The illness of the Prophet (may Allah
bless him and grant him peace) started on 29th day of the Islamic
month of Safar in 11th Hijrah year. He had gone to attend a funeral in Baqee
graveyard. On his way back, he suffered from severe headache and high temperature. He was
wearing a tight headscarf to get some relief from the headache. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) lead
regular prayers in the mosque for eleven days after his illness. His illness lasted for 14
days. During the last week of his illness he repeatedly asked his wives where
and in whose hujra will he stay during the night? His wives allowed him to move into
A’ishahR.A’s hujra. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was helped
by AliR.A and Fazal bin AbbasR.A who
moved him to A’ishahR.A’s hujra. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) breathed
his last in this house. On the fifth day before his demise it was Wednesday. His temperature
increased and he became semi-comatosed. Cold water from various wells of Madinah was
urgently brought and the Prophet’s (may Allah bless
him and grant him peace) body was soaked in it. This gave the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) some relief
and enabled him to travel to the mosque where he addressed the followers to refrain from
turning his place of burial into a place of worship as the Jews and Ansars had done. He
then offered himself for "Qasas" and said; "If there is any debt
outstanding let the debtee come forward and claim his debt so that I may clear his debt,
similarly if I have hurt anybody’s feelings let him come forward and take his
revenge." After leading the mid-day prayer the Prophet
(may Allah bless him and grant him peace) addressed the followers. In his
address he mentioned that Allah has given his servant the choice to remain in his world
with all its glamour and wealth or meet his lord. the Prophet
(may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has rejected to stay in this world
and chosen to meet his lord. Abu Baker on hearing this sermon became sad and tears poured
from his eyes. He had understood that the time had come for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) to leave this world. On Thursday the 4th day before his demise, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) could not
lead Isha prayers. He asked Abu BakrR.A to lead the
prayers and from then on Abu BakrR.A lead prayers during
the life of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him
peace) to a total of 17 in number. On Saturday the 2nd day before his demise he felt a little
better and with the help and support of AliR.A went to
the mosque and offered his prayers after sitting on the left side of Abu BakrR.A. On Sunday one day before his demise he freed all his slaves. There were
total of seven Dinars left with the Prophet (may Allah
bless him and grant him peace), which he gave to the poor (Sadqa). He gifted
his arms to the Muslims. On Monday the last day of the Prophet
(may Allah bless him and grant him peace) Abu BakrR.A
was leading the morning prayers. The Prophet (may Allah
bless him and grant him peace) looked at the rows of Muslims following the
prayers and smiled. He was too weak to join the prayers. The same day about one hour after the sunrise the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) called his
daughter FatimaR.A and whispered something in her ear.
She started to cry with grief. The Prophet (may Allah bless
him and grant him peace) called her again and whispered something this time she
smiled. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace) had revealed to his daughter FatimaR.A
that he will die during this illness and that FatimaR.A
will be first person from his family to join him in the Heavens. He also told her that she
would remain the leader of all the Muslim women. FatimaR.A
was very upset to see her father suffer from pain and illness. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) told her
that after this pain, he would never feel another pain. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace) then called his grand children Hassan and Hussain. He (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) kissed them
and prayed for their well being. He (may Allah bless him
and grant him peace) also addressed his wives about household affairs. Then he (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) addressed
his friends and advised them to say regular prayers and be kind with their captives. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace) had become weak and exhausted due to his long illness.
A’ishahR.A placed the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) head in her
lap and softened his toothpick that he placed in his mouth to clean his teeth. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was
repeatedly soaking his face with his hands and reciting there is no Allah but Allah and he
has made death difficult. At last he pointed his finger along with his gaze towards the ceiling
and a tremor moved his lips gently. " A’ishahR.A
the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him
peace) wife heard him saying "Oh Allah forgive me and take me where you
have taken the righteous, the Prophets and those whom you love". The day the Prophet (may Allah bless him
and grant him peace) breathed his last was 12th of the Muslim month
of Rabi-Al-Awwal on 11th Hijrah year. The Prophet
(may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had completed 63 years and four days
of his earthly life. The Prophet’s (may Allah bless him
and grant him peace) daughter immensely grief stricken said "Dear father
you have left us sad to meet your Allah, your abode is the best of heavens, and we break
the news of your demise to the angel Jibril. When the common Muslims present in the Mosque came to know of the
Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)
demise, there rose a hue and cry in the Mosque and people began to wail. At this very
moment, UmarR.A stepped in the Mosque. On seeing the
people weeping, he thundered aloud, "Why do you weep? Why this lamenting?" Then
he produced his sword, "Our Prophet (may Allah bless
him and grant him peace) has not died, but has gone to Allah to return soon, we
will see him alive again". Then Abu BakrR.A also
entered the Mosque and addressed UmarR.A, "O UmarR.A! Be quiet and sheath your sword". Then he addressed
the people and said, "O people! Our Prophet (may Allah
bless him and grant him peace) himself used to say that he was a man like us.
Everyone has to surrender one day before death even if he is a Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Before this all the
Prophets had to surrender to death, today our Prophet (may
Allah bless him and grant him peace) also has bid farewell to life. But O
people! Though Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him
peace) of Allah has died, but Allah is Eternal. He is Absolute. Death never
comes to Him". When UmarR.A heard these words, he sat
down in distress, held his head between his hands and began to cry bitterly. The other
Muslims who had become quiet for a little while could not bear this sight and the
atmosphere of the Mosque once again became gloomy with the heart - rending sounds of the
weeping of the followers. And thus departed from the world the personality which keeps
shining like a bright star in the annals of history. Soon after the death of the Prophet (may
Allah bless him and grant him peace), dispute started for the leadership. All
day Monday and the night between Monday and Tuesday the body of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) remained in
his house and his house hold bolted the door from outside. On Tuesday the 13th Rabi-Al-Awwal, the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) body was
washed without taking his clothes off. Those who took part in the final bath were. AbbasR.A, AliR.A, two sons of AbbasR.A, FazalR.A and UsumR.A. the Prophet’s (may
Allah bless him and grant him peace) freed slave Shukran, Usama bin ZaydR.A and OusR.A bin Kholi also
helped in bathing.
The corps levying was done with three white sheets. As wished by the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in his life his grave was dug in the same room he breathed his last. His funeral prayers were said turn by turn by a party of ten. First the tribesmen of Hashim prayed then the migrants of Makkah followed by Medinites then the women folk and lastly the children.
The funeral prayers were offered without the Imam and in the room where the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) body was laid.
All day Tuesday, the faithful and believers spent paying their last respects and saying funeral prayers. The burial took place on early hours of the Wednesday night. According to Muslim practice the night is followed by the day.
A’ishahR.A says, "For my tender age I could not understand that my husband was being taken by death. I was sitting beside his pillow when his soul departed him, but I could not understand even then. I was startled by the lamenting women. When the men also began crying by placing their hands on their faces, I knew the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had left forever". According to the Islamic traditions, the very instant, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) bade farewell to life, his seal of Prophethood which was inscribed between his shoulders disappeared automatically; for his responsibilities as the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had also come to an end after his death.
This sketch shows vertical section passing from the crescent above the green dome upto
the beam of the Sultan QATABAY and Umar bin Abdul Aziz. The section also passes through
the dome which lies above the holy graves and the ceiling over A'ishah’s house
including the walls of the holy home upto the bottom of the holy grave along with the
small side room with steel windows and brass decorative grill. 1. 11. 2. 12. 3. 13. 4. 14. 5. 15. 6. 16. 7. 17. 8. 18. 9. 19. 10. 20. 11. 21. When the Prophet (may Allah bless
him and grant him peace) left the world, he had nothing in the way of worldly
wealth except a mule (which was presented to him by the king of Abyssinia) and a few
swords. It was customary among the Arabs to bury their figureheads at the same place where
they died. Therefore, it was also decided for the Prophet
(may Allah bless him and grant him peace) to be buried where he had breathed
his last. This was the chamber of A’ishahR.A.
Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)
was the citizen of Makkah but had died in Madinah, therefore his relatives were in
confusion whether his grave should be made according to Makkan method or the Medinite one. In Makkah, the method of burial was such that after digging the grave,
the body was directly placed in it and the grave was covered with soil. But in Madinah,
grave digging was different. Before burial, a pit was dug, then like a cave or den it was
made spacious for a grave from the inner lateral sides, where the body was placed and the
mouth of the den closed. Afterwards the covered pit was also filled by soil. The Prophet’s (may Allah bless him
and grant him peace) relatives decided to call for two grave diggers - one
Makkan and one Medinite to dig the grave. If the Makkan digger came first, the grave would
be made by the Makkan method, otherwise on the Medinite’s arrival, the grave would be
made by the Medinite method. That day the Medinite grave - digger reached before the Makkan one.
Therefore, the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace) grave was made as was the custom in Madinah. When it was
ready, the only robe Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant
him peace) had was put on him so that it could not be used by anyone else. He (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was given
"Ghusal" or wash as it was a custom in Arabia to wash the dead before burial.
Even today, all the Muslims follow this practice before burying their dead. Observing the honour, the Prophet (may
Allah bless him and grant him peace) was not undressed, but was washed in his
clothes. The body of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace) was wrapped in a red cloth, or according to other traditions,
in a red rug or cotton carpet and lowered in the grave. While burying, the body was laid
on its side. The grave had been dug in a way that the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) body faced the Holy
Ka’bah. In addition, one side of his face touched the ground. The mouth of the cave
was closed and the pit filled with soil. Water was sprinkled on the grave after planting a
sapling. The Arabs did not bury their dead in a coffin. They used to say that
nothing remains after one’s death except the things one created by dint of one’s
soul during one’s life. Everything else fades away.
A Crescent stands on the Green dome. This was
built from brass and is gold plated. The Green dome hangs over the room. It is covered by
lead. It was built in 1248 Hijrah.
An open hole in the ceiling built from the
leaves of the datepalm trees.
A small hole in the dome. The hole faces
towards south.
The wall of the house of A'ishahR.A
built by earthen blocks extends up to the ceiling.
A small hole in the blue dome.
The level of the QATABAY’s beams built
around the holy room.
Under the green dome is the blue dome, which
was built by QATABAY in 885 Hijrah.
The level of the wall built by Umar bin Abdul
Aziz.
The Steel bars above and around the beams were
by QATABAY in 885 Hijrah. These bars are used for hanging the curtain of the Holy Room.
The level of the holy room.
The beams that were built in the holy room by
QATABAY are known after his name as QATABAY’S beams.
A yellow colour stone slab lies about 15cm
above the holy grave.
It is an open hole in the dome built for air
circulation.
The level of earth where the holy body lies.
A separate low lying dome built above the holy
graves.
The location of the holy grave.
The walls of the external room have steel
windows and carry the two domes above it.
The lead wall built around the holy graves.
This wall was built at the time of Noor Din Zinki’s time.
The wall built by Umar bin Abdul Aziz is known
after him and is called Umar’s wall.
The level of the base of the holy grave.
An open hole in the ceiling built from the
leaves of the datepalm trees.
The sacred soil which hosts the bones of the
best human being on earth.
