The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page cclxx
GENERAL INTRODUCTION drew his sword and threatened to kill those who should say the Prophet had died. There was much the Prophet had yet to do, so the Prophet could not die. True, his soul had departed from his body, but it had gone only to meet its Maker. Just as Moses had gone for a time to meet his Maker only to return, the Prophet must return to do what had been left undone. There were the hypocrites, for instance, with whom they had yet to deal. 'Umar walked about sword in hand almost as a mad man. As he walked he said: "Whosoever says the Prophet has died will himself die at ‘Umar's hands. " The Companions felt braced and they half-believed what ‘Umar said. The Prophet could not die. There must have been a mistake. In the meantime some Companions went in search of Abu Bakr, found him and told him what had happened. Abu Bakr made straight for the mosque at Medina and speaking not a word to anyone, entered 'A'ishah's room and asked her, "Has the Prophet died?" "Yes", replied 'Ã'ishah. Then he went straight to where the Prophet's 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 Abū Bakr's reply to what 'Umar had been saying out of his mad grief. The Prophet 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 were human and even they must die. Muslims were not going to forget this so soon after the Prophet's own death. Having said this great sentence over the dead body of the Prophet, Abu Bakr came out and, piercing through the lines of the Faithful, advanced silently to the pulpit. As he stood, 'Umar stood by him, his sword drawn as before, determined that if Abu Bakr said the Prophet had died Abu Bakr must lose his head. As Abu Bakr started to speak, ‘Umar pulled at his shirt, wanting to stop him from speaking but Abū Bakr snatched back his shirt and refused to stop. He then recited the verse of the Quran: And Muḥammad 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, Muḥammad was a man with a Message from God. There had been other men with Messages from God, and all of them had died. If Muḥammad should die, would they turn back upon everything which they had been taught and which they had learnt? This verse was revealed at the time of ccxliv