Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 220
220 Abu Bakr was among the audience. He had been listening to this last address of the Prophet, with fervour and anxiety–the fervour of a great believer and the anxiety of a friend and follower who could see in this address the portents of the Prophet’s death. On hearing the parable Abu Bakr could contain himself no longer. He broke down. The other Companions, who had taken a surface view of what they had been listening to, were amazed when Abu Bakr burst into tears. What could be the matter with Abu Bakr? They asked. The Prophet was relating the coming victories of Islam, yet he was weeping. ‘Umar, particularly, felt annoyed at Abu Bakr. The Prophet was giving glad news, yet this old man was crying. But only the Prophet understood what was happening. Only Abu Bakr, he thought, had understood him. Only he had perceived that the verses which promised victories also portended the Prophet’s approaching death. The Prophet went on to say, "Abu Bakr is very dear to me. If it were permissible to love anyone more than others, I would so have loved Abu Bakr. But that degree of love is only for God. O my people, all the doors which open to the mosque should be closed from today except the door of Abu Bakr. " There was no doubt that this last instruction implied a prophecy that after the Prophet Abu Bakr would be the First Khalifah. To lead the Faithful in prayers he would have to come to the mosque five times a day and, for this, he would have to keep open the door of his house into the mosque. Years afterwards, when ‘Umar was Khalifah, he asked some of those present the meaning of the verse, "When the help of God and victory come. " Evidently he remembered the circumstances in which the Prophet taught Muslims this and the verses which follow. He must have remembered also that then only Abu Bakr understood the meaning of these verses. ‘Umar was trying to test Muslims for their knowledge of these verses. They had failed to understand them at the time of their revelation: did they know the meaning now? Ibn ‘Abbas, who must have been ten or eleven years of age at the time of their revelation and who was now seventeen or eighteen, volunteered to answer. He said, "Leader of the Faithful, these verses contained a prophecy about the death of the Holy Prophet. When a Prophet’s work is done, he wishes no longer to live in the world. The verses spoke of the imminent victory of Islam. This victory had a sad side and that was the impending departure of the Prophet from this world. " ‘Umar complimented Ibn ‘Abbas and said that when the verses were revealed only Abu Bakr understood their meaning. Last Days of the Prophet At last the day drew near which every human being must face. The Prophet’s work was done. All that God had to reveal to him for the benefit of man had been revealed. The spirit of Muhammad had infused new life into his people. A new nation had arisen, a new outlook on life and new institutions; in short, a new heaven and a new earth. The foundations of a new order had been laid. The land had been