Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 101
101 where the Prophet’s body lay, he kissed it on the forehead and said: “God will not inflict two deaths upon thee,” meaning that the death of the body was inevitable, but that God would preserve forever the Prophet’s teaching concerning the Existence and Unity of God. He then came out and asked Umar to desist while he addressed the people briefly. He recited from the Quran: “Muhammad is but a Messenger. All Messengers have passed away before him. If then he die or be slain, will you turn back on your heels? He who turns back on his heels shall not harm Allah at all. Allah will certainly reward the grateful” (3:145). And he added: “Hearken: he who worshiped Muhammad should know that Muhammad is dead, but he who worships God should remember that God is Ever-Living and does not die. ” This helped those present to balance their emotions, and to realise that though the parting was heartrending, God’s will was supreme and must be accepted in a spirit of steadfastness. The poet Hassan gave expression to his poignant grief at the death of the Prophet in Arabic verse: Thou wert the pupil of my eye; My eye is now sightless. After thee I care not who dies; I was fearful only of losing thee.