Chief of the Prophets — Page 226
Chapter Ten 226 went no further. In his sickness, Muḥammad sa chose to stay in ‘Ᾱ’ishah’s room with the permission of the other wives. 1 Muḥammad sa went to the mosque for Ṣalāt in his illness for seven or eight days, but because of extreme weakness, he rarely spoke. One day when he went for Ṣalāt , he had a piece of cloth tied around his head because of the pain. After the Ṣalāt , Muḥammad sa delivered a short address. He said, “Allah the Exalted gave a choice to His slave, that he could choose this world or the Hereafter. But this slave chose the life of the Hereafter. ” Abū Bakr ra , who was attentively listening suddenly burst into tears. Muḥammad sa asked that all the doors of the mosque be closed except Abū Bakr’s door. 2 The next day, when Muḥammad’s condition worsened further, he appointed Abū Bakr ra to lead the Ṣalāt. ‘Ᾱ’ishah ra said, “O Messenger of Allah! My father, Abū Bakr ra is very soft of heart, and sobs while reading the Qur’ān, so please appoint ‘Umar bin al-Khaṭṭāb ra to lead the Ṣalāt. ” Muḥammad sa said, “No, Abū Bakr ra will lead the Ṣalāt. ” One day, when he felt a little better. He lifted the curtain on the door and saw people offering Ṣalāt behind Abū Bakr ra. The sight of the Muslims offering Ṣalāt brought such joy to him that his blessed face started glowing with delight as he saw that the trust given to him by God the Exalted was well fulfilled by the Muslims. This was a Monday. People felt that Muḥammad sa was somewhat better, so they reverted to their daily life. Abū Bakr ra also went to see his family in his other house which was in the outer suburbs of Madīnah at Sunḥ. Muḥammad sa noticed a teeth cleaning twig ( miswāk ) in the hand of ‘Abdur-Raḥmān, Abū Bakr’s son. He signaled him to bring it and cleansed his mouth with it. Soon after that he passed away while repeating the words: 1 Bukhārī, Muslim and Sunan Abī Dāwūd 2 Bukhārī, Kitābuṣ-Ṣalāt (Book of Prayers)