14.3 Final Illness and Passing

Introduction

The final illness and passing of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the closing chapter of his blessed life on earth. It gathers together his last teachings, his deepest concerns for his Ummah, and the completion of his mission. In this chapter, we will focus on the overall course of his final illness and his departure from this world, while later subchapters will look in more detail at specific aspects such as signs of departure, his last advice, and the manner of his burial.

The Nearness of the End

Toward the end of his life, several events and revelations made it clear that the mission of the Prophet ﷺ was coming to its completion. One of the most important was the revelation of the verse during the Farewell Pilgrimage:

﴿الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا﴾
“This day I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favor upon you, and have approved for you Islam as religion.”
(Surat al Ma’idah 5:3)

The completion of the religion hinted that the life of the Messenger ﷺ, who brought this religion, was also nearing its end. Some companions understood this implication. Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما would later say that this verse actually contained a subtle indication that the Prophet’s time in this world was almost over.

Another powerful indication was the revelation of Surat an Nasr:

﴿إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ. وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا. فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا﴾
“When the help of Allah and the victory come, and you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes, then glorify the praises of your Lord and seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.”
(Surat an Nasr 110:1–3)

Umar ibn al Khattab رضي الله عنه understood that this surah was not just a celebration of victory, but a signal that the Prophet’s mission was complete and that his meeting with his Lord was near.

The Onset of the Final Illness

Shortly after returning to Madinah from the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet ﷺ began to experience the first signs of the illness that would lead to his passing. Reports describe that his sickness began with a headache and fever. He mentioned that he felt the pain of the poisoned meat he had eaten years earlier in Khaybar, showing how he linked this illness to that earlier incident. In an authentic narration, he ﷺ said:

“O Aishah, I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaybar, and now I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison.”
(Al Bukhari)

The fever grew intense. Those who were near him described that his body was extremely hot when he was ill. Some companions would place their hand on him and feel the severity of the heat, even through his clothing. He informed them that the severity of trials that prophets face is greater than that of others.

Despite his growing weakness, the Prophet ﷺ continued to lead the community for as long as he could. He would go out to the masjid supported by two men from his family, with his feet sometimes dragging on the ground due to the severity of the illness. This image left a deep impression on the companions, as they saw their beloved Messenger still striving to stand before Allah in prayer and to lead his Ummah.

Transition of Leading the Prayer

As the illness intensified, there came a moment when the Prophet ﷺ could no longer consistently lead the congregational prayers. Salah was the core of the daily life of the Muslims, and leading it was one of the central visible duties of the Prophet ﷺ. At this point, he instructed that Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه should lead the people in prayer.

Aishah رضي الله عنها narrates that when the Prophet ﷺ became very ill, he said:

“Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”
(Al Bukhari, Muslim)

She expressed concern, mentioning that her father was a sensitive man who would weep much in prayer, but the Prophet ﷺ insisted that Abu Bakr be the one to lead. This insistence carried a strong message about who would stand in front of the Muslims in this crucial time, and it prepared the community emotionally for what was to come.

There are authentic narrations that describe how, on some days when he felt slightly stronger, the Prophet ﷺ attempted to come out and join the prayer. On one such occasion, he ﷺ was supported by two men and came until he sat beside Abu Bakr, who then followed the Prophet ﷺ in the prayer while leading the people. This delicate period marked a gradual transition from the Prophet personally leading the community in every prayer, to entrusting this role to his closest companion.

The Prophet’s ﷺ Final Days in the House of Aishah

As the illness worsened, the wives of the Prophet ﷺ agreed that he would stay in the house of Aishah رضي الله عنها during his final days. He asked permission to move there, and this was granted with love and readiness. From that point, most of what we know about his last moments comes to us through Aishah, who nursed him and remained extremely close to him until he passed.

She would relate how he rested in her house, how he often invoked Allah, and how he continued to be concerned for his Ummah. Even in weakness, he was conscious of his responsibilities before Allah. He reminded people about matters that would protect their faith after his departure, and he gave key instructions that will be discussed in more detail in the chapter dedicated to his last advice.

In these final days, the Prophet ﷺ would sometimes uncover his face due to the heat of the fever, then cover it again. At one point, he said:

“May the curse of Allah be upon the Jews and Christians, they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship.”
(Al Bukhari, Muslim)

His purpose was to warn his Ummah clearly, even in this state, so they would not fall into the same practice of turning graves into places of worship and falling into shirk.

The Last Public Appearance

Among the significant moments at the end of his life was his final appearance to the companions in the masjid. The Muslims were gathered for prayer, with Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه leading them. The Prophet ﷺ lifted the curtain of Aishah’s room, which opened to the masjid, and looked at the companions while they were standing in rows.

Aishah رضي الله عنها narrates that his face was shining and that he smiled when he saw the believers standing together in prayer. The companions almost broke their prayer in joy when they saw him, thinking that he had recovered and would join them. He motioned to them to complete their prayer, then gently let the curtain fall. This was the last time many of his companions saw him.

This scene summarized his mission. He saw his Ummah united in salah, standing behind a righteous leader, and he was pleased with what Allah had brought them to. It was as if this final sight reassured him that they had been guided to the right path and that the foundations of the community were strong.

His Final Moments and Departure

On the final day of his life, the Prophet ﷺ experienced both intense physical pain and deep spiritual awareness. He was resting in the house of Aishah رضي الله عنها, with his head on her lap or chest, according to her own narration. She described how he kept mentioning Allah and reciting certain verses and supplications.

Among the things he repeated was:

“With those upon whom You have bestowed favor, among the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs, and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.”
This is from the verse:
﴿مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولٰئِكَ رَفِيقًا﴾
“With those whom Allah has favored, of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.”
(Surat an Nisa 4:69)

Aishah رضي الله عنها understood from this that he ﷺ was choosing the companionship of the highest ranks with his Lord, over the life of this world. In another authentic narration he said:

“O Allah, [with] the Highest Companion.”
(Al Bukhari, Muslim)

He repeated this invocation, showing his longing to meet Allah and to join the company of the prophets and the righteous who had preceded him.

In these final moments, he continued to show concern for the believers. He mentioned the prayer, and he reminded of the importance of certain obligations, which will be explained more fully in the chapter on his last advice. His tongue remained moist with the remembrance of Allah until the end.

Then, in that blessed place and in that blessed state, the soul of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ departed from this world. The best of creation passed away while leaning on the chest of the most beloved of his wives, on a Monday, in the city of Madinah that had welcomed him years earlier during the Hijrah and which had become the center of Islam.

Reaction of the Companions

The passing of the Prophet ﷺ was the most painful moment in the lives of the companions. For them, he was not only the Messenger of Allah, but also their teacher, leader, and the one they loved more than themselves. When the news spread, many of them were overwhelmed with grief and shock.

Umar ibn al Khattab رضي الله عنه at first could not accept the reality of what had happened. He stood and declared that whoever said Muhammad had died, he would act against him, claiming that the Prophet had only gone, as Musa عليه السلام had gone, and would return. This reaction showed the intensity of his love and the difficulty of facing the fact that revelation had stopped and the Prophet’s blessed presence in this world had ended.

It was Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه who, with steady faith and clarity, went to the house of Aishah, uncovered the face of the Prophet ﷺ, kissed him between the eyes, and said words of deep love. Then he went out to the people and recited a powerful verse:

﴿وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ. قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ. أَفَإِنْ مَاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ. وَمَنْ يَنْقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا. وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ﴾
“Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels? And whoever turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all, but Allah will reward the grateful.”
(Surat Aal Imran 3:144)

The companions said it was as if they had never truly heard this verse until Abu Bakr recited it on that day. The reality settled in their hearts that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had completed his task, and that they had to remain firm upon his guidance.

The Meaning of His Passing for the Ummah

The passing of the Prophet ﷺ did not mean the end of his influence. Rather, it signified that his mission as the final messenger had been completed and entrusted to his Ummah for all times. The Quran that was revealed to him remains preserved, and his Sunnah, recorded through the efforts of his companions and scholars, continues to guide those who follow him.

Allah reminded the believers that their faith must be rooted in Allah Himself, not in the physical life of any one person, even if that person is the greatest of all creation. The verse recited by Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه emphasized that the role of a messenger is to deliver the message, and once that is done, people must remain steadfast regardless of what happens in the world.

For beginners studying the Seerah, it is important to understand that the sad event of his passing is also a moment of completion and fulfillment. The religion was perfected, the guidance was fully delivered, and his life story from beginning to end became a model for every generation.

In the following subchapters, we will look more closely at the specific signs that preceded his departure, the detailed content of his last advice to the Ummah, the exact circumstances of his passing on that final day, and how his blessed body was prepared and buried in Madinah. Each of these aspects will deepen our understanding of how the final moments of his earthly life matched the purity, wisdom, and mercy that marked his entire Seerah.