Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, when Allah the Exalted intends mercy for a people among His servants, He takes the soul of their Prophet before them and makes that Prophet a forerunner and one who goes ahead for those people. But when He intends to destroy a people, He punishes them while their Prophet is still alive and destroys them, thus bringing coolness to the eyes of that Prophet. This happens when those people cause harm to the Prophet and disobey his commands."