Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 421
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 421 pilgrim’s garb, the Ihram. The Holy Prophet mounted Qaswa and pronounced Talbeeh: Here am I, O Allah, here am I; Here am I. Thou hast no associate, here am I; All praise and bounty are Thine, and Thine the Kingdom; Thou hast no associate. When his mount stood up and stepped out he repeated the Talbeeh, and again when it negotiated the first rise in the track, and thereafter on every change of position and posture, throughout; the multitude in his company following his example. Thus has it s ince been down the ages, and thus will it continue till the end of time. As indicated in the opening words of his address on the Day of Arafat, the Holy Prophet knew that this was to be his only pilgrimage, and this consciousness added to his eagerness to leave no part of his task undone. A Muslim’s knowledge that the Holy Prop het knew that what he esteemed as his greatest and final pilgrimage was not to be long delayed makes the memory of all that he did and said in the course of this pilgrimage poignant and precious. On the tenth day of his journey the Holy Prophet reached Saif, an easy stage from Mecca; there he rested for the night, and on the morning, having bathed and mounted Qaswa, proceeded towards Mecca. He entered the upper suburbs by the same route, which he h ad taken two years before and, passing down the main street, approached the Ka’aba. As he passed through the Bani Shaiba Gate, with the Holy House full in view, he raised his hands to heaven, and invoked a blessing on it: ‘O Lord, add unto this