Salam (Peace) - Part 12

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Salam (Peace) - Part 12

 

(p.207) Eventually Muhammad collapsed in the apartment of Maymunah. His wives

hung lovingly over him, and noticed that he kept asking: " Where shall I be

tomorrow? Where shall I be tomorrow? " and they realized that he wanted to know

when he could be with 'A'isha. They agreed that he should be moved to her hut

and nursed there. Muhammad lay quietly with his head in 'A'isha's lap, but

people seemed to have believed that he was merely suffering from a temporary

indisposition. Even though Abu Bakr repeatedly warned them that the Prophet was

not long for this world, the community was in denial. When he became too ill to

go to the mosque, he asked Abu Bakr to lead the prayers for him, but still he

would sometimes attend salat [worship], sitting quietly beside Abu Bakr even

though he was too weak to recite the words himself.

 

On 12 Rabi (June 8, 632), Abu Bakr noticed during prayers that the people were

distracted, and knew at once that Muhammad must have entered the mosque. He

looked much better. Indeed, somebody said that they had never seen him so

radiant, and a wave of joy and relief swept through the congregation. (p.208)

Abu Bakr instantly made ready to stand down, but Muhammad put his hands on his

shoulders, pushed him gently back to the head of the community and sat down next

to him until the service was over. Afterwards he went back to 'A'isha's hut and

lay peacefully in her lap. He seemed so much improved that Abu Bakr asked leave

to visit his wife, who lived on the other side of Medina. During the afternoon,

'Ali and 'Abbas both looked in and spread the good news that Muhammad was on the

mend. As evening approached, 'A'isha felt him leaning more heavily against her

than before, and he seemed to be losing consciousness. Still, she did not

realize what was happening. As she said later, " It was due to my ignorance and

extreme youth that the Prophet died in my arms. " She heard him murmur the words:

" Nay, the most Exalted Companion in Paradise " --Gabriel had come to fetch him.

[48] Looking down, 'A'isha discovered that he had gone. Carefully she laid his

head on the pillow and began to beat her breast, slap her face, and cry aloud in

the traditional way.

 

When the people heard the women lamenting the dead, they hurried ashen-faced to

the mosque. The news travelled quickly through the oasis and Abu Bakr hurried

back to the city. He took one look at Muhammad, kissed his face, and bade him

farewell. In the mosque, he found 'Umar addressing the crowds. 'Umar absolutely

refused to believe that the Prophet was dead: his soul had just left his body

temporarily, he argued, and he would certainly return to his people. He would be

the last of them all to die. The hysteria in 'Umar's compulsive harangue must

have been evident, because Abu Bakr murmured " Gently, 'Umar. " (p.209) But 'Umar

simply could not stop talking. All that Abu Bakr could do was step forward

quietly and his composure must have impressed the people, because they gradually

stopped listening to 'Umar's tirade and clustered around him.

 

Abu Bakr reminded them that Muhammad had dedicated his life to the preaching of

tawhid, the unity of God. How could they possibly imagine that he was immortal?

That would be tantamount to saying that he was divine--a second god. Constantly,

Muhammad had warned them against honoring him in the same way as Christians

venerated Jesus: He was a mere mortal, no different from anybody else. To refuse

to admit that Muhammad had died was, therefore, to deny his message. But as long

as Muslims remained true to the belief that God alone was worthy of worship,

Muhammad would live on in their minds. " O people, if anyone worships Muhammad,

Muhammad is dead, " he ended firmly. " If anyone worships God, God is alive,

immortal. " [49] Finally, he recited the verse that had been revealed to Muhammad

after the battle of Uhud, when many of the Muslims had been shocked by the false

rumor of his death: " Muhammad is naught but a Messenger; Messengers have passed

away before him. Why, if he should die or is slain, will you turn upon your

heels? If any man should turn about upon his heels, he will not harm God in any

way; and God will recompense the thankful. " [50] The verses made such an impact

on the people that it was as though they were hearing them for the first time.

'Umar was completely overcome. (p.210) " By God, when I heard Abu Bakr recite

those words I was dumbfounded, so that my legs would not bear me and I fell to

the ground knowing that the apostle was indeed dead. " [51]

 

Muhammad (Prophet For Our Time)

Chapter 5, 'Salam', p. 207-210

Karen Armstrong

Harper Perennial - London, New York, Toronto and Sydney

ISBN-13 978-0-00-723248-2

ISBN-10 0-00-723248-9

 

Notes:

 

[48] Ibn Ishaq, 'Sirat Rasul Allah', 1006, in Guillaume, 'Life of Muhammad'.

 

[49] Ibid., 1012.

 

[50] Qur'an 3:144, Arberry translation.

 

[51] Ibn Ishaq, 'Sirat Rasul Allah', 1013, in Guillaume, 'Life of Muhammad'.