Khutbah: The Death-Sickness of the Prophet (PBUH).

All Praise is due to Allah, we praise Him, and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah, the Most High, from the evils of our own selves and from our wicked deeds. Whomsoever Allah has guided, none can misguide him, and whomsoever Allah has misguided, none can guide him. I bear witness that there is no true god worthy of being worshipped except Allah, alone, without any partners or associates. I further bear witness that Muhammad is His true slave and Messenger. May Allah, the Exalted, bestow His peace and blessings on the final Prophet Muhammad, upon his good and pure family, and upon all of his noble companions.
Dear brothers, InShaAllah we will now continue with the second part of our lecture of the death of the Prophet Muhammad {saws}. continued after the jump

The Death-Sickness of the Prophet:

The death-sickness of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam started at the beginning of the month of Rabee' Al-Awwal. His companions reported some of its details as follows:

×      His condition before he became extremely sick:

As 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "When it became difficult for the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam to move about, he asked permission from his wives to remain in my house for the duration of his sickness and they agreed to this.

One day, during this sickness, he was carried outside by Al-'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, and another man while his feet were dragging along the ground

'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said while in his house suffering from intense pain: "Pour on me seven Qirbahs (rubber containers) of water which have been unopened (from the time they were brought from the well). Perhaps I will then be able to go out and address the people."" In another narration, he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: "…From seven different wells" (Tabaraani) and in another, he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: "Perhaps then I would recover and be able to go out and advise the people." After this, he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was seated in a big basin which belonged to Hafsah, may Allaah be pleased with her, then we poured water over him until he beckoned us to stop." (Bukhaari & Muslim).

Commenting on this narration, Imaam Al-Khattaabi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "Perhaps the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam mentioned the number seven because it is a commonly-used number in many areas of Islamic Law."

'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "While the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was suffering from his death-sickness, the call to prayer was made.

He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: "Command Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." Some people advised him that Abu Bakr was a soft-hearted man who would not be able to restrain himself from crying during prayers. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam repeated his statement and people repeated the same advice to him. When this happened for the third time, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: "You people are just like the women who plotted against Yusuf! Command Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." Therefore, Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, went to lead the prayer, but all of a sudden, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam felt that he was recovering, so he came out of his house leaning against two men."

'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, continued: "It is as if I am looking at his feet dragging on the floor from pain at this very moment." She, may Allaah be pleased with her, added: "When Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, felt the presence of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, he began to retreat from his position, but the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam signalled for him to continue. Then, he came and sat down next to Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, and prayed on that spot." (Bukhaari & Muslim).

Al-A'mash, may Allaah have mercy upon him, was asked whether the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam became the Imaam for this particular prayer and whether people followed the motions of Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, and he replied: "Yes."

Anas bin Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that during the death-sickness of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam: "The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam did not come out for three days. After this, when the very next prayer was due, Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, came forth to lead the prayer, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam opened the curtain of his house (and looked at us from within his house). There was nothing more beautiful than his face when he looked at us on that day. After that, he pointed to Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, to proceed and lead the prayer and then he closed his curtain. He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was to never come out of his house again, until he died." (Bukhaari & Muslim).

Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "Whenever the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam would become sick, he would blow into his palms and then recite Al-Mu'awwidhaat (The last three chapters of the Qur'aan) into them. Then he would wipe them over his whole body. However, at the time of his death-sickness, I recited them into his palms, held them and wiped them over his body." (Bukhaari & Muslim).

×      The extreme pain he suffered:

 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "I have never seen anyone going through pain which is harsher than that which the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam suffered (during his death sickness)." (Bukhaari & Muslim).

'Abdullaah Ibn Mas'ood, may Allaah be said pleased with him, said: "I went to see the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (during his death sickness) and found him suffering from intense pain, so I put my hand on him and said: 'O Messenger of Allaah! Indeed you are suffering from intense pain' he replied: "Yes, I suffer twice as much as anyone else would." I asked: 'Will you get double the reward?' he replied: "Yes." Then he said to me: "Allaah will remove sins, just as a tree sheds its leaves, for any Muslim who is afflicted with sickness or any other tribulation."" (Bukhaari & Muslim).

'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "When the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was on his death bed, I saw him dipping his hands into a bowl of water and wiping his face with them while saying: "Oh my Lord! Help me through the hardships and agonies of death.""(Ahmad, Ibn Maajah & Tirmidhi).

Anas bin Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated: "When the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam became gravely ill, he began to lose consciousness, so his daughter Faatimah, may Allaah be pleased with her, exclaimed: 'What extreme pain my father is suffering!' The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam heard this and said: "Your father will never suffer again after today."" (Bukhaari).

Umm Al-Fadhil, may Allaah be pleased with her (who was the mother of Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam came out of his house during his death-sickness with his head tied and led the Maghrib prayer reciting Surat Al-Mursalaat. He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam did not live long enough to pray the next day of Maghrib prayer.' (Bukhaari & Muslim).

×      The duration of his death-sickness:

Ibn Hajar, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "The majority of scholars are of the view that the death-sickness of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam lasted for thirteen days. Some have added a day while others have deducted one. Also, there is group who hold the view that it only lasted for ten days".

 2^nd khutbah----

The advice of the Prophet during his death sickness:

There is no doubt that everything which the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said was full of wisdom; whether it was a warning, encouragement or advice. However, he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam gave his nation special advice during his death-sickness, just as he was approaching the Hereafter:

'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said during his death-sickness: "May Allaah curse the Jews; they made their Prophets' graves into places of prostration." then she, may Allaah be pleased with her continued: "Had he not said that, then the people would have made his grave as a place of prostration; but I am afraid (in the future) that they will do so anyway" (Bukhaari & Muslim).

Sa'eed Ibn Jubayr, may Allaah have mercy upon him, narrated that Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "'Thursday, if only you knew what happened on Thursday!' Then he cried until the ground beneath him was wet. I (Sa'eed Ibn Jubayr) asked: 'O Ibn 'Abbaas! What happened on Thursday?' He replied: "The sickness of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam became very severe, so he said: "Bring me a shoulder bone (of an animal) so that I can have something written on it, which, if you adhere to, will prevent you from ever going astray." Then, the people around him began arguing as to whether it should be written down or not – and these people should not have had a dispute in the presence of a Prophet. Then, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: "Leave me alone, for I am (heading to) a better situation (having seen the good that Allaah had prepared for him) than what you are disputing about (basically meaning, it is better for me not to spend time in a useless dispute."

Then, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam commanded three things:  "Expel the polytheists from the Arabian peninsula, reward guests with gifts just as I used to do, and hold on to the Qur'aan."'" (Bukhaari & Muslim).

Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam emerged from his house during his death-sickness covered with a blanket and with a cloth wrapped over his head. He sat on the pulpit in the Mosque, praised Allaah and glorified him and then said: "People will increase in number and the Ansaar (the residents of Madeenah during the time of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) will decrease in number until they become as rare as salt is in food. Therefore, whoever finds himself in a position of leadership with which he can benefit or harm people should accept the goodness that the Ansaar do and forgive those who may misbehave from amongst them." This was the last time the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam sat with people to address them." (Bukhaari).

Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said that during the death-sickness of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam: "The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam pulled back the curtain of his house while the people were lined up behind Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, ready to pray, and said: "O people! There is nothing left from the glad tidings of prophethood except for good dreams which people have, or others have concerning them.

I was forbidden to recite the Qur'aan while prostrating or bowing during my prayers, therefore, glorify Allaah when you bow down and exert great effort while supplicating during prostration; you will be responded to."" (Bukhaari).

Umm Salamah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said during his death-sickness: "Guard your prayers and watch over what your right hands possess." He continued to repeat these words until he was unable to talk." (Ibn Maajah).

Commenting on this Hadeeth, As-Sindi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "The words "Guard your prayers" mean maintain them, take care of them and do not be negligent of them. "What your right hands possess" means pay the due Zakaah on the wealth that you possess. It could also refer to the rights of servants and the kind treatment that is due to them, as this terminology is commonly used in the Qur'aan.

Anas Ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "The predominant matter that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam kept stressing while on his death bed was: "Guard your prayers and watch over what your right hands possess."" (Ibn Maajah).

Dear brothers, hopefully in the next lecture will talk about the actual death of the prophet Muhammad {saws}. May Allah reward u all, & bless our prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.

Allahuma aslih ahwal al muslimeen fee kulli makan.

Allahuma’ Eghfir kulli Lil’ Muslimeena wal Muslimat

Wal Moumineena wal Mouminaat

Al-Ahya’ee minhum wal amwat

Innaka samee’un mujibu dawat

duaa

 Allahumma salli ala Muhammad, wa ala ali Muhammad, kama salayta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali Ibrahim. wa barik ala Muhammad wa ala aali muhammad, kama barakta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali ibrahim. innaka hameedun majeed.