Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 223
223 Prophet has died will himself die at ‘Umar’s hands. " The Companions felt braced and they half-believed what ‘Umar said. The Prophet could not die. There must have been a mistake. In the meantime some Companions went in search of Abu Bakr, found him and told him what had happened. Abu Bakr made straight for the mosque at Medina and speaking not a word to anyone, entered Ayesha’s room and asked her, "Has the Prophet died?" "Yes", replied Ayesha. Then he went straight to where the Prophet’s body was lying, uncovered the face, bent down and kissed the forehead. Tears laden with love and grief fell from his eyes and he said, "God is our witness. Death will not come upon you twice over. " It was a sentence full of meaning. It was Abu Bakr’s reply to what ‘Umar had been saying out of his mad grief. The Prophet had died once. That was his physical death—the death everyone must die. But he was not to have a second death. There was to be no spiritual death—no death to the beliefs which he had established in his followers and for the establishment of which he had taken such pains. One of those beliefs—one of the more important beliefs—he had taught was that even Prophets were human and even they must die. Muslims were not going to forget this so soon after the Prophet’s own death. Having said this great sentence over the dead body of the Prophet, Abu Bakr came out and, piercing through the lines of the Faithful, advanced silently to the pulpit. As he stood, ‘Umar stood by him, his sword drawn as before, determined that if Abu Bakr said the Prophet had died Abu Bakr must lose his head. As Abu Bakr started to speak, ‘Umar pulled at his shirt, wanting to stop him from speaking but Abu Bakr snatched back his shirt and refused to stop. He then recited the verse of the Quran: And Muhammad is only a Messenger. Verily, all Messengers have passed away before him. If then he die or be slain, will you turn back on your heels? 246 That is to say, Muhammad was a man with a Message from God. There had been other men with Messages from God, and all of them had died. If Muhammad should die, would they turn back upon everything which they had been taught and which they had learnt? This verse was revealed at the time of Uhud. Rumour had then gone round that the Prophet had been killed by the enemy. Many Muslims lost heart and withdrew from the battle. The verse came from heaven to brace them. It had the same effect on this occasion. Having recited the verse, Abu Bakr added to it a word of his own. He said, "Those amongst you who worship God, let them know that God is still alive, and will ever remain alive. But those amongst you who worshipped Muhammad, let them know it from me that Muhammad is dead. " The Companions recovered their balance on hearing this timely speech. ‘Umar himself was changed when he heard Abu Bakr recite the verse quoted above. He began to return to his senses, and to recover his lost judgement. By the time Abu Bakr had finished the recitation of the verse ‘Umar’s spiritual eye was fully opened. He understood that the Prophet had