The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 206
206 Prophetsa, of the verse: Essence of Islam-III مَا مُحَمَّدُ إِلَّا رَسُولُ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ 177 shows that he believed Jesus (peace be on him) to be dead. If this verse is to be construed to mean that some Prophets had died before the advent of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and some were still living, then it would not support the reasoning of Hadrat Abu Bakra, as it would not be an authority for the death of all previous Messengers. Yet none of the companions of the Holy Prophets, who were all present on the occasion, took exception to the reasoning of Hadrat Abū Bakra, which shows that it was supported by the consensus of the companions, which is held as binding and can never err. One of the many favours that Hadrat Abū Bakra bestowed upon the Muslims is that during his rightful Khilafat he opened the door of truth and accuracy to deliver them from the error that was to arise in later times and erected such a strong barrier against the flood of misguidance as cannot be demolished by the divines of this age even if they were assisted by all the Jinns. So we pray that God Almighty may shower thousands of bless- ings on the soul of Hadrat Abū Bakra who conclusively settled, on the basis of pure Divine revelation, that Jesus had died. [Tiryāq-ul-Qulüb, Rūķānī Khazā'in, vol. 15, pp. 461-462 footnote] The Holy Qur'an has categorically said that Jesus (peace be on him) had died. The verse: فَلَمَّا تَوَفَيْتَنِي 178 177 'Muhammad is only a Messenger; Verily, all Messengers have passed away before him. '-Al-e-'Imran, 3:145 [Publisher] 178 When Thou didst cause me to die. Al-Ma'idah, 5:118 [Publisher]