Invitation to Ahmadiyyat — Page 25
25 to improve). The messenger had just set off when he saw Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra and could not restrain his tears. Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra understood what had happened and asked, ‘Has the Prophet s as passed away?’ The messenger said, ‘‘Umar ra says that he will sever the head of anyone who says that the Prophet is dead. ’ Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra proceeded to the Holy Prophet’s house and lifted the sheet that covered his blessed body and confirmed that he had indeed passed away. The sorrow of separation from his beloved brought tears to his eyes. He bent down and kissed the Prophet’s brow and said: By God, He will not make you suffer two deaths. With your death, the world has suffered a loss that it did not suffer with the death of any other Prophet. You need no praises, and mourning cannot lessen the pangs of separa - tion from you. If it was in our power to avert your death, we would all willingly have given our lives to do so. He then replaced the sheet and proceeded to the place where Hadrat ‘Umar ra was speaking to the Companions. Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra asked Hadrat ‘Umar ra to stop for a moment but he did not listen to him and continued talking. Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra then moved to one side and started addressing the Companions and told them that the Holy Prophet s as had passed away. Hearing this, the Companions started to gather around Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra. Finally, Hadrat ‘Umar ra was compelled to stop and to listen to Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra who recited the verses: