Life of Muhammad — Page 193
sa 193 and told him what had happened. Ab u Bakr ra made straight for the mosque at Medina and speaking not a word to anyone, entered ‘ A ’ isha's ra room and asked her, "Has the Prophet sa died?" "Yes," replied ‘ A ’isha ra. Then he went straight to where the Prophet's sa body was lying, uncovered the face, bent down and kissed the forehead. Tears laden with love and grief fell from his eyes and he said, "God is our witness. Death will not come upon you twice over. " It was a sentence full of meaning. It was Ab u Bakr ra 's reply to what ‘ Umar ra had been saying out of his mad grief. The Prophet sa had died once. That was his physical death — the death everyone must die. But he was not to have a second death. There was to be no spiritual death — no death to the beliefs which he had established in his followers and for the establishment of which he had taken such pains. One of those beliefs — one of the more important beliefs — he had taught was that even Prophets as were human and even they must die. Muslims were not going to forget this so soon after the Prophet sa 's own death. Having said this great sentence over the dead body of the Prophet sa , Ab u Bakr ra came out and, piercing through the lines of the Faithful, advanced silently to the pulpit. As he stood, ‘ Umar ra stood by him, his sword drawn as before, determined that if Ab u Bakr ra said the Prophet sa had died Ab u Bakr ra must lose his head. As Ab u Bakr ra started to speak, ‘ Umar ra pulled at his shirt, wanting to stop him from speaking but Ab u Bakr ra snatched back his shirt and refused to stop. He then recited the verse of the Qur’an : And Muhammad sa is only a Messenger. Verily, all Messengers have passed away before him. If then he die or be slain, will you turn back on your heels? (3: 145). That is to say, Muhammad sa was a man with a Message from God. There had been other men with Messages from God, and all of them had died. If Muhammad sa should die, would they turn back upon