This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hafiz Mubashir Hussain Lahori's book Signs of the Day of Judgment in the Light of Authentic Ahadith.
Signs of the Day of Judgment: The Death of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
عن عوف بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال أتيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو في خدر له فقلت أدخل فقال أدخل قلت أكلي قال كلك فلما جلست قال أمسك ستا تكون قبل الساعة أولهن وفاة نبيكم قال فبكيت
Hazrat Auf bin Malik (RA) narrates that I went to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) while he was in his tent. I sought permission and sat inside, then the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Remember six signs before the Day of Judgment, the first of which is the death of your Prophet."
Reference: (Bukhari: Book of Jizya and Truce: Chapter on What to Beware of Fate (3176) Abu Dawood (5000) Ibn Majah (4091) Hakim (466/4) Sharh al-Sunnah (430/7)
عن واثلة بن الأسقع رضي الله عنه يقول خرج علينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال أتزعمون أني من آخركم وفاة ألا إني من أولكم وفاة وتتبعوني أفنادا يهلك بعضكم بعضا
Wathilah bin Asqa (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) went out towards us and said: "Do you think that I will be the last among you to die? Beware! I will die before you, then you will come after me in groups while you will kill one another."
Reference: (Ahmad: 149/4)
Benefits:
1. The death of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a sign of the Day of Judgment.
2. The world is transient, and like other humans, the death of the Prophets is also true, as Allah Almighty says:
"(O Prophet!) We have not given anyone before you eternal life. When you die, will they live forever? (No) Every soul shall taste death."
Reference: (Al-Anbiya: 34-35)
3. The Companions also understood that the Holy Prophet ﷺ would pass away, but some of them thought that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would be the last to die after them. However, the Holy Prophet ﷺ refuted this by saying that he would die before them.
4. The world is a prison and a house of trial, through which the door of death must be knocked, and every human and jinn must inevitably pass through it.
5. Hazrat Aisha (RA) narrates that when the Holy Prophet ﷺ passed away, Abu Bakr (RA) came, uncovered the blessed face of the Prophet ﷺ, bowed down, kissed it, and wept, saying: "May my parents be sacrificed for you, O Prophet of Allah! Allah will not cause you to die twice except for the death that was destined for you." Then, when he came out, Hazrat Umar (RA) was speaking to the people (denying the death of the Prophet ﷺ). Abu Bakr (RA) said, "Sit down," but Umar (RA) did not listen. Then he said again, "Sit down," but Umar (RA) still did not listen. Finally, Abu Bakr (RA) recited the Shahada (sermon), and all the people turned their attention to him and left Umar (RA).
He said: "After this! If any of you worshipped Muhammad ﷺ, then you should know that Muhammad ﷺ has passed away, and if anyone worships Allah, then Allah is Ever-Living and never dies."
Allah Almighty says:
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا ۗ وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ
"Muhammad ﷺ is only the Messenger of Allah; many Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels? And whoever turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all."
Reference: (Al-Imran: 144)
By the oath of Allah, it seemed as if before Abu Bakr (RA) recited this verse, people did not even know that this verse was revealed in the Holy Quran. Now all the Companions learned this verse from him, and it was on everyone's tongue.
In one narration, Umar (RA) says: "By Allah! When I heard these verses, my legs gave way, and I fell to the ground right there."
Reference: (Bukhari: Book of Funerals: Chapter on Visiting the Dead after Death if Placed in Shrouds (4454, 1242))
