3.6.3 The Death of the Prophet ﷺ

Illness Before the Departure

The death of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the completion of his earthly mission. Allah had informed him that every soul must die, and that even he, the finest of creation, would return to his Lord. Allah says:

"Indeed, you are to die, and indeed, they are to die."
(Qur’an 39:30)

Shortly before his death, the Prophet ﷺ experienced a severe illness that lasted for about two weeks. This began not long after the Farewell Ḥajj and the final completion of the religion. His illness was very intense, which itself was a form of mercy for the believers, because it showed that hardship and pain are not signs of Allah’s displeasure. Rather, they can be a means of raising a person’s rank and forgiving sins.

He ﷺ said:

"The most severely tested of the people are the Prophets, then those who are closest to them, then those who are closest to them."
(Tirmidhī)

During this illness, he sometimes fainted, woke up, prayed, and continued to give advice. He remained patient and content with Allah’s decree, which is the embodiment of believing in Qadar in both ease and hardship.

The Final Days in the House of ʿĀʾishah

As his illness worsened, the Prophet ﷺ asked his wives for permission to stay during his final days in the house of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها. This shows his justice and kindness to his family, because he sought their consent rather than deciding alone.

ʿĀʾishah narrated:

"When the Prophet ﷺ became sick, he would ask: 'Where will I be tomorrow? Where will I be tomorrow?' wishing for the day of ʿĀʾishah. So his wives allowed him to stay wherever he wished, and he stayed in my house until he died in my house."
(Bukhārī, Muslim)

He was cared for with deep love. ʿĀʾishah would recite the Muʿawwidhatayn, Sūrah al-Falaq and Sūrah an-Nās, over him and blow into her hands, then pass them over his body seeking Allah’s protection. This was in line with what he had taught the Ummah regarding ruqyah and trust in Allah.

Even in this state, he continued to lead the community as much as he could. When his condition became too severe to lead the ṣalāh, he instructed that Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه should lead the people in prayer.

He said:

"Order Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer."
(Bukhārī)

This was one of the clearest signs that Abū Bakr was the most virtuous of his companions and that he would take on leadership after the Prophet ﷺ, by the will of Allah.

The Last Public Address

During his final illness, the Prophet ﷺ came out to the people on more than one occasion. He reassured them, warned them against returning to old ways, and emphasized key principles.

On one of these days, though weak, he came out with the support of two men, and the Muslims saw his face shining with light. He addressed them about certain matters, including forbidding taking the graves of prophets as places of worship, and warning against exaggeration in his praise.

He ﷺ said:

"Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising the son of Mary. I am only a servant, so say: the servant of Allah and His Messenger."
(Bukhārī)

By doing this before his death, he shut the door to major forms of shirk that had overtaken previous nations, and preserved the purity of tawḥīd in this Ummah.

In another great sermon, he reminded the people about the sanctity of blood, property, and honor, building on what he had already declared in the Farewell Sermon. He made it very clear that Islam as a religion and a law was now complete. Allah had already revealed:

"This day I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favor upon you, and have approved for you Islam as religion."
(Qur’an 5:3)

After the completion of revelation, no new rulings could be added to Islam, and no part of it could be removed. The Prophet’s role was now to leave behind a clear path, after which he would meet his Lord.

The Final Advice and Repeated Emphasis

In those last days, certain phrases and concerns were often on the Prophet’s blessed tongue. He repeated them so that they would remain alive in the hearts of his followers after his death.

Among the most important were his emphasis on ṣalāh and kind treatment of those under one’s care. One of the companions reported:

"The last advice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was: 'Prayer, prayer, and what your right hands possess'."
(Abū Dāwūd)

Here, "what your right hands possess" refers to all those under a person’s authority and responsibility, including as understood by scholars, family, dependents, and anyone whose rights are in one’s care. So his final words to the Ummah contained the pillars of worshiping Allah correctly and dealing justly and kindly with people.

He also emphasized that the believers must not take his grave as a place of worship, in order to protect tawḥīd. He said:

"May Allah curse the Jews and Christians, for they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship."
(Bukhārī, Muslim)

This firm warning, spoken near the time of his death, was a mercy for the Ummah, guiding them away from falling into what had destroyed earlier nations.

The Last Moments of the Prophet ﷺ

His last day was Monday in Rabīʿ al-Awwal, in the 11th year after Hijrah. On that morning, he lifted the curtain of ʿĀʾishah’s room and looked at the Muslims who were praying in congregation behind Abū Bakr. His face was filled with joy at the sight of his Ummah in obedience to Allah.

Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه said:

"The last look I saw of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was when he lifted the curtain on Monday. His face was as if it were a page of a Muṣḥaf, and the people were in rows in prayer behind Abū Bakr. The people were about to be put to trial in their prayer out of joy that they saw the Prophet ﷺ. Then he let the curtain fall, and he died that very day."
(Bukhārī)

This shows his love for the prayer and his happiness seeing the Muslims establishing it without him physically present. It also hints that the Ummah must continue upon guidance even after his departure.

In the very final moments of his life, he was resting with his head on the chest or lap of ʿĀʾishah. She described these intimate, emotional moments with great detail. She said that he used a miswāk, softened by her, to clean his teeth. Then he began to say certain words.

Among his last words was his declaration of the highest companionship with Allah. ʿĀʾishah narrated:

"I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying, 'O Allah, (with) the highest companionship.' "
(Bukhārī, Muslim)

He chose to be with Allah rather than remain in this world, for he had been given that choice. Previously he had said:

"No prophet is taken in death until he is shown his place in Paradise and then he is given the choice (to live or die)."
(Bukhārī)

When he said "the highest companionship," ʿĀʾishah understood that he chose to go to Allah. His pure soul left his body in her house, on her day, and in her lap.

The Reaction of the Companions

The news of his death was a shock to the companions, even though the Qur’an had clearly stated that he was human and would die like others. Their love for him was immense. Many could not bear the thought that he had really departed.

Allah had already prepared the believers for this moment when He said:

"Muḥammad is no more than a Messenger; many Messengers have passed away before him. So if he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all, but Allah will reward the grateful."
(Qur’an 3:144)

When the Prophet ﷺ died, some companions were overcome with grief. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه, who was very strong and brave, at first refused to accept that the Prophet ﷺ had passed away. It is reported that he said that some hypocrites were claiming that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had died, but he believed that the Prophet ﷺ had gone to meet his Lord like Mūsā عليه السلام and would return.

At that critical moment, Allah gave firmness and clarity to Abū Bakr. He entered, uncovered the Prophet’s face, kissed him, and said beautiful words, acknowledging his death and the reality of human mortality. Then Abū Bakr went out to the people and addressed them with verses of the Qur’an that settled the matter in their hearts.

He recited:

"Muḥammad is no more than a Messenger; many Messengers have passed away before him..."
(Qur’an 3:144)

Then he said to the people:

"Whoever used to worship Muḥammad, then Muḥammad is dead. And whoever used to worship Allah, then Allah is Alive and never dies."
(Reported by Bukhārī in summary)

Anas رضي الله عنه said:

"It was as if the people had never heard this verse until Abū Bakr recited it, and then the people began to recite it."
(Bukhārī)

This moment was a test of faith. It made clear that love for the Prophet ﷺ is part of īmān, but he is still a servant and Messenger, and only Allah is eternal and worthy of worship.

The Burial and the Place of His Grave

The companions faced another important question: where to bury the Prophet ﷺ. They did not differ due to desire or ego, but out of sincere concern to do what was right. Then Abū Bakr informed them of a statement he had heard from the Prophet ﷺ.

He said that the Prophet ﷺ had said:

"No prophet is buried except where he dies."
(Tirmidhī)

So they understood that he should be buried in the house of ʿĀʾishah, where he had passed away. This is why his grave is within the area that later became part of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

They prepared and washed his body with gentleness, covered in his garments, and performed the funeral prayer over him, but in a unique way. Groups of companions went in, without an imam leading, and each group prayed individually. He was their imam in life, and in death no one would lead the believers over him.

He was buried in his grave in the very place of his death. This placement also served the wisdom of protecting his grave from becoming an object of worship. It is within a house, not in the open desert, and the Prophet ﷺ had already forbidden taking graves as places of worship.

The Completion of the Message and No Prophet After Him

With his death, prophethood was sealed. There would be no prophet after Muḥammad ﷺ. This is a central part of Islamic belief in the Finality of Prophethood. Allah says:

"Muḥammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets. And Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing."
(Qur’an 33:40)

He ﷺ said clearly:

"There will be no prophet after me."
(Bukhārī, Muslim)

His death did not leave the Ummah without guidance. The Sharīʿah was complete, the Qur’an preserved, and his Sunnah recorded and carried by trustworthy scholars. The path to Allah is now through following what he brought, not through waiting for any new prophet.

Lessons and Reflections from His Departure

The death of the Prophet ﷺ holds deep lessons for every Muslim, especially those coming to Islam or learning its foundations.

First, it shows the reality of this world. No matter how beloved or important a person is, death will come. Allah says:

"Every soul will taste death. And you will only be given your full compensation on the Day of Resurrection."
(Qur’an 3:185)

Second, it teaches that true success is not to remain in this life, but to meet Allah with faith and obedience. The Prophet ﷺ left this world while Allah had already testified that he had completed his mission. He conveyed the message, fought for Allah’s cause, taught his companions, and did not die until the religion was perfected.

Third, his death tested the sincerity of the believers. Those whose hearts were attached only to his person were shaken, while those whose hearts were attached to Allah and His revelation remained firm. The correct love of the Prophet ﷺ is to obey him, follow his Sunnah, and avoid exaggeration that leads to shirk.

Fourth, his last advice about prayer and caring for others shows what should remain central in the life of every Muslim. Even as he prepared to leave this world, his concern was that the Ummah would continue to establish ṣalāh and fulfill the rights of those under their care.

Finally, his choice of "the highest companionship" reminds the believer to always long for Allah’s pleasure and for the eternal life with Him in Paradise. The believer does not rely on being part of the Ummah in name only, but works to follow the Prophet ﷺ in faith, character, and worship.

By understanding his death in this way, a beginner in Islam can see that the story of the Prophet ﷺ does not simply end. Rather, his departure marked the beginning of the Ummah’s responsibility to carry the final message to all humanity, with the Qur’an as their guide and his Sunnah as their path, until they too meet their Lord.