THE PROPHET SALLAL LAAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM
PASSES AWAY
KNOWLEDGE OF HIS PASSING AWAY: Huzoor (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
was very well aware of the time of his passing away. He had also informed the people of this, on
various occasions. After Haj’jatul Widaa, the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
said farewell to the people by saying, “It may be possible that I may not
make Hajj with you again.” Words to the same effect were even mentioned
during Gahdeer-e-Khum, whereas in both the sermons,
he used the word ‘It may be possible’, to put a veil over his words, even
though he knew very well of his passing away. Hazrat Uqba bin Aamir (radi Allahu anhu) says that once the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam) departed from his home and went to the
graves of the martyrs of Uhad and he prayed Namaaz at their graves like you would pray over a
deceased. Then, he returned and climbed
on to the Mimbar and said, “I am to pass away
before you and I am your witness and By Allah, I am
seeing my Hauz even now.” [Bukhari
vol.2. pg.975]
BEGINNING OF HIS ILLNESS (IN THE EYES OF
THE WORLD) : When the Prophet (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) took ill, the length of the illness differs in
narrations. However, on the 20th or 22nd of Safar, the
Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) went to the
Graveyard of Baqi during half the
night. When he returned, he (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
was not very comfortable.
DATE OF PASSING AWAY :
The Holy
Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), The illustrious
Habeeb of Allah, The Mercy unto the Worlds, The Soul
of the Universe, The Beloved of Bibi Amina, The Coolness of the eyes of Hazrat
Abdullah, The Beloved Rasool (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) passed from this world on Monday, the 12th
of Rabi-ul-Awwal, 11 Hijri,
(June 632) at mid day, in the home of Bibi Aisha (radi Allahu anha).
KAFFAN AND BEING LAID TO REST IN THE
RAUZA-E-ANWAR: The
Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had already said
that his Kaffan and lowering him in the grave should
be done by his Ahle Bait and other family members. It
is for this reason that this was done as per the command of Rasoolullah
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
Hazrat Fadhal
bin Abbas, Hazrat Quthm bin Abbas, Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Abbas and Hazrat Usama bin Zaid (ridwaanullahi ta aala alaihim ajmaeen)
gave ghusl to the Prophet (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam). Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhu) in true love and spiritual ecstasy took the
ghusl water that remained on the navel and on the
eyelids of Rasool (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
with his tongue. After the ghusl, the Kaffan was made up of three pieces of cotton material.
NAMAAZ-E-JANAZAH :
When the Janazah of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
was ready, then people came in groups and read the Janazah
Salaah. Because the Janazah
was inside the Hujrah Mubaarak,
only few people at a time entered and read the Janazah
Salaah and left, then others followed, but there was
no Imam. [Madarijun Nabuiwat]
Explaining the Janazah
Salaah of Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam) in detail, Imam Ahmed Raza
Khan (radi Allahu anhu) states as follows in the fourth
volume of his world renowned encyclopaedia Fatawa-e-Razviyah:
“The Ulama have differences on the issue of the Janazah Salaah of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam). One Jamaat says
that the Janazah Namaaz did
not really occur. Small groups came in and sent Durood
and Salaams and then left, followed by others. Certain Hadith
also show this. You may peruse my book on this issue.
There are also various Ulama
who accept this Namaaz Ma'roof. Imam Qaazi Iyaaz (radi
Allahu anhu) rectified this. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) was engrossed in giving hope to the Muslims
and taking care of the needs of the Ummah. At this
time, the allegiance had not been taken on his hands. People came in huge and
small groups and continued to pray the Janazah Salaah of Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam).When the Allegiance was taken on the hands
of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu), then
and his Guardianship was confirmed, He prayed the Janazah
Salaah, and after him non other prayed, as mentioned
by Imam Shamsul Ulama Sarkhasi (radi Allahu anhu). It is
in Bazaaz, Haakim, Ibn Sa’ad, Ibn
Mani’, Baihiqi, Tibraani and Mu’jim Ausat on the authority of Hazrat
Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (radi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) said, ‘After giving me ghusl
and kaffan, leave me on the bier and go outside. Jibraeel (alaihis salaam) will
first read Namaaz over me, followed by Mikaeel (alaihis salaam),
followed by Israfeel (alaihis salaam), then The Angel of death will pray over me with his entire army. You
should them come to me in groups and read Durood and
Salaam.’ ” [Fatawa Razvia vol.4. pg 54 - New Edition of Fatawa Razvia Vol.9 pg.286]
HIS BLESSED RAUZA-E-ANWAR: Hazrat Abu Talha
(radi Allahu anhu) prepared the blessed Grave of the
Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Fadhl bin Abbas and Hazrat Quthm bin Abbas (ridwaanullahi ta aala alaihim
ajmaeen) lowered the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam) into his Rauza-e-Anwar.
It is evident from the narration of Abu Dawood, that Hazrat Usama (radi
Allahu anhu) and Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf (radi Allahu anhu)
also went into the Blessed Grave.
Hazrat Quthm (radi Allahu anhu) was the last to leave the Qabr-e-Anwar. He says, “I looked at the blessed face
of the Prophet (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam) for
the last time and then saw that his blessed lips were moving. I place my ears
close and heard him say, ‘Rab’bi Habli
Ummati’ (O Allah, Give my Ummah
to me).” [Madarijun Nabuiwat Vol.2 Pg. 442
- Abu Dawood vol.2 pg.458]
