Period 17 of 18
His Illness and Death
After a short illness, the Prophet ﷺ passed away in the house of Aisha, and Abu Bakr steadied the Muslims.
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His last illness
A few weeks after returning from Hajj, the sirah books record, the Prophet ﷺ fell ill with fever and headache. Aisha رضي الله عنها said that during his illness he kept asking: “Where will I be tomorrow?” meaning the day of Aisha, and his wives gave him leave to be nursed wherever he chose, so he stayed in her house until he died. When the time of prayer came, he said: “Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” Aisha رضي الله عنها pointed out that Abu Bakr was tender-hearted and would weep, but the Prophet ﷺ repeated the command.
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The choice and the final counsel
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ sat on the pulpit and said that Allah had given a servant a choice between the splendour of this world and what is with Him, and the servant had chosen what is with Him. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه wept, saying: “We would ransom you with our fathers and mothers,” and the people were surprised, though he understood the meaning. Aisha رضي الله عنها said that he used to say, when healthy, that no prophet's soul is taken until he sees his place in Paradise and is given a choice. Anas رضي الله عنه said that his last counsel as he lay dying was: “The prayer, and what your right hands possess.”
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The passing of the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ passed away on a Monday, in Rabi' al-Awwal 11 AH (June 632 CE); the most common date given is 12 Rabi' al-Awwal. Aisha رضي الله عنها said that he died in her house, on her day, with his head between her chest and throat. When his time came he raised his gaze toward the ceiling and said: “O Allah, with the Highest Companion,” and she understood that this was the choice he had spoken of. Aisha رضي الله عنها said that he was sixty-three years old when he died, which is the age most scholars accept.
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Grief, Abu Bakr's words and the burial
The news was so heavy that Umar رضي الله عنه at first refused to believe it. Aisha رضي الله عنها reported that Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه came, kissed the Prophet ﷺ and said: “You are good, alive and dead.” He then addressed the people: “Whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad has died; and whoever worships Allah, Allah is Ever-Living and does not die,” and recited: “Muhammad is only a messenger; messengers have passed away before him” (3:144). The companions then differed about where to bury him, and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said he had heard the Prophet ﷺ say that Allah does not take a prophet except in the place where he would like to be buried; so he was buried in the room of Aisha رضي الله عنها.
How the sources are used
Sources are chosen in this order: the Quran first, then the hadith collections of al-Bukhari and Muslim, and then other collections such as al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Malik. The sirah books, mainly Ibn Ishaq as transmitted by Ibn Hisham, are used only for details not found in the hadith, and these are marked as “recorded in the sirah books.” Dates in the Christian era are approximate, and hadith numbers follow the hadith library of this website.
Hadith numbers follow the hadith library on this site, and each source opens its hadith there. Details that are not in the hadith collections are marked as coming from the sirah books.
General information for learning, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.