Sulaiman bin Ahmad narrated from Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Bara, Abdul Muneem bin Idris bin Sinan from his father, Wahb bin Munabbih, Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah and Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that when Surah اذا جاء نصر الله والفتح was revealed, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“O Jibreel! The call for my death has been made.” Jibreel replied: “The Hereafter is better for you than this world, and soon your Lord will grant you such that you will be pleased.” Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered Hazrat Bilal to call for prayer. Accordingly, the Muhajireen and Ansar gathered in the mosque. The Prophet (peace be upon him) led the prayer and then sat on the pulpit and delivered a sermon that saddened the hearts of the people and tears flowed from their eyes. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“What kind of a Prophet was I among you?” The people replied: “May Allah reward you with goodness. You were a good Prophet, like a kind father and a compassionate brother to us. You conveyed the messages of Allah and brought the revelation to us, and invited us to the path of your Lord with wisdom and good admonition. May Allah reward you well on our behalf as He rewards His Prophet on behalf of his Ummah.” Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Among the Muslim community, I say to you for the sake of Allah and for the right I have over you, if I have wronged anyone, take retribution here before the Day of Judgment.” But no one stood up. The Prophet (peace be upon him) repeated the call twice more, but no one stood. Then an old man among the Muslims stood up, known as Akasha, who was known for his boldness. He stood before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: “May my parents be sacrificed for you! If you had not referred us to Allah, I would not have said anything further. But we were returning from a battle with you, and on the way back, my she-camel came alongside your she-camel. I dismounted to kiss your thigh, but suddenly you picked up a stick and jabbed it into my side. I do not know whether it was intentional or unintentional.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “I seek refuge in Allah’s majesty, would the Messenger of Allah intentionally strike you?” Then he ordered Hazrat Bilal to go and bring that stick from Fatimah. Hazrat Bilal went and knocked on the door and said: “O daughter of the Messenger of Allah! Please give the stick of the Prophet (peace be upon him).” Fatimah said: “What is the need for this stick? It is neither the time for Hajj nor for Jihad.” Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah is leaving this world and now he wants to take retribution?” Fatimah said: “Will anyone take revenge from the Messenger of Allah? These are Hasan and Husain; take them and ask them to take revenge. They will not allow anyone to take revenge from the Prophet (peace be upon him).” Anyway, Bilal returned and gave the stick to the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave the stick to Akasha and said: “Take retribution.”
When Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw this, they both stood up and said: “O Akasha, we are before you; take retribution from us, not from the Prophet (peace be upon him).” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to them: “Allah has recognized your status and rank; you both go.” Then Hazrat Ali stood up and said: “We are alive and present before the Prophet, and my heart does not accept that you take retribution from the Messenger of Allah. This is my back and stomach; take retribution from me with your own hand and strike me a hundred times.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him): “O Ali, Allah has seen your intention and rank; sit down.” Then Hasan and Husain stood up and said: “O Akasha, do you not know that we are the grandsons of the Messenger of Allah? Taking revenge from us is like taking revenge from the Messenger of Allah. Take retribution from us.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The coolness of my eyes, sit down. Allah will not forget your character.” Then he said: “O Akasha! If you want to strike, then strike.” He said: “O Messenger of Allah! When you struck me with the stick, my stomach was open.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) opened his stomach. The Muslims began to cry loudly, saying: “Shall we see Akasha strike the Prophet (peace be upon him) on his stomach?” When Akasha saw the whiteness of the Prophet’s stomach, it was as if he was looking for an opportunity but could not bear it. He jumped and kissed the Prophet’s stomach and kept saying: “May my parents be sacrificed for you! Who has the courage to take revenge from you?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Then strike or forgive.” He said: “I have forgiven you in hope of your forgiveness on the Day of Judgment.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever wants to see my companion in Paradise, let him see this old man.” Then the Muslims stood up and kissed Akasha between his eyes and kept saying: “Congratulations, congratulations! You have attained a high rank and have gained the companionship of the Messenger of Allah.” On that day, the Prophet (peace be upon him) became seriously ill and remained ill for eighteen days. People kept coming to visit him.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was born on a Monday, received prophethood on a Monday, and passed away on a Monday. When Saturday came, his illness worsened. Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) came after the call to prayer and said at the door: “O Messenger of Allah! Peace be upon you. It is time for prayer. May Allah have mercy on you.” Hazrat Fatimah said: “O Bilal, the Messenger of Allah is absorbed in himself.” Bilal left. When the morning light appeared, he said: “I will not lead the prayer without permission from my master.” He came again and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Peace be upon you. It is time for prayer.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “O Bilal, come. The Messenger of Allah is absorbed in himself. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” Bilal came out holding his head and said: “O Allah, help! My hope is broken, my back is broken, my back is broken. I wish my mother had never given birth to me. I wish I had not met you today.”
Then he conveyed the Prophet’s order to Hazrat Abu Bakr to lead the prayer. Hazrat Abu Bakr, being tender-hearted, could not bear seeing the Prophet’s place empty and fainted. The Muslims cried out loudly. The Prophet (peace be upon him) heard these sounds and asked what the noise was. The answer was that these were the cries of the people over his separation. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) called Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) and, supported by them, came to the mosque and led a brief two-unit prayer. Then turning his face towards them, he said:
“O Muslims! I entrust you to Allah. You are in the hope and protection of Allah, and Allah is your guardian. O Muslims! Fear Allah and obey Him after me. I am leaving this world; my first day in the Hereafter and the last day in this world will be this.” Thus, on Monday, the illness intensified. Allah commanded the Angel of Death to come in a good form and appearance and take the soul of His beloved and friend Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Angel of Death came and stood at the door of the Prophetic house in the form of a Bedouin and called out: “Peace be upon you, O people of the Prophetic house, the house of the Messenger, and the abode of the angels.” Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) told Hazrat Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) to respond. She said: “O visitor, may Allah reward you well for your coming. The Messenger of Allah is absorbed in himself.” The Angel called out a second and third time and received the same answer. The third time, he asked for permission in such a way that caused shivers and tingling in the body. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Do you know who this is? This is the one who separates pleasures, divides groups, makes wives widows, orphans children, destroys homes, and builds graves—the Angel of Death.”
“O Angel of Death! May Allah have mercy on you, come inside.” The Angel of Death entered, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: “Have you come to meet me or to take my soul?” He said: “I have come to meet and take the soul. Allah commanded me to enter the house with your permission. If you permit, I will stay; otherwise, I will return to my Lord.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: “O Angel of Death! Where did you leave my friend Jibreel?” He said: “He is in the heavens of the world, and the angels are consoling him about you.” Immediately, Jibreel came and sat by the Prophet’s side. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “O Jibreel! This is the time to depart from this world. Tell me what is with Allah for me?” He said: “O beloved of Allah, I give you glad tidings that I saw the gates of the heavens opened, angels standing in rows with respect and fragrance, and the houris of Paradise adorned to welcome you.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “All praise is for my Lord. Jibreel, give me glad tidings.” He said: “You are the first intercessor and the first whose intercession will be accepted.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “All praise is for my Lord. Jibreel, give me glad tidings.” Jibreel asked: “My beloved, what are you asking about?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “I am asking about my concern and worry: who will recite the Qur’an after me? Who will be the guardian of the fasts of Ramadan after me? Who will take care of the pilgrims of the House? Who will be the leader and guardian of this chosen Ummah?” Jibreel said: “Be glad, O Muhammad! Allah has forbidden Paradise to all the Prophets and their Ummah before your entry and that of your Ummah.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Now my heart is at peace. O Angel of Death, come and fulfill the command.”
Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: “O Messenger of Allah! After your death, who will wash you, lead your funeral prayer, and bury you?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “O Ali! You and Ibn Abbas will wash me. Jibreel will bring the embalming ointment from Paradise. When you lay me on the bier, place me in the mosque and then leave. First, my Lord will lead my funeral prayer from His Throne, then Jibreel, then Mikail, then Israfil, then other angels in groups, and then you all will form rows and pray, but no one should go ahead.” Then Hazrat Fatimah said: “Today is the day of separation; when will I meet you again?” He said: “I will be giving water to those who come to the Pond of Kawthar; we will meet there.” She asked: “If we do not meet there?” He said: “Meet me by the Scale of Justice; I will be interceding for the Ummah there.” She asked: “If we do not meet there?” He said: “Meet me on the Bridge of Sirat; I will be calling to my Lord there: ‘O Lord! Save my Ummah ahead.'”
Then the Angel of Death approached and began to take the soul. When he reached the knees, the Prophet (peace be upon him) uttered “Ohh,” and when the soul reached the navel, he expressed great pain. Fatimah said: “Today my pain is your pain.” When the soul reached the throat, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Jibreel: “Jibreel, the bitterness of death is very severe.” Jibreel turned his face away. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: “Jibreel, do you dislike looking at me?” Jibreel said: “O Messenger of Allah! Who has the strength today to look at you while you are in the throes of death?” Then the soul departed. Hazrat Ali washed the Prophet (peace be upon him), Ibn Abbas poured water, and Jibreel was with both of them. Then the bier was placed in the mosque, and first Allah led the funeral prayer, then Jibreel, then Mikail, then Israfil, and then various groups of angels prayed the funeral prayer.
Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We heard the buzzing of people’s voices, but no one was visible.” Then a heavenly call was heard saying: “O people! May Allah have mercy on you. Enter the mosque and pray the funeral prayer for your Prophet.” Accordingly, following the Prophet’s instructions, we formed rows and prayed the funeral prayer at Jibreel’s takbir. None of us went ahead. Then in the grave, Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Abu Bakr, and Hazrat Ibn Abbas descended, and thus the Prophet (peace be upon him) was buried.
After the burial, Hazrat Fatimah said to Hazrat Ali: “Have you buried the Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Yes.” Hazrat Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “Today, how did your hearts bear to put soil on the Messenger of Allah?” Saying this, she began to cry and kept saying: “O father! Today the connection with Jibreel has been cut off. Jibreel used to bring revelation from the heavens to you.”
Hadith Research:
This is a lengthy narration.
◈ Al-Haythami says
◈ It was narrated by Al-Tabarani, in which Abdul Mun’im bin Idris is a liar and fabricator.
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