Seerah - Lesson 33


			Lesson 33

The Journey to Allah Completion of the Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam Mission After the religion brought by the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam had been perfected and completed, Allah sent down the revelation: "This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed my favour upon you and have chosen for you as religion Al-Islam." The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam had delivered the message truthfully. He had spared nothing to proclaim the message and had endured many hardships. He had moulded a nation who could be trusted to shoulder the spiritual responsibilities of the prophets. They were now mature enough to guard the message of Allah against every interpolation and mutation. Allah showed the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam the fruits of his efforts. He saw people entering the religion of Allah in large numbers. Deputations from Arab tribes followed one after another in rapid succession to pledge their allegiance to him. The lightning speed with which Islam gained converts promised its victory over all religions of the world. Allah in Surah An-Nasr made an allusion to the rapid success of Islam. The end draws near The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was in the habit of withdrawing into his masjid for private devotions during the last ten days of every Ramadhaan. But during the last Ramadhaan of his life he retired for twenty days. The Qur'an used to be revised by the Prophet with Jibra'eel once annually, but this was done twice in the year in which he passed away. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam told his Sahabah that he inferred from it that his departure from the world was drawing near. (1) The Sahabah of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam loved him dearly. His death would be a shock more terrible than they could have been expected to endure. But Allah is infinite in wisdom. None of them had regarded the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam as immortal for they knew that he would have to leave this world sooner or later. It was for this reason that the revelation was sent down by Allah to prepare the Muslims : "Muhammad is no more than a messenger and indeed (many) messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed will you turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? He who turns back on his heels does not harm Allah in the least and Allah will reward those who are grateful." (Surah Al-Imran, Verse 144) Beginning of the Illness The sickness of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam began shortly before the end of Safar. Late one night he went to the cemetery of Madinah, Jannat al-Baqi, where he prayed for the dead and then returned home. Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha relates that when he returned from Jannat al-Baqi she was suffering from a headache and saying: "0h my head!" The Prophet said: "Nay! 0h my head!" His pain increased from then onwards. (2) Later, in the house of Maymuna Radhi Allahu Anha the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam called his wives and asked their permission to be nursed in the house of Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha. All of them agreed and he came out walking supported by Fadl Ibn Abbas and Ali Radhi Allahu Anhuma. He had a cloth bound on his head and his feet were dragging as he came to the house of Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha. Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha tells that during the illness from which the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam never recovered he told her : "Aisha, I still feel pain from the food I ate at Khaibar. Now I feel my aorta being cut because of that poison." (3) The Last Army The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam summoned Usama Ibn Zayd Radhi Allahu Anhu and made him leader of the army to Syria. Leading Muhajireen, Ansaar and other notable Sahabah like Umar Radhi Allahu Anhu were enlisted in the army. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam felt that the people were a bit sluggish in joining the army. Certain people had even expressed their disapproval of putting a youth in command of a detachment having the best of the Muhajireen and Ansaar. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam came out in spite of his violent headache, ascended the pulpit, and after glorifying Allah, said : "0 People! Despatch the army of Usama. You criticise his appointment but you have done the same before about his father's appointment. He is indeed worthy of the office of commander as was his father." The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam descended the pulpit terminating his address and the people quickly began making preparations for the journey. His illness increased day by day while Usama took his detachment out of Madinah and took up quarters at Joraf about 5 km from the city so that others desirous of being enlisted in the army might join him before his departure. In the meantime the Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam condition grew worse while Usama and his comrades anxiously awaited news about him. (4) It was then that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam gave out his last two orders. They were : "Despatch the troops in the same way as you have been sending out the detachments earlier. Allow not two religions to remain in the Arabian Peninsula and chase out all the idolaters from the country." (5) Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu sent out the army after the death of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam in order to give effect to his master's last wishes.

		Lessons to Learn The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam remained vigilant and alert regarding the safety of the Islamic State until his last breath. Right till his end did he encourage his Sahabah to sacrifice their lives for the pleasure of Allah. The appointment of a youth to command the Muslim army shows the importance Islam gives to nurturing and building qualities within the young. Usama Radhi Allahu Anhu was young but had leading men of experience to guide him at every step. The fact that he was a slave earlier on further showed how Islam abolished socially obstructive barriers. The Sahabah's acceptance of Usama as their leader showed that they were totally loyal to the commands of their master. They accepted his verdict as final. They also understood that youth or slavery were not factors that opposed leadership. When Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu sent out this army after the demise of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam it showed his maturity and obedience to the commands of his master.

Prayer for the Welfare of the Muslims Some of the Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam Sahabah came to see him during his illness in the house of Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha. He welcomed them, prayed for their guidance on the right path and invoked the help and blessings of Allah for them. Indifference to the World Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha relates that during his illness he asked her: "Aisha, what has happened to those pieces of gold?" When she brought a few dirhams he took them in his hand and said: "How shall I face Allah with these in my possession! Give these away in charity." (6) Anxiety for Prayer While the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam lay in the grip of his worsening sickness he enquired : "Has everybody offered prayers?" Those attending him replied : "No, 0 Prophet of Allah, they are waiting for you." He asked for water in a pan. When it was brought he took a bath and tried to get up, but fell unconscious. On regaining consciousness after a short while he again asked: "Has everybody offered prayers?" They replied: "No, 0 Prophet of Allah, they are waiting for you." All the people were then sitting silently in the masjid for the Esha prayer. He sent word to them asking Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu to lead the prayer. Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu was tender-hearted, so he asked Umar Radhi Allahu Anhu to lead the prayer. Umar Radhi Allahu Anhu, however, declined saying that Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu was more qualified. Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu finally agreed and led the prayer during the period of the Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam illness. When the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam felt a bit better he came out with the help of Abbas and Ali Radhi Allahu Anhuma for the Zuhr prayer. As soon as Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu came to know of the Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam arrival, he tried to move back, but the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam motioned him not to leave his place. Umm al-Fadl bint al-Harith says that she had heard Allah's Messenger reciting Surah al-Mursalaat in the Maghrib prayer. Thereafter, he did not lead any prayer until Allah summoned him to His presence. (7) Of the few occasions when the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam made for the pulpit during his illness he once said : "Allah gave one of His slaves the choice between this world and that which is with Him, so he chose that which is with Allah." Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu knew that it was the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam himself who had been given that choice. He broke into tears and exclaimed: "May our own lives and our children be your ransom." The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam then replied: "O Abu Bakr, have patience and don't be hasty. Indeed, of all the people, the most generous toward me in regard to his life and property was Abu Bakr. Were I to choose anyone to be my dearest friend, indeed I would choose Abu Bakr, but the love and concern for Islam takes precedence over all others." The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam also said on this occasion: "There shall be left open no door to the masjid except the door of Abu Bakr." (8) Last look at the Muslims in prayer Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu continued to lead the prayer. On Monday morning when the people were performing the Fajr prayer, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam lifted the curtain of his door and kept his gaze fixed on the worshippers for some time, to see how they paid divine honours to Allah. He perhaps wanted to see the result of his life-long mission, training and guidance. Perhaps, he wanted to know how his followers attached their hearts to Allah and whether they were absorbed in prayers in his absence as they had always been in his presence. What the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam saw was extremely satisfying. His Sahabah related that his face was beaming with joy. The scene before him showed him that the attachment of his followers to Allah and His religion was strong and permanent. "The Messenger of Allah lifted the curtain and kept his eyes fixed upon us, standing at Aisha's door. It seemed as if his face was an open scripture. He smiled and then laughed. We thought that we might be seduced from our prayers because of our joy and get carried away. We also thought that perhaps he was coming out for prayers but he told us to complete our prayers and pulled down the curtain. That was the day on which he left the world." (9) When he was about to breathe his last, he said repeatedly: "Be careful of Salaah and of those whom you possess or have under your charge." He continued to repeat these words until they became inaudible, but it appeared that he was trying to express them. During the last moments of his life Abdur Rahman Ibn Abi Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu entered the room with a Miswaak (tooth stick) in his hand. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam looked at it as if he wanted it. Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha chewed it a little to make it soft and then gave it to him. He brushed his teeth with it and tried to hand it over to her but it fell down from his hand. (10) Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha relates that while she started reciting the last two Surahs of the Qur'an in order to blow upon the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, he lifted up his eyes and said: "With the Exalted Companion! With the Exalted Companion!" The Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam blessed head was on her thigh. He fainted for a second and then regaining consciousness, looked up towards the ceiling, saying : "With the Exalted Companion!" With these words on his lips, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam breathed his last. (11) How the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam left the world When the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam left this world he had the entire Arabia in his hands. The sovereigns and rulers were afraid of his rising power while his Sahabah were ever willing to undergo any sacrifice to lay down their own lives and to spend their wealth, property and children for his sake. Yet, he left this world without a single dinar or slave in his possession. All that he owned at the time was one white mule, some weapons and a piece of land that had already been given away in charity. His coat of mail had been pawned with a Jew when he passed away and nothing was left by him to have it retrieved. (12) The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam restored freedom to forty slaves during his illness. Only six or seven were left with Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha but he asked her to give them away in charity. Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha relates that the day the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam left the world there was nothing in her house that could be consumed except a little barley left in a cupboard. It lasted for a few days until she weighed it and that very day it was all used up. (13) The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam passed away on a Monday, the 12th day of Rabi ul-Awwal in the heat of the noon after the sun had passed the meridian. He was then sixty three years of age. This was the darkest hour for the Muslims and a day of gloom for the entire humanity. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Radhi Allahu Anhu said that when the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam came to Madinah everything looked better and brighter but no day was worse or darker than the day he passed away. Some of the people saw Umm Ayman weeping when the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was bed-ridden. When they asked what had made her weep, she replied: "Of course, I know that the Prophet of Allah will leave this world but I am weeping because the revelation from heaven has come to an end." (14)

		_________________________________________ (1) Bukhari (2) Ibn Hisham (3) Bukhari (4) Ibn Hisham (5) Bukhari (6) Musnad Ahmad (7) Bukhari (8) Bukhari (9) Bukhari (10) Bukhari (11) Bukhari (12 ) Baihaqi (13) Bukahri (14) Muslim, Sirat Ibn Kathir ____________________________________

	Dua for Rain Meaning : O Allah, give us rain to drink that is relieving, soaking, profitable, harmless, immediate and not delayed. A Hadith Feed the hungry, visit the sick and seek the release of those who have been made captives unjustly. (Bukhari)