As mentioned before, the chief of Ta’if, ‘Abd Yalail, represented his nation in accepting Islam in Madinah. The same year, the delegation of Banu Tamim appeared before Muhammad (sas). The measure used by them to judge the truth of Muhammad’s claim is unique. They presented their orators and poets to compete with the orators and the poets of Muhammad (sas). When the orators and the poets of Muhammad (sas) presented the subject of the Unity of God and the exposition of the Islamic teachings in a very simple but impressive manner, it had a deep impact on Banu Tamim, and they accepted Islam.
Around the same time, Ka‘b bin Zuhair, a famous poet of Arabia, who always used to arouse people against Muhammad (sas) by reciting poetic verses, appeared before Muhammad (sas) with his famous Qasidah al-Burdah, a poem in praise of Muhammad (sas), and accepted Islam. It is the same Qasidah that became known by the name of Banat Su‘ad. The same year, many chiefs of Yemen, Mahra, Oman, Bahrain, and Yamamah accepted Islam through letters or by sending delegations. The Christians of Mahra and Yemen also accepted Islam this year. Muhammad (sas) sent a missionary to Al-Mundhir, the chief of Bahrain, who immediately accepted Islam.
Also in the same year, a delegation came from Yamamah that included Musailamah the Liar. According to a tradition of Sahih Bukhari narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (ra), Musailamah the Liar said:
If Muhammad appoints me as his successor, I will follow him.
The Messenger of Allah (sas) met him in the company of Thabit bin Qais and said:
If you ask me for the splinter of a palm branch that I am holding, I will not give it to you. Because based on my observation, you will not meet a good end.
Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) says that the above saying of Muhammad (sas) was based on a dream, where he saw that he had two gold bangles in his hand and that worried him. In the same dream he was inspired to blow on them. When he did so they both blew away. The bangles represented two liars who would gain strength after him. One would be Aswad ‘Ansi San‘a’ and the other, Musailamah the Liar.
The same year a delegation of the Christians of Najran consisting of 70 people came to see Muhammad (sas). As usual, Muhammad (sas) treated them with great honour and let them stay in Masjid an-Nabawi while a debate took place. When the debate continued until Sunday, Muhammad (sas) allowed them to pray in the mosque. Finally, when they did not accept clear arguments, Muhammad (sas) invited them to a prayer duel (Mubahalah), but they became apprehensive, and signed a treaty.1 In the 10 A.H., a few tribes of Yemen also accepted Islam, and after that almost the entire Arabia came into the fold of Islam.
In the meantime, the season of the Hajj started and Muhammad (sas) decided to go for Hajj. According to a tradition, 124,000 people attended the Hajj that year, and not a single idolater was among them. Only a few years ago, Muhammad (sas) used to wander around all alone at the time of Hajj to propagate the message of truth and no one listened to him. Whichever group he went to, turned him away calling him names. Whomsoever he told a word of piety responded harshly. But on that day, the massive crowd present there felt great honour to be counted among his followers.
During this Hajj, Muhammad (sas) delivered a famous sermon while riding on a camel. Because of the size of the gathering, the arrangements were made such that some people were made to stand at a certain distance from each other loudly repeating Muhammad’s words. The following is a gist of that sermon.
After praising the Lord, Muhammad (sas) said:
O People! Listen to me carefully, for I know not whether I will ever stand before you in this valley and address you as I address you now2 … O People! Remember that as this day and this month is sacred to you, so are your lives and possessions sacred for each other … Whosoever of you is keeping a trust of someone else should return that trust to its rightful owner …
It is the responsibility of each of you to convey my message that I am giving today to the others who are not here. Remember, you will be asked about your deeds …
Allah has forbidden you to take usury, therefore, all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived …
Retribution for all the bloodshed committed in the Age of Ignorance is pardoned …
O People! Today, Satan has lost all hope of ever being worshipped in the world, so beware of following him in small matters …3
O People! Women have rights over you, as you have rights over them. They are a trust given to you by God the Exalted. You should treat them well, and slaves should also be taken care of. Provide them with the same food that you eat, and dress them the same way you dress yourself …
O People! Listen carefully! All Muslims are brothers to each other and all of you belong to the same brotherhood. It is not permissible for a Muslim to appropriate the possessions of another Muslim without full consent.
When Muhammad (sas) finished delivering the sermon, he loudly proclaimed:
اَللّٰھُمَّ ھَلْ بَلَّغْتُ
Have I delivered to you all of the commandments of God?4
Everyone said with one voice:
نَعَمْ
Yes.5 (You have certainly delivered us the Message of God).
Muhammad (sas) said:
اَللّٰھُمَّ اشْھَدْ
O Allah! Be my Witness (that I have delivered Your message).6
Since Muhammad (sas) had the intimation that it was his last pilgrimage, he used such words as if he was asking leave to depart, and this Hajj came to be known as Hajjatul-Wada‘ (the Farewell Pilgrimage). On the day of ‘Arafah, when Muhammad (sas) was still in Makkah, the following verse was revealed:
اَلۡیَوۡمَ اَکۡمَلۡتُ لَکُمۡ دِیۡنَکُمۡ وَاَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَیۡکُمۡ نِعۡمَتِیۡ
This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you.7,8
Most of the Companions were very pleased upon hearing these verses, but Abu Bakr (ra) had tearful eyes as he realized that Muhammad‘s demise was close at hand.
In the month of Muharram, 11 A.H., Muhammad (sas) came down with a fever, and day by day his health deteriorated. In the middle of his illness, on the 26th of Safar, 11 A.H., his condition somewhat improved. After hearing of threats to the borders of Syria and Palestine, he instructed his companions to prepare an army for battle with the Byzantine Empire under the command of Usamah bin Zaid (ra).
On the 28th of Safar, 11 A.H., his illness worsened. Even in this state, Muhammad (sas) dispatched the army having made Usamah (ra) the commander over many prominent companions. Usamah (ra) had just gone a short distance when he heard about the worsening of the health of Muhammad (sas). With Muhammad’s permission, Usamah (ra) went no further. In his sickness, Muhammad (sas) chose to stay in ‘A’ishah’s room with the permission of the other wives.9 Muhammad (sas) went to the mosque for Salat in his illness for seven or eight days, but because of extreme weakness, he rarely spoke. One day when he went for Salat, he had a piece of cloth tied around his head because of the pain. After the Salat, Muhammad (sas) delivered a short address. He said, “Allah the Exalted gave a choice to His slave, that he could choose this world or the Hereafter. But this slave chose the life of the Hereafter.” Abu Bakr (ra), who was attentively listening suddenly burst into tears. Muhammad (sas) asked that all the doors of the mosque be closed except Abu Bakr’s door.10
The next day, when Muhammad’s condition worsened further, he appointed Abu Bakr (ra) to lead the Salat. ‘A’ishah (ra) said, “O Messenger of Allah! My father, Abu Bakr (ra) is very soft of heart, and sobs while reading the Qur’an, so please appoint ‘Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) to lead the Salat.” Muhammad (sas) said, “No, Abu Bakr (ra) will lead the Salat.” One day, when he felt a little better. He lifted the curtain on the door and saw people offering Salat behind Abu Bakr (ra). The sight of the Muslims offering Salat brought such joy to him that his blessed face started glowing with delight as he saw that the trust given to him by God the Exalted was well fulfilled by the Muslims. This was a Monday. People felt that Muhammad (sas) was somewhat better, so they reverted to their daily life. Abu Bakr (ra) also went to see his family in his other house which was in the outer suburbs of Madinah at Sunh. Muhammad (sas) noticed a teeth cleaning twig (miswak) in the hand of ‘Abdur-Rahman, Abu Bakr’s son. He signaled him to bring it and cleansed his mouth with it. Soon after that he passed away while repeating the words:
فِی الرَّفِیْقِ الْاَعْلٰی
To the blessed companion up High.11
He left this transitory world to meet his Lord on the afternoon of Monday, 12th Rabi‘ul-Awwal, 11 A.H.12
إِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رٰجِعُونَ
Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.
اَللّٰھُمَّ صَلِّ علٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلٰی اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ بَارِكْ وَ سَلِّمْ اِنَّكَ حَمِیْدٌ مَجِیْدٌ
Bless, O Allah, Muhammad and the people of Muhammad. And O Allah, prosper and send peace upon them. Thou art the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.
The news of the demise of Muhammad (sas) spread like lightening in Madinah and stunned the Companions. Especially, ‘Umar Farooq (ra) was beyond himself in a state of shock. He took out his sword loudly proclaiming:
اِنَّ رِجَالًا مِّنَ الْمُنٓفِقِیْنَ زَعَمُوْا اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللّٰہِ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَ سَلَّمَ مَاتَ وَ اِنَّہٗ لَمْ یَمُتْ وَ اِنَّہٗ ذَھَبَ اِلٰی رَبِّہٖ کَمَا ذَھَبَ مُوْسٰی وَ لَیَرْجِعَنَّ فَیَقْطَعَنَّ اَیْدِیَ رِجَالٍ وَ اَرْجُلَھُمْ
A few Hypocrites think that Muhammad (sas) has passed away. In reality he did not die, but has gone to his Lord like Moses (as) did. He will certainly return and cut the hands and feet of the Hypocrites.13
‘Umar (ra) was speaking in a greatly agitated and furious tone. No one dared to explain to him the reality. In the meantime, Abu Bakr (ra) arrived. He went straight to the blessed room of Muhammad (sas), looked at his blessed body and kissed his forehead, and said, “My mother and father be sacrificed for you! Certainly, death has overtaken you, but after this, certainly there would not be another death on you.” Then repeating:
إِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رٰجِعُونَ
Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.
He stepped out. He told ‘Umar (ra) to calm down, but ‘Umar (ra) in his fury ignored him. Abu Bakr (ra) addressed the gathering in the following words:
اَلَا مَنْ کَانَ یَعْبُدُ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَ سَلَّمَ فَاِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا قَدْ مَاتَ وَ مَنْ کَانَ یَعْبُدُ اللّٰہَ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ حَیٌّ لَا یَمُوْتُ
No Doubt! Whosoever worshipped Muhammad (sas) should know that he has passed away. But whosoever worshipped Allah should know that Allah is alive, and shall never die.14
Thereafter, he recited the following verse of the Qur’an:
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ اِلَّا رَسُوۡلٌ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِ الرُّسُلُ اَفَائِنۡ مَّاتَ اَوۡ قُتِلَ انۡقَلَبۡتُمۡ عَلٰۤی اَعۡقَابِکُمۡ وَمَنۡ یَّنۡقَلِبۡ عَلٰی عَقِبَیۡہِ فَلَنۡ یَّضُرَّ اللّٰہَ شَیۡئًا وَسَیَجۡزِی اللّٰہُ الشّٰکِرِیۡنَ
And Muhammad 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? And he who turns back on his heels shall not harm Allah at all. And Allah will certainly reward the grateful.15
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas later narrated, “When Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) recited this verse, by God, it seemed as if Allah the Exalted had just revealed this verse to him (Abu Bakr (ra)), and other people heard it for the first time. At that time I did not see anyone who did not have this verse on his tongue.” Sa‘id narrated that ‘Umar (ra) said, “When Abu Bakr (ra) recited this verse, only then did I believe that Muhammad (sas) had actually passed away. Hearing this, I lost all strength in my body, my eyes blanked out, and I became unconscious.” All the Companions were stricken with the utmost grief, and everyone had his own way of expression. ‘A’ishah (ra) narrated that the Muslims stricken with this grief were like a sheep that goes around worried in a winter night. Hassan bin Thabit Ansari (ra), the poet of Muhammad’s court, expressed well the feelings of the Companions:
كُنْتَ السَّوَادَ لِنَاظِرِیْ فَعَمِیَ عَلَیْكَ النَّاظِرُ
مَنْ شَآءَ بَعْدَكَ فَلْیَمُتْ فَعَلَیْكَ كُنْتُ اُحَاذِرُ
You were the pupil of my eye; your death blinded me. Now I do not care whosoever dies after you, because I only dreaded your death.
یَا رَبِّ صَلِّ عَلٰی نَبِیِّكَ دَائِمًا
فِی ھٰذِہِ الدُّنْیَا وَ بَعْثٍ ثَانٖ
O Lord, bless forever Your Prophet in this world and the next.
1 Zadul-Ma‘ad by Ibnul Qayyim.
2 Muslim and Sunan Abi Dawud.
3 Ibni Majah and Tirmidhi.
4 Sunan Abi Dawud (Book about the Rites of Hajj), Bukhari, Bab al-Khutbah Ayyam Mina (Sermon of the Days of Mina).
5 Sunan Abi Dawud, Bukhari, Bab al-Khutbah Ayyam Mina (Sermon of the Days of Mina).
6 Sunan Abi Dawud, Bukhari, Bab al-Khutbah Ayyam Mina (Sermon of the Days of Mina).
7 Al-Ma’idah, 5:4.
8 Bukhari, Muslim and Sunan Abi Dawud.
9 Bukhari, Muslim and Sunan Abi Dawud.
10 Bukhari, Kitabus-Salat (Book of Prayers).
11 Bukhari, Kitabul-Manaqibil-Ansar (Virtues of the Companions).
12 There is consensus regarding the death of Muhammad (sas) as far as the day of the week, the month, and the year are concerned, that it was a Monday, Rabi‘ul-Awwal, 11 A.H.; however, there is disagreement regarding the date. Most historians are of the opinion that the date was the 12th and a few say that it was the 2nd Rabi‘ul-Awwal. They base their view on a tradition in Bukhari narrated by ‘Umar (ra), that the Hajjatul-Wada‘ was on Friday, 9th Dhul-Hajjah, 10 A.H. In that case, 12th Rabi‘ul-Awwal, 11 A.H. was not a Monday. However, this reasoning is not strong enough to ignore the aforementioned dates which are found in most of the traditions. Also it is mentioned in Bukhari about this tradition that it cannot be said with full certainty that the 9th Dhul-Hajjah, 11 A.H. was really a Friday. And on the other hand, the day of Sunday, or Monday, Rabi‘ul-Awwal is mathematically proven, because the average number of days in a lunar month are 29.53058815. And when we work backwards from any current lunar month to Rabi‘ul-Awwal 11 A.H. based on the average number of days per month, and break down the days of the week, we find out that 1st Rabi‘ul-Awwal, 11 A.H. was either a Wednesday or a Thursday, and 12th Rabi‘ul-Awwal, 11 A.H. was either a Sunday or a Monday. When we look at the research done by geographers and astronomers that 1st Dhul-Hajjah, 10 A.H. was a Friday, and 1st Rabi‘ul-Awwal, 11 A.H. was a Wednesday, then the comparison of the aforementioned tradition of Bukhari, and the date of 12th Rabi‘ul-Awwal, 11 A.H., becomes easy, because a difference of a day between the mathematical counting and the lunar calendar is not beyond the realm of possibility.
Further, if we assume that 9th Dhul-Hajjah was a Friday, it is impossible from the mathematics perspective for 2nd Rabi‘ul-Awwal to be a Monday unless there were 3 consecutive months of 29 days each, and from mathematics, it is impossible to have 3 consecutive months of 29 days each, and also it is not easy to find its precendence from the lunar calendar perspective. Only God knows the real truth!
13 Tarikhul-Kamil by Ibni Athir.
14 Bukhari, Kitabul-Manaqibil-Ansar (Virtues of the Companions).
15 Aal-e-‘Imran, 3:145.