Bayhaqi 6673 — Collected chapters on the number of shroud cloths

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), narrates: When the illness of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) became severe, I wept out of grief and anxiety, and I said: He whose tears always used to flow has today himself been struck down all at once. She said: Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) came to his senses somewhat and said: "It is not as you say, O my daughter; rather, this is: 'And the stupor of death comes with the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid.' [Surah Qaf: 19] The time of death has come, and these are its swoons from which I cannot flee." Then he said: "On what day did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) pass away?" She said: I said: On Monday. Then he said: "What day is it today?" I said: Monday. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Indeed, I hope that between me and it there is only one night." She said that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) died on the night of Tuesday and was buried before morning. He had said: "In how many garments was the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) shrouded?" She said: "We shrouded him (peace and blessings be upon him) in three garments that were Suhuli and white; among them there was neither a shirt nor a turban." She said that he said: "Wash my clothes, apply saffron or (musk) to them, and shroud me in them. The living are more in need of new clothing; indeed, these are only for the muhlah."