Life of Muhammad — Page 189
sa 189 now? Ibni ‘ Ab ba s ra , 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 sa. When a Prophet's sa 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 sa from this world. " ‘ Umar ra complimented Ibn ‘ Abb a s ra and said that when the verses were revealed only Ab u Bakr ra understood their meaning. LAST DAYS OF THE PROPHET sa At last the day drew near which every human being must face. The Prophet's sa work was done. All that God had to reveal to him for the benefit of man had been revealed. The spirit of Muhammad sa 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 ploughed and watered and the seed scattered for a new harvest. And now the harvest itself had begun to show. It was not, however, for him to reap it. It was for him only to plough, to sow and to water. He came as a labourer, remained a labourer and was now due to depart as a labourer. He found his reward not in the things of this world but in the pleasure and the approval of his God, his Maker and Master. When the time came for reaping the harvest, he preferred to go to Him, leaving others to reap. The Holy Prophet sa fell ill. For some days he continued to visit the mosque and lead the prayers. Then he became too weak to do this. The Companions ra were so used to his daily company that they could hardly believe he would die. But he had been telling them of his death again and again. One day, touching