Kitab Al-irshad 1
The Circumstances of the Last Illness and Death of the Prophet3
Among the circumstances which were given new significance by the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, and the events which occurred through the decree and ordinance of God, which confirm his outstanding merit and characterise his exalted rank, are those which occurred after the Farewell Pilgrimage. That was when the (Prophet), peace be on him, realised through the nearness of (the end of) his allotted span (the need to put into effect) what he had already told his community. He, peace be on him, began to make speech after speech among the Muslims, warning them against discord after him and opposition to him. He confirmed his injunction to them to cleave to his sunna and those (matters) on which there was agreement and conformity. He urged them to follow his family, to obey them, to support, guard and hold fast to them in religion. He warned them against opposition and apostasy.
Among the things which were mentioned by him, peace be on him, is one which the reporters (of tradition and history) report with agreement and unanimity, that he, peace be on him, said: "People, I am a way-mark for you. You will come to meat the (heavenly) waters. Then indeed I will ask you about the two important things (which I left behind). Take care how you follow me with regard to them, for the Good and Knowing (God) has informed me that they will never scatter (from you) until they meet me. I asked my Lord for that and He granted it to me. Indeed I have left among you the Book of God and the offspring of my family (ahl al-bayt). Do not try to outdo them, for then you will be destroyed. Do not try to teach them, for they are more knowledgeable than you. People, may I not find you, after I (have gone), returning to being unbelievers with some of you striking down others, for then you will meet me with a host like a sea of flowing soldiers. Indeed 'Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him, is my brother, my trustee (wasi). After me he will fight for the (true) interpretation of the Qur'an just like I fought for its revelation."
He, may God bless him and his family, used to address meeting after meeting with words like these.
Then he commissioned Usama b. Zayd b. Haritha. He ordered and urged him to leave with many members of the community for where his father had been killed in the Byzantine (empire). He, peace be on him, decided to send out the foremost of the Emigrants and Ansar in his army, so that at his death there would not be anyone in Medina who differed about the leadership and who had ambitions to become the leader of the people. In this way he (hoped to) set in order the situation for the man who was to succeed him and to prevent any opponent from opposing him in his right. He gave (Usama) the command on the condition which we have mentioned and he endeavoured to send them out. He ordered Usama to leave Medina with his army for al-Jurf, and he urged the people to go out to him and to go with him. He warned them against lingering and dilatoriness in (doing) it.4
While matters were in that situation, the illness came upon him of which he (later) died. When he felt the sickness which had befallen him, he took the hand of 'Ali, peace be on him. A group of the people followed him and he headed for (the cemetery of) al-Baqi'. He told those who followed him: "I have been commanded to seek forgiveness for (the souls of) the people of (the cemetery of) al-Baqi'."
They went with him until he stopped in front of them. He, peace be on him, said: "People of the graves, let there be comfort for you in your situation (as opposed to the situation) in which discords have come upon the people like the cutting of the dark night when the first of them will follow the last."
Then he (spent) a long time seeking forgiveness for (the souls of) the people of (the cemetery of) al-Baqi'. (After this), he approached the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, and told him: "Gabriel, peace be on him, used to revise the Qur'an with me once each year. This year he has revised it with me twice. I can only consider that it is because (the end of) my allotted span of life is at hand." Then he said: "'Ali, I was given the choice between remaining forever amid the treasuries of the world or of (going to) heaven. I have chosen to meet my Lord and (to go to) heaven. When I die, wash me. Cover my nakedness so that no one but a blind man could see it."5
He returned to his house and remained there for three days in a weak condition. Then he went out to the mosque, wearing a turban on his head and leaning on the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, on his right hand and on al-Fadl b. al-'Abbas on his other hand. He went up on the pulpit and sat there. Then he said: "People, the time of my departure from you has come. Whoever has any goods with me, let him come to me so that I may give them to him. Whoever has a debt which I owe him, let him inform me of it. People, between God and any man there is nothing by which (God) will give him better or by which God will keep away from him evil, except works (al-'amal). People, by Him who sent me as a prophet with truth, let no one claim nor anyone desire that there should be salvation without works through (God's) mercy. If I had disobeyed, I would have been hurled down (to damnation). O God, have I conveyed (the message)?"
He went down and led the people in a short prayer. He returned to his house. At that time, he was in the house of Umm Salama, may God be pleased with her. He remained there for a day or two. Then 'Aisha came to her to ask her to move him to her house so that she might undertake to nurse him. She had asked the wives of the Prophet about that and they had given her their permission. Thus he, may God bless him and his family, was moved to the house in which 'Aisha lived. The illness remained with him for several days and grew more serious.
At the time of the morning prayer, Bilal came while the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, was overcome by sickness. (He asked:) "Do I call the prayer, may God have mercy on you?"
The Apostle of God gave him permission to make his call and said: "Let one of the people pray before them, for I am too distracted by (the final hours of) my life."
"Order Abu Bakr," 'Aisha said.
"Order 'Umar," intervened Hafsa.
When the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, heard their words and saw the eagerness of each of them to exalt her own father and their discord about that, he said: "Have you put the shroud on the Apostle of God while he is still alive? Indeed you are like the mistresses of Joseph."
Then he, peace be on him, rose hurriedly fearing that one of the two men would go forward (to lead the prayers). He had ordered them to go with Usama and he had had no idea that they would be disobedient. However when he heard what he heard from 'Aisha and Hafsa, he knew that they had delayed in (obeying) his command. He hurried to prevent discord and remove doubt. He, blessings and peace be on him, arose despite the fact that he could barely lift himself off the ground through weakness. 'Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him, took his hand and al-Fadl b. al-'Abbas took the other. He leaned on them both and his feet dragged a trail along the ground because of his weakness.
When he came out into the mosque, he found that Abu Bakr had already got to the mihrab. He indicated with his hand that he should withdraw and Abu Bakr withdrew. The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, took up his place. He said the "takbir" and began the prayer which Abu Bakr had begun before without taking any account of what had already been performed.
After he had said the final greeting of the prayer, he returned to his house. He summoned Abu Bakr, 'Umar and a group of the Muslims who had been present at the mosque. He said: "Did I not order you to go with the army of Usama?"
"Yes, Apostle of God," they replied.
"Why have you delayed from (carrying out) my order?"
"I had gone out but then I returned so that I might renew my covenant with you," Abu Bakr said.
"Apostle of God, I did not go out because I did not want to ask travellers about you," 'Umar answered.
"Despatch the army of Usama, despatch the army of Usama," commanded the Prophet, may God bless him and his family. He repeated it three times and then he fainted from the fatigue which had come upon him and the sorrow which possessed him.
He remained unconscious for a short time while the Muslims wept and his wives and the women and children of the Muslims, and all those present raised great cries of lamentation. The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, recovered consciousness and looked at them. Then he said: "Bring me ink and parchment so that I may write a document for you, after which you will never go astray."
Again he fainted and one of those present rose to look for ink and parchment.
"Go back," 'Umar ordered him. "He is delirious."
The man went back. (Later) those present regretted the dilatoriness (they had shown) in bringing ink and parchment and rebuked each other. They used to say: "We belong to God and to Him we will return, but we have become anxious about our disobedience to the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family.6
When he, peace be on him, recovered consciousness, one of them said: "We will not bring you ink and parchment, Apostle of God."
"May God remove him who made you say 'no'," he said. "However, I will appoint a trustee over you in a better way through my family."
Then he turned his head away from the people. They rose to leave but al-'Abbas, al-Fadl b. al-'Abbas and 'Ali b. Abi Talib and his family, in particular, remained with him.
"If this matter is to be settled upon us after you, then tell us," al-'Abbas asked him. "If you know that we are to be overcome, then give us the decision."
"You are those who will be found weak after me," he answered and then was silent.
The people (rose to leave), weeping with despair at (losing) the Prophet, may God bless him and his family. When they had left, he, peace be on him, said: "Send back to me my brother and my uncle (i.e. 'Ali and al-'Abbas)."
They sent for someone to call them and he brought them. When he had them sitting close, he, blessings and peace be on him, said: "Uncle of the Apostle of God, will you accept my testamentary bequest (wasi), fulfil my promise and carry out my religion?"
"Apostle of God, your uncle is an old man with the responsibilities of a large family," answered al-'Abbas. "You vie with the wind n liberality and generosity. You have made promises which your uncle could never fulfil."
Then he turned to 'Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him, and said: "Brother, will you accept my testamentary bequest, fulfil my promises, carry out my religion on my behalf and look after the affairs of my family after me?"
"Yes, Apostle of God," he replied.
"Come near me," he told him.
He went near to him and he embraced him. He took his ring from his finger and said: "Take this and put it on your finger."
Then he called for his sword, his breastplate and all his weapons and gave those to him. He looked for a turban which he used to wear around his stomach when he put on his weapons and went out to battle. It was brought to him and he gave it to the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him. Then he said to him: "Go, 'Ali, in the name of God, to your house."
On the next day, the people were denied access to him as he was seriously ill in bed. The Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, did not leave him except to (fulfil) some necessities. Then he had to go to attend to some of his affairs. The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, recovered consciousness and he missed 'Ali. His wives were around him and he said: "Call my brother and my companion." The weakness returned to him and he fell silent.
"Call Abu Bakr," 'Aisha said.
Abu Bakr was summoned. He came and sat by his head. When he opened his eyes, he looked at him and then turned his head away from him. Abu Bakr arose and said: "If he had any need of me, he would have communicated it to me."
When he had gone, the Apostle of God repeated his words a second time and said: "Call my brother and my companion."
"Call 'Umar for him," Hafsa said.
'Umar was summoned. When he came and the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, saw him, he turned his head away from him. So he went away. Then he said: "Call my brother and companion."
"Call 'Ali," said Umm Salama, may God be pleased with her, "for he does not mean anyone else."
The Commander of the faithful was summoned. When he was close to him, he indicated to him to bend down to him. Then the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, spoke privately to him for a long time. Then he rose and sat down beside him until the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, fell asleep.
When he had fallen asleep, ('Ali) went out.
"What did he entrust to you, Abu al-Hasan?" the people asked him.
"He taught me of a thousand doors of knowledge and each door opened for me (another) thousand doors," he answered. "He made a bequest to me of what I will undertake (qa'im) if God, the Exalted, wishes."
He became critically ill and death was at hand. The Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, was present with him. When his soul was about to depart, he said: "'Ali, put my head in your lap, for the order of God (for my death) has come. When my soul departs, take it with your hand and rub your face with it. Then point me in the direction of the qibla. Carry out my command and pray over me as the first of the people. Do not leave me until you have buried me in my grave. Seek the help of God, the Exalted."
'Ali-, peace be on him, took his head and put it in his lap. Then he lost consciousness. Fatima, peace be on her, bent down to look into his face. She was weeping and calling to him, saying:
May he be watered by the white clouds (pouring water) on his face. (He was) the one who cared for orphans and the one who protected widows.
Then the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, opened his eyes and said in a weak voice: "These are words for your uncle, Abu Talib. Do not recite them. Rather recite: What is Muhammad except a Messenger by whom messages have been delivered. If he dies or is killed, you will be turned on your heels (III 144). "
She wept for a long time. He indicated to her to come close. She went close to him and he whispered something to her which lit up her face. Then he, blessings and peace be on him, died. The right hand of the Commander of the faithful was under his jaw and his soul passed into it. He raised it to his face and rubbed it with it. Then he put him in the direction (of the qibla), closed his eyes, and laid him out on his waist-cloth (izar).
The report has been handed down that Fatima, peace be on her, was asked: "What did the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, whisper to you so that by it he made the grief and worry of his death leave you?"
She replied: "He told me that I would be the first of his family (ahl al-bayt) to join him and that it would not be a long time for me after him before I would be with him. That made (the grief) go from me."
When the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, wanted to wash him, he summoned al-Fadl b. al-'Abbas and told him to get water for him to wash him after he had put a cover over his eyes. Then he split open his shirt from before the pocket to the midriff. He washed him, perfumed (his body) and shrouded him, while al-Fadl passed him the water and helped him. When he had finished washing and preparing his body, he went forward and prayed alone. No one shared in the prayer with him. The Muslims in the mosque were talking about who would lead them in the prayer over him and where he would be buried. The Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, came out to them and said: "The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, is our Imam, both alive and dead. Therefore let group after group of you come in and let them pray over him without an Imam and then let them depart. God only took the soul of the Prophet in one place and it would please him for his grave to be there. I will bury him in the room in which he died."
The people accepted that and were pleased with it.
When the Muslims had prayed over him, al-Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib sent a man to Abu 'Ubayda b. al-Jarrah. He used to dig graves for the Meccans. That was the custom of the Meccans. He also sent to Zayd b. Sahl, who used to dig graves for the Medinans and make a niche in the side of the grave. He summoned them both and said: "O God, choose (one of them) for your Prophet."
The man was found to be Abu Talha Zayd b. Sahl and he was told to dig a grave for the Apostle of God, may God bless him and grant him peace. He dug a tomb for him. The Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, entered it (as did) al-'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib, al-Fadl b. al-'Abbas and Usama b. Zayd, so that they might carry out the burial of the Apostle.
At this, the Ansar called out from behind the house: "'Ali, we remind you of God and our right today with regard to the Apostle of God lest it should go (from us). Let a man from among us come in so that we may have a share in the burial of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family."
"Let Aws b. Khawali come in," he answered.
He was an excellent man, who had taken part in Badr, from the Banu 'Awf of Khazraj. When he came in, 'Ali, peace be on him, told him: "Go down into the grave."
He went down. The Commander of the faithful put the (body of) the Apostle of God, blessings and peace be on them both, into his hands and lowered it into his grave. When it reached the earth, he told him to come out. He came out and 'Ali, peace be on him, went down into the grave. He uncovered the face of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, and put his cheek on the earth in the direction of the qibla towards his right. Then he put clay soil on him and then poured the earth over him.
That was on Monday with two days remaining in (the month of) Safar in the eleventh year after his emigration, the blessings and peace of God be on him. He was sixty-three years of age.
Most of the people did not attend the burial of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, because of the dispute which was taking place between the Emigrants and the Ansar over the matter of succession (khilafa). Most of them also missed the (funeral) prayer over him on that account as well. Fatima began to call out: "How evil has this morning become for him!"
Abu Bakr heard her and said: "Your morning is an evil morning." The people seized the opportunity of 'Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him, being occupied with the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, and the isolation of the Banu Hashim from them because of the tragedy which had befallen them with regard to the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family. So they hurried to take control of the affair. What was agreed on was agreed in favour of Abu Bakr because of the dislike of the newly-converted Meccans (tulaqa) and (the dislike of) those whose hearts had been reconciled, of delaying the matter until Banu Hashim had finished.
Thus was the matter settled and (the people) pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr because of his presence at the place. Well-known factors motivated the people to accept this. Among them were their own desires. This book is not the place to mention them and we will explain in detail the discussion about them (elsewhere).
The report is handed down that when what had taken place for Abu Bakr had taken place and those who pledged allegiance to him, had pledged allegiance, a man came to the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, while he was arranging the grave of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, with a shovel in his hand. He said to him: "The people have pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr. The Ansar have given up because of their differences and the new Meccan converts (tulaqa )have hurried to make their covenant to the man out of fear of your attaining authority."
He put the tip of the shovel on the ground with his hand still on it and answered: In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Do the people reckon that they will abandon saying: 'We believe,' without being guilty of deceit? We have tested those before them. God knows those who are truthful and He knows the liar. Do those who do evil deeds consider that they can outdo us? How wrong is their judgement (XXIX 1-4)
Abu Sufyan came to the door of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, while 'Ali and al-'Abbas were zealously attending to the arrangements for him, and he called out:
Banu Hashim, the people have no desire for you. Special (to them) are (the clans of) Taym b. Murra and 'Adi.
Yet authority should only be among you and belong to you. Only Abu al-Hasan ('Ali) has (a right) to it.
Abu al-Hasan, take hold of it with a resolute hand. You are being deprived of the authority which you expected.
Then he called out at the top of his voice : "Banu Hashim, Banu 'Abd Manaf, are you content that the despicable father of a young camel, the son of a despicable man, should have authority over you? No, by God, if you wish, let me provide horses and men (who will be sufficient) for it."
"Go back, Abu Sufyan," shouted the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him. "By God, you do not seek God in what you are suggesting. You are still plotting against Islam and those who believe in it. We are busy with the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family. Each person gets what he has earned and he is (only) responsible for (wali) the crime he has committed."
Abu Sufyan went to the mosque. There he found the Banu Umayya gathered. He urged them (to take action) in the matter but they did not respond to him.
Discord was general and affliction was everywhere. Evil events had taken place by which Satan gained (greater) power and in which lying and hostile people co-operated. Through their denunciation of it, the people of (true) belief were abandoned. This is the interpretation of God's words: Beware of discord which especially, strikes against those of you who oppress (VIII 25).
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In the outstanding virtues of the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, which we have enumerated after what we have already mentioned with regard to the Farewell Pilgrimage, there is evidence which indicates that he, peace be on him, was especially characterised by them in a way that nobody else of mankind shared. Each one of them was a special category (of virtue) which stood in its own right without needing anything else to (explain) its significance.
Surely you realise that his special distinction during the illness of the Prophet, may God bless him and his family, up to the time that God, the Exalted, took him, required merit in religion and affinity to the Prophet, may God bless him and his family? (This can be seen) through the good deeds which made (the Prophet) rely and depend on him, and set him apart from all the people in order to look after him at (the end of) his life. (Thus you should realise) the special distinction of his love for him which no one else shared with him. (Then there is also) the testamentary bequest (wasiyya) which he made to him after it had been offered to someone else and refused because the burdens of the duties involved in it, and the responsibility of carrying it out and fulfilling the trust (were too heavy) for that other person to carry out. He was characterised by having been brothered with the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, and by being with him during his illness when he summoned him. In him was deposited the knowledge of religion by which he made him separate from anyone else. He carried out the washing and preparation of his body for (his journey to) God. He said the (funeral) prayer over him before any one else, and he had precedence over them in that through his rank with (the Apostle) and with God, the Exalted. He guided the community as to the manner of the (funeral) prayer over him when the matter was doubtful to them. He showed them the place to bury him despite the difference of opinion that they had had concerning that. They submitted to what he told them to do and considered him (right) in that. Thus through all of that he must be regarded as unique in his merit. Through it he brought to completion the outstanding action for Islam which he had begun at its beginning (and continued) to the death of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family. As a result of it there occurred for him a consecutive chain of virtues. No blemish entered any of his actions in religion. No aspect of his merit, as we have recorded it, puts any limitation on the ultimate in qualities of faith and in the virtues of Islam. This should also be associated with his marvellous miracles which confounded nature. He is such that there cannot be found an equal to him except for a prophet who has been sent (with a message) and an angel who has been brought into close proximity (with God), and such as are associated with them in the degree of their virtues in the eyes of God, may He be praised. With regard to those who oppose these three categories, traditional knowledge ('ada) follows a contrary (path to them) with the agreement of those who have reason (to think), tongues (to speak) and are aware of the traditions ('adaat). We ask God for success and by Him we will be protected from error.
**NOTES **
The account concurs with that of Ibn Ishaq though according to him 'Ali does not bring any sacrificial offering. Nor is 'Umar mentioned by Ibn Ishaq, cf. Ibn Hisham, Sira, 966-968.
For a collection of the traditions supporting the account of Ghadir Khumm, cf. al-Baladhuri, Ansab al-Ashraf, II, 108-111.
The crucial events around the Prophet's death represent an important feature of the Shi'ite polemic. The following account gives a clear picture of the Shi'ite position.
Cf. Ibn Hisham, Sira, 1006-7 without mentioning Abu Bakr and 'Umar's involvement.
Cf. ibid., 1001, without mentioning 'Ali.
Cf. al-Tabari, I, 1807.