Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 441
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 441 dieth, there also should he be buried. ’ He therefore gave command that the grave should be dug where the body was still lying within the chamber of Aisha. It remained there from the afternoon of Monday to the same hour on the following day. On Tuesday, it was visited by all inhabitants of the city. They entered in companies by the door, which opened into the Mosque; and, after gazing once more on the countenance of the Holy Prophet and praying over his remains, retired by the opposite entrance. The room was crowded to the utmost at the time when Abu Bakr and Umar entered together. They prayed as follows ‘Peace be upon thee, O Prophet of God; and mercy from the Lord and His blessing. We bear testimony that the Prophet of God has delivered the Message revealed to him; has fought in the ways of the Lord until God brought forth his religion unto victory; has fulfilled His words, commanding that He alone in His unity is to be worshipped; has drawn us to himself, and been kind and tenderhearted towards the believer s; has sought no recompense for delivering to us the Faith, neither has he sold it for a price at any time. ’ All the people said, ‘Amen. ’ When the men departed, the women followed in company, and then even the children crowded round for a last look on the Holy Prophet’s face. In the evening, the final rites were performed. A red mantle, worn by him, was first spread as a soft covering at the bottom of the grave; then the body was lowered into its last resting - place by the same loving hands that had washed a nd laid it out. The vault was built over with unbaked bricks, and the grave filled up. Aisha continued to live in her chamber thus honoured as the Holy Prophet’s cemetery. She occupied a room adjoining that