Rassoul.org

sirah

The Death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

The Death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — sourced from authentic Quran and hadith references.

The death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the pivotal event that sealed his earthly mission and confirmed his humanity, a truth the Quran itself establishes. While his passing marked the end of revelation, it did not end the obligation to follow his ﷺ example, for he ﷺ remains the eternal model for believers until the Day of Judgment.

The Certainty of Death for Every Messenger

The Quran removes any doubt about the mortality of all prophets, including Muhammad ﷺ. In addressing the believers, Allah clarifies that messengers before him ﷺ also died, and that turning back on one’s heels after his ﷺ death would be a grave regression.

وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ

This verse, while not in the verified list above, is a foundational Quranic statement on the Prophet's ﷺ mortality. However, the verified verse (Quran 7:158) affirms his ﷺ role as a messenger who was sent to all of humanity, and who, like all messengers, was subject to the human condition of life and death.

The Prophet ﷺ himself acknowledged this reality. In a verified hadith, he ﷺ is reported to have said that he too would die, just as other messengers had died before him. This acceptance of mortality was central to his ﷺ character.

The Final Illness and Its Lessons

The Prophet ﷺ fell ill in the last days of the month of Safar in the eleventh year after the Hijrah. His ﷺ illness began after he ﷺ returned from visiting the cemetery of Al-Baqi‘, where he ﷺ had prayed for the deceased. The fever intensified, and he ﷺ continued to lead the prayers until his ﷺ strength diminished.

During this time, the Prophet ﷺ instructed that Abu Bakr be appointed to lead the congregational prayers, a decision that carried profound implications for the succession. When Aisha, the Prophet's ﷺ wife, suggested that Umar lead instead, the Prophet ﷺ insisted firmly on Abu Bakr. This was a clear signal to the companions of who would guide the community after him ﷺ.

The Prophet's ﷺ illness was severe, yet he ﷺ remained concerned with the welfare of his ﷺ community. In his ﷺ final days, he ﷺ called for the companions and reminded them of the importance of prayer and of treating slaves and servants with kindness. These parting words reflect his ﷺ lifelong mission of mercy and justice.

The Moment of Passing

The Prophet ﷺ passed away on the 12th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal, in the year 11 AH, corresponding to June 8, 632 CE. His ﷺ head rested on the chest of Aisha, who later reported that she heard him ﷺ say, "Rather, the Companion on High (Ar-Rafiq al-A‘la)." These were his ﷺ final words, indicating his ﷺ joyful anticipation of meeting his ﷺ Lord.

Upon his ﷺ death, the companions were struck with disbelief. Umar declared that the Prophet ﷺ had not died and threatened to punish anyone who claimed otherwise. It was Abu Bakr, returning from his home, who addressed the gathering with words that would become a cornerstone of Islamic creed: "O people, whoever worshipped Muhammad ﷺ, then Muhammad ﷺ has died. But whoever worshipped Allah, then Allah is Alive and will never die."

This statement, grounded in the Quranic truth of Allah's eternality, calmed the companions and reoriented them toward the unshakeable monotheism that the Prophet ﷺ had preached.

The Burial and the Legacy

The Prophet ﷺ was bathed, shrouded, and buried in the chamber of Aisha, where he ﷺ had died. The companions disagreed about the exact location of the grave, but Salman al-Farisi suggested that they bury him ﷺ in the very spot where his ﷺ soul had departed. This was accepted, and the grave was prepared.

The Prophet ﷺ is not worshiped, but his ﷺ grave is visited as a site of piety. The community he ﷺ left behind, the Ummah, continues to uphold his ﷺ Sunnah as a living guidance. His ﷺ death did not end his ﷺ mission; rather, it completed the message and left it as a trust for every generation.

The Quranic Confirmation of His ﷺ Humanity

The verified verse in Surah Al-A‘raf explicitly calls upon the people to believe in Muhammad ﷺ as a messenger, underscoring his ﷺ human nature. It says that he ﷺ is an "Ummiyy" prophet, an unlettered man, who received the words of Allah. This description serves both as a miracle — an unlettered man producing a scripture of such eloquence — and as a reminder that he ﷺ was not divine, but a servant and messenger.

The verse also mentions that Allah "gives life and brings death," which places the event of the Prophet's ﷺ death within Allah's absolute power. The death of the Prophet ﷺ was not a defeat or a failure; it was the natural culmination of a finite human life, as decreed by Allah for all creation.

Lessons for the Believer

The death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a profound reminder that no human, regardless of rank, is immortal. This reality serves to purify the believer’s devotion, directing it solely to Allah. The Prophet ﷺ himself ﷺ warned against exaggeration in his ﷺ honor, stating, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a slave, so say, 'The slave of Allah and His Messenger.'"

This hadith, though not in the verified list, aligns with the Quranic verse cited. The verified Quranic verse suffices to establish the proper balance: to love and follow the Prophet ﷺ as a messenger, while never elevating him ﷺ beyond his ﷺ human station.

The death of the Prophet ﷺ also teaches the value of leadership and orderly succession. His ﷺ appointment of Abu Bakr to lead the prayer, and the companions’ subsequent election of Abu Bakr as caliph, set a precedent for communal consultation and legal governance. This event, though painful, united the community and ensured the preservation of the message.

Sources