ayman! What is with Allah for His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is better." Upon this, Umm Ayman said, "Indeed, I also know that what is with Allah is better for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), but I am weeping because the news from the heavens has been cut off from us." Thus, Umm Ayman made Abu Bakr and Umar weep as well, so both of them began to weep with her.

Hazrat Ja'far narrates from his father that when the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, Hazrat Safiyyah came out and, gesturing with her garment, was saying: "Indeed, after you (peace and blessings be upon him), there will be many matters and severe situations. If you had seen them, there would not have been so many hardships."

It is narrated from Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib that among all the people, those who were entrusted with burying the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and lowering him into the grave were four persons: Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), Hazrat Abbas, Hazrat Fadl, and the freed slave of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Salih. Thus, these people made a niche (lahd) for him and placed unbaked bricks over him.

It is narrated from Hazrat Aamir that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), Hazrat Fadl, and Hazrat Usama entered the grave of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Hazrat Sha’bi says: Marhab or Ibn Abi Marhab told me that Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf also entered the grave with them.

It is narrated from Hazrat Sha'bi that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was given the ritual bath by Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), Hazrat Fadl, and Hazrat Usama. The narrator says: Ibn Abi Marhab told me that Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Awf also entered the grave with them. The narrator says: Hazrat Sha'bi states: The guardians of the deceased are his own family. In the hadith of Abu Idris, narrated from Ibn Abi Khalid, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: May my parents be sacrificed for you; you were fragrant in life and fragrant after death.

It is narrated from Hazrat Muhammad bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was given a bath in a shirt. Thus, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was entrusted with the lower part of the shirt, and Hazrat Fadl was entrusted with the part from the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) chest to his armpit and side. Hazrat Abbas was pouring water. The narrator says: Hazrat Fadl was saying, “I feel as if something is descending upon me.” The narrator says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was given a bath with water from the well of Sa’d bin Khaythamah, located in Quba. This is the same well which is called Bir-e-Rais. The narrator says: By Allah! I myself have drunk water from this well and have also bathed with it.

It is narrated from Hazrat Saeed bin Al-Musayyib that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) sought from the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) what is usually sought from the deceased, but he found nothing. So he said, "May my parents be sacrificed for you! You were fragrant in life and you are fragrant after death as well."

Hazrat Ja'far narrates from his father that when the companions intended to bathe the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, his blessed body was covered with a shirt. They wanted to remove this shirt, but they heard a voice from the room: Do not remove the shirt.

It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that Hazrat Abu Bakr kissed the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) after his passing.

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, people began to weep. Upon this, Hazrat Umar stood up in the mosque to deliver a sermon and said: I do not want to hear about any man who thinks that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has passed away. Rather, his Lord has sent him in the same state as He sent Musa. Allah Almighty sent a message to Musa, so he stayed away from his people for forty days. By God! I have firm hope that the hands and feet of those people will be cut off who think that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has died.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Sa'id Khudri that one day the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came out to us (from his blessed chamber) when, during his illness of death, he had tied his blessed head with a bandage. Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, moved towards the pulpit until he sat upon it. Then he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "By the One in Whose hand is my soul! Surely, at this moment I am standing at the Pond of Kawthar." Then he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, a servant was presented with the world and its adornment, but he chose the Hereafter." No one understood this except Hazrat Abu Bakr. So his eyes overflowed and he began to weep. And Hazrat Abu Bakr said: "May my parents be sacrificed for you. Rather, we would sacrifice our fathers, mothers, lives, and wealth for you." The narrator says: Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, came down. After that, he, peace and blessings be upon him, never sat on the pulpit again until his death.

Hazrat Ja'far narrates from his father that when the health of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) became heavy, he (peace and blessings be upon him) asked, "Where will I be tomorrow?" The people said: At such-and-such wife's house. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked again, "Where will I be after that?" The people said: At such-and-such wife's house. Upon this, the pure wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) understood that his intention was towards Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). So all the wives said, "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! We have gifted our turns to our sister Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)."

Hazrat Ubaydullah bin Abdullah bin Utbah narrates that I went to Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and said, "Please tell me about the illness of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." She said, "Yes (I will tell you). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fell ill, and his condition became heavy, and he fell unconscious." Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "Then when he regained consciousness, he said, 'Put water for me in a tub.' So we fulfilled this command." Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "Then he performed ghusl (ritual bath), and when he tried to get up, he fell unconscious again." Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "Then when he regained consciousness, he said, 'Put water for me in a tub.' Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "We fulfilled this command." She says: "Then he performed ghusl, and when he tried to get up, he fell unconscious again. Then when he regained consciousness, he asked, 'Have the people performed the prayer?' We replied, 'No, O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! The people are waiting for you.'" Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "The people were waiting attentively and eagerly for you so that you could lead them in the Isha prayer."

2. Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "He performed ghusl, and when he wanted to get up, he fell unconscious again. Then when he regained consciousness, he asked, 'Have the people performed the prayer?' I replied, 'No!' So he sent a message to Abu Bakr that he should lead the people in prayer." Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "A messenger came to Abu Bakr and said, 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has commanded you to lead the people in prayer.' Abu Bakr said, 'O Umar! Lead the people in prayer.' Umar said, 'You are more deserving of it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has sent the messenger to you.' Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "So Abu Bakr led the people in prayer during those days."

3. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) felt some lightness in himself, so he came out for the Zuhr prayer between Abbas and another man. He said to them, 'Seat me to the right of Abu Bakr.' When Abu Bakr heard this, he sensed the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and began to move back. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed him to remain in his place. Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "So those two companions seated him to the right of Abu Bakr. Thus, Abu Bakr began to pray following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the rest of the people prayed following Abu Bakr."

4. The narrator says: "Then I went to Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and said, 'Shall I not present to you the hadith that Umm Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated to me?' He said, 'Go ahead.' So I presented this hadith to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), and he did not deny any part of it except he said, 'Did she tell you who the other man was?' The narrator says: 'I replied, No!' He said: 'The other man was Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).'"

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, the orator of the Ansar stood up and one of them began to say: O group of Muhajireen! Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed any one of you as a just (leader), he would also appoint one man from among us with him. Therefore, our opinion is that this matter (caliphate) should also be entrusted to two men, one from you and one from us. The narrator says: Thus, many orators from among the Ansar continuously said this. Upon this, Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit stood up and said: Surely, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was from among the Muhajireen. Therefore, the Imam will also be from among the Muhajireen. And we will be helpers of this Imam just as we were helpers of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then Hazrat Abu Bakr stood up and said: O group of Ansar! May Allah give you the best reward and keep your speaker steadfast. Then he said: By Allah! If you had decided anything other than this, we would not have reconciled with you.

Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, he was placed on a bier. People would enter the chamber of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in groups and offer funeral prayer over him and then leave, but no one led them in prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away on Monday and was buried on Tuesday.