A Present to Kings — Page 61
( 61 ). Evidence of the exaltation of the faithful is also to be found in the Hadis, reported by the Khalifa Omar يقول الله من تواضع لي هكذا رفعته هكذا. It was also upon this question of the death of all the prophets that the first concensus of the holy companions took place and the circumstances were as follows:-When the Holy. Prophet (peace be on him) expired, it happened that Hazrat. Omar was still possessed by the idea that he was alive and would soon make his appearance. He was so firmly fixed in this notion that he was ready to strike off the head of any one who would say to the contrary. At this time Hazrat Abu. Bakar Siddique (may God be pleased with him) came along and read to the assembled companions و ما محمد ا لا رسول قد خلت من قبله الرسل. On hearing which, Hazrat Omar says, that his feet began to shake and he was so overcome with grief that he fell on the ground, and the Holy Companions report that they felt as if the verse had just been revealed to them for the first time. and throughout the day they walked the streets reciting the same. Now, if any of the prophets had still been living the reasoning that since all the previous Nabis had been overtaken by death there was no reason why the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) should be an exception, would have been. absurd. Hazrat Omar might have objected saying that since Jesus Christ (peace on him) was still alive dwelling in the skies, why could not the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him) still continue to live. But the general silence of the companions is a proof of the fact that it was their unanimous opinion that Jesus Christ (peace be on him) was among the dead. . Imam Bukhari (God's mercy be on him) reports the words of Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may God be pleased with him) that meant (cause you to die). Similarly it was also the opinion of Imam Malek (God's mercy be on him) that Jesus