Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 100
100 forth. He reminded the Prophet of an inconvenience, even though slight, which he had once suffered at the Prophet’s hands. It was merely that the Prophet’s elbow had by chance once grazed his back. “Come then,” the Prophet offered, “and stick your elbow into my back. ” “But, oh Messenger of Allah, my back was bare while yours is covered. ” The Prophet offered to bare his back, and did so. The man approached, and with great tenderness kissed the Prophet’s back. It was his way of demonstrating his deep love for the Prophet. The end approached. The Prophet expressed great anxiety lest after his death his followers might be tempted to have recourse to practices which might assign him a position above that of a human being, as had been done in the case of some other prophets by their followers. He impressed repeatedly upon those who visited him that he was but a human being to whom God had vouchsafed revelation for the guidance of mankind. He breathed his last with the words: “To the Companion on High, to the Companion on High. ” The Prophet’s death (A. D. 632) struck the Muslims as a fearful calamity, and many of his intimate companions were crushed with grief. Umar drew his sword and said he would cut off the head of any who dared to assert that the Prophet was dead; he could not die. Abu Bakr arrived. Entering the chamber