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The Prophets Demise And Tread-Fastness
20 July 2009
By Babandi Gumel
Then have patience ( O Muhammad) even as the stout (of heart) among Messengers (of old ) had patience and seek not to hasten for their doom. The Day when they see that which they are promised (it will seem) as though they had tarried (only) an hour of daylight. A clear Message (sufficient exposition).Shall then any is destroyed save transgressing people (evil living folk)? The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) endured the suffering of each of his disciples, but at no moment was ever his confidence shaken as he knew that if Allah often sees fit to put His servants to the test never does He abandon them. Ever since the Day the Prophet Muhammad left this earthly life, more than 1400 years this extraordinary man who was to say the least ,the equal of the greatest of all Prophets, the monarch, general theologian legislator and philosopher is being honoured and adored by over one and a half billion followers following his footsteps in life and death. Sometimes we get carried away by some of our achievements forgetting the purpose of life which seemed like an hour as described in the above verse. We therefore should endeavour to follow the footsteps of the Prophet in life and death as our role model becoming steadfast. The Day He died on Monday the 12th Rabiul Awwal corresponding the 8th June 632 his wives came running and all together went down on their knees lamenting his demise. On hearing the lamentations the Companions filled the Prophet’s Mosque dazing like sheep straying on a dark wintry night with no one daring to admit the Prophet’s demise. “ How can he be dead? “ they cried. Did we not count upon him to be our witness on the Day of Resurrection meeting the approval of many companions including the no –nonsense Sayyadina Umar who was once told by the Prophet himself “if there were to be another Prophet after me it would have been Umar”. Now the same Umar out of sheer grief lamented that the Prophet has only gone to visit His Lord even as Moses did . Those who say he is dead are indeed traitors to the cause of Islam whose hands and feet be cut off. It was only Sayyadina Abubakar who was destined to take the mantle of leadership did not lose his mental composure . After passing the crowd in the Mosque he went straight into the room of his daughter Aishah where the Prophet’s body was lying covered with a piece of cloth. Abubakar uncovered the Prophet’s face and then kissed his forehead realising that he was no more there and then praised the Prophet for whose ransom he would have offered both his parents exclaiming “Thy career is well accomplished” . He covered the beloved face again and went out straight to the waiting crowd. He asked them to sit down with only Umar unfortunately and few refusing to obey the order due to the intensity of grief. In the meantime the majority of the believers left Umar haranguing and gathered around Sayyidina Abubakar who made the unforgettable statement quoting the Verse of the Quran which touched the whole audience including Umar thus bringing them back on the right track of following the Sunnah .” Muhammad is no more than an Apostle, other Apostles have already passed away before him, so if he dies or slain will you turn upon your heels, ” and quoted another Verse “Thou truly art mortal (O Muhammad) and they are (also) mortals”. He then addressed the people whoso ever worships Muhammad should know that Muhammad is no more but if you worship Allah you should know that Allah is ever living and would never die. Immediately Umar heard Sayyadina Abubakar quoting these verses his legs gave way almost falling down realising that definitely like any other human the Prophet has indeed left this world. The man who had succeeded in bringing together in religious fraternity families and tribes at loggerheads for centuries having disappeared what would become of this brotherhood? A tragic conflict would have arisen between the Ansar and the Muhajirun regarding the Prophet’s successor had not Umar’s energy and spirit of decision had averted this sort of crisis. He reminded both parties that during the last days of the Prophet he designated Abubakar his companion during emigration to take his place as Imam thus settling the dispute an opinion that carried the day. Abbas the Uncle of Rasulullah along with seven other companions including Sayyadina Ali assisted in washing the Prophets body in the same clothes he passed away. The first washing was done with plain water the next with an infusion of lotus-flower and the third and the last with camphorated water perfuming the body that came into contact with the earth during prostration in prayers which included forehead, nose, hands, knees and feet. When they were washing his body Sayyadina Ali marvelled at not finding on Muhammad’s frame any of those horrible traces of decomposition following the separation of the soul from the body, with the exception of slight bluish tinge appearing on the nails. The anxious waiting crowd were allowed in the tent- room erected by Abbas who came and prayed individually without an Imam as the real Imam was present but his soul had been called back to the side of Almighty. Sayyadina Abubakar and Umar concluded the prayers with these words “ O Allah we bear witness that he had accomplished the Mission which You entrusted him. O Allah grant peace to those among us who follow faithfully the Orders which You have revealed to him and hasten to unite us with him Amin and all the people stirred to the innermost depths of their being repeated “Amin Amin” . Finally the Prophet’s beloved body was lowered into the grave his resting place covering it with the earth like every other human being destined to embark on the same journey which unfortunately most of us are least prepared. It is now more than 1400 years since his demise yet thousands of people daily throng the same resting place of the Prophet in Al-Madinah. Even though visiting the grave is not one of the pillars of Islam yet thousands or millions of people endured the journey enthusiastically to Madinah to salute the Prophet and pay their respect for the man who many even non Muslims described as one of the greatest men known in history who left a lasting legacy that would continue forever. We should endeavour to tread his footsteps with utmost zeal and perseverance thus becoming steadfast in words and deeds which can be described as tread-fastness like the companions who followed him wherever they were without any hesitation or doubts giving them success in both Worlds. Wa Akhiri Daawana Anil Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alameen.
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