Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 435
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 435 The Holy Prophet then sat down in the courtyard of the Mosque near the door of Aisha’s apartment and addressed the people who, overjoyed to find him again amongst them, crowded round. He spoke with emotion, and with a voice still so powerful as to reach be yond the outer doors of the Mosque. He inquired whether anyone had any claim against him. One or two who preferred a trifling claim were immediately compensated. The Holy Prophet proceeded: ‘I have not made lawful anything excepting that which God has made lawful; nor have I prohibited aught but that which God in His Book hath prohibited. ’ Usama coming up to bid farewell, he said to him, ‘Go forward with the army; and the blessings of the Lord be with ye. ’ Then turning to the women who sat close by, he admo nished them: ‘O Fatima, my daughter, and thou Safiya, my aunt, work ye that which shall gain acceptance for you with the Lord; for I verily have no power with Him to save you in anywise. ’ He then rose and was helped back into Aisha’s chamber. Exhausted, he lay down upon the pallet stretched upon the floor and Aisha, seeing him very weak, raised his head from the pillow and, as she sat by him on the ground, laid it tenderly on her bosom. His strength now rapidly sank, and after a little he repea ted in a whisper, ‘To the blessed Companionship On High; to the blessed Companionship on High. ’ He stretched himself gently, and then all was still. The Holy Prophet had breathed his last. The news of his death, spreading rapidly over Medina, soon reached Abu Bakr in the suburb of the Sunh. He immediately mounted his horse and rode back to the Mosque in haste.