All praise and thanks are due to Allaah. We praise Him, ask for His help and forgiveness, and we seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and our sinful acts. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped except Allaah. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, and companions.
3:102. O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.
Dear brothers, we will be embarking upon a journey which is not easy to contemplate. Today I will be giving a lecture about the death of the prophet Muhammad {saws}. Since there is a lot to talk about, I will be talking about this subject for the next two Fridays when I give khutbahs, which will be alternate Fridays from today. I want these lectures to put us way back in the time of the prophet Muhammad {saws} as if he was living amongst us and then imagine how you would feel when he {saws} past away.
So let us start inshaAllah upon our journey.
The importance of the event
× The month of Rabee’ Al-Awwal includes three important events which are known to be; the birth of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, his migration to Madeenah and his death.
× Some Muslims imitate the Christians and others (in their relationships with their Prophets) by regarding the birthday of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam as the most important of the three events. Some of them even go as far as to think that this was the single most important event in the entire life of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.
× Although the birth of the Prophet was a blessed event, the only thing that distinguished it from all other births is the fact that he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam went on to become a messenger of Allaah.
× His migration was far more important than his birth, because it resulted in the establishment of the Muslim community and the first Islamic state. This state lasted for many centuries and introduced to humanity a distinguished civilization that was unsurpassed in history. Due to the importance of this event, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, and the Muslims after him based the recording of Islamic history according to it.
Ash-Shu'bi narrated that: "Abu Moosaa, may Allaah be pleased with him, wrote to 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him (When he was the ruler of the Muslims), saying: 'we receive undated letters from you (we need them to be dated).'
So 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, gathered the people to decide on a method for initiating the method of dating. Some people suggested starting from the exact time that revelation began while others suggested beginning from the time of the migration. 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, agreed with the second view and said: 'The migration distinguished the truth from falsehood, so use it as a starting point"'(Ibn Abu Shaybah).
× The most important event in the life of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was his death, as this was not the same as the death of anyone else, nor indeed like that of any other prophet. This is because all revelations and messages stopped with the death of the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Think about this? When Jesus, or Musa died, this ended their prophethood, but not prophecy! The death of the prophet put an end on any message to come after him.
× The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam informed us that his death would be a great disaster by saying: "O people! If any believer is afflicted by a disaster, let him remember the disaster of my death, so that this may give him ease, as nobody will be afflicted with a disaster which is greater than that of my death." (Ibn Maajah).
As-Sindi said: "Remembering a greater disaster wipes out the effect of a smaller one, and if one was able to tolerate and shoulder the greater disaster then it becomes easier for him to withstand the smaller one."
× When the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam died, Umm Ayman, may Allaah be pleased with her, cried.
When she was asked why, she replied: "I swear by Allaah that I knew the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam would eventually die, but I am crying because the revelation has stopped descending." (Ahmad).
× Abu Bardah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: "The stars safeguard the skies, and when the stars disappear, then the skies will get what they were promised (the day of Resurrection), and I safe guard my companions, so when I go (i.e., die) then my companions will get what they were promised (i.e., trials, wars, people apostatising etc..), and my companions safeguard the Muslim nation, so when they go (i.e, die) then my nation will get what they were promised (i.e., disunity, trials, hearts differing and other matters)." (Muslim). Commenting upon this Hadeeth, Imaam An-Nawawi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "Everything that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam stated in this Hadeeth regarding incidents that follow his departure has taken place."
The Prophet was informed about when he would die:
The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was informed about when he would eventually die.
Allaah says that which translates as: "Indeed, you [i.e, Muhammad Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam] are to die, and indeed, they are to die]." (Az-Zumar: 30). He also says that which translates as: "And We did not grant to any man before you eternity [on earth]; so if you die – would they be eternal? Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned." (An-Anbiyaa': 34-35) and also: "Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to disbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allaah at all; but Allaah will reward the grateful." (Aal 'Imraan: 144).
Ibn 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: " (Which translates as): "When the victory of Allaah has come and the conquest [of Makkah], And you see the people entering into the religion of Allaah in multitudes, Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance." (An-Nasr: 1-4) was revealed to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam during the days of 'Eid just after Hajj, it became known that his death was near." (Al-Bayhaqi).
Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: ''Umar ibn Al-Khataab, may Allaah be pleased with him, asked them (i.e., a group of the companions) about the interpretation of the chapter of the Qur'aan (which translates as): "When the victory of Allaah has come and the conquest [of Makkah], And you see the people entering into the religion of Allaah in multitudes, Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance." (An-Nasr: 1-4). Some of them replied: 'It is regarding the conquering of some areas by the Muslims' then Umar, may Allah be pleased with him asked: 'O Ibn 'Abbaas! What is you opinion?' Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: 'This was a sign for the Prophet to know his time of death '" (Bukhaari).
On many occasions, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam hinted to his companions about just how close his death was. For example, Mu'aadh Ibn Jebel, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "When the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was dispatching me to Yemen, he walked with me and was advising me while I was riding on my animal. When he finished his advice, he said: "O Mu'aadh! Perhaps you will not see me again after this year and perhaps you will pass by my mosque or grave" so I cried out of grief at the thought of the death of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Then, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam faced Madeenah and said: "The worthiest of my company (in the hereafter) are the most pious, whoever and wherever they are." (Ahmad).
'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, reported that: "Faatimah, may Allaah be pleased with her, came to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam walking in the same manner as he walked.
Upon seeing her, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: "My daughter! welcome" then he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam seated her on his right or left and whispered something in her ear until she cried. Therefore, I asked her: 'why did you cry?' Then the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam whispered in her ear again until she laughed. So I said to her: 'I have never seen happiness and sadness so close to each other as I have today.' Then I asked her what the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam had told her. She replied 'I do not wish to reveal something which the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam whispered to me.'
After the death of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, I asked her the same question again and this time she replied: 'First of all, he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said to me: "Jibreel reviews the Qur'aan with me once every year, but this year he did it twice - and I think this is because the time for my death has come. And you will be the next to die from my family." Therefore, I cried. Then, he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said to me: "Are you not happy that you will be the best of all the ladies of Paradise… " so I laughed out of joy." (Bukhaari & Muslim).
× The sickness of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was the result of a Jewish conspiracy. This happened because some Jews in Khaybar invited the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and some of his companions for a meal which they had poisoned.
The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and his companions began to eat, then, suddenly, he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: "Everybody stop eating, because the food just spoke to me and told me that it was poisoned." Recalling this while on his deathbed, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: "I can still feel the effect of what I ate in Khaybar, therefore, the time for my death time has come." (Abu Daawood).
× The Prophet's death-sickness began just after he buried one of his companions. 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam came back from a funeral and found me suffering from a headache. I was saying: 'Oh my head!' so the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: "Rather, it is my head that aches." then he said: "What harm would it be to you (meaning, would it be better for you) if you die before me, then I could wash you, shroud you, pray over you and then bury you." I replied: "I swear by Allaah that if this were to occur then you would come back from my funeral and marry again; so he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam smiled - and it was at this point that his death-sickness started' (Ahmad & Ibn Maajah).
بارك الله لي ولكم في القرآن العظيم، ونفعني وإياكم بما فيه من الآيات والذكر الحكيم، أقول قولي هذا، وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ، فاستغفروه، إنه هو الغفور الرحيم. 2nd khutbah ============
All praise and thanks are due to Allaah. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, and companions.
3:102. O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam. To finish up for today, we will go over the choice that was given to the prophet Muhammad {saws} between eternal life and death:
As Abu Muway-hibah, may Allaah be pleased with him, who was a servant of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam narrated: "Once the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam called me in the middle of the night and said: "O Abu Muway-hibah, I have been commanded to supplicate for the forgiveness of the people of the Baqee' graveyard, so come along with me" so I went with him. When we reached it, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam supplicated: "O people of the graves! May the salutations of Allaah be upon you. What you are facing is a lot easier than that which us who are alive are facing.
If only you knew what Allaah has saved you from! The trials that we are facing have become darker than the night and are rapidly succeeding one another, each one worse than the one it succeeded." then he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam faced me and said: "O Abu Muway-hibah! I was given a choice (by Allaah); to have control over this world and live in it eternally, followed by Paradise; or, to meet my Lord (now) and be granted Paradise after that." So I said: 'I would sacrifice my father and mother for your sake! Choose the control over this world and to live in it eternally, followed by Paradise'. He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied: "No Abu Muway-hibah! I swear by Allaah that I have chosen to meet my Lord (now) and be granted Paradise after it." After this, he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam supplicated for the forgiveness of the people of the Baqee' graveyard and left. The next day, his death-sickness began." (Ahmad & Ad-Daarimi).
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam once said in a speech: ""Allaah has given one of his slaves the choice between this life and what He has for him (i.e., paradise), so the slave chose what Allaah had for him." Upon hearing this, Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, began crying. We were all very surprised as to why would this story make Abu Bakr cry, but later we discovered that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was referring to himself as the one who was given the choice.
It was then that we discovered that Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, understood the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam the most." (Bukhaari & Muslim).
O Allah! We ask You by every name that You have, that You have called Yourself by, that You have taught any of Your Creation, that You have revealed in Your Book, or that You may have kept secret with Yourself.
To make the Quran the spring of our hearts, the light of our chest, the dispeller of our sorrows, the eraser of our anxieties and worries.
To make the Quran the spring of our hearts, the light of our chest, the dispeller of our sorrows, the eraser of our anxieties and worries.
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