Table of Contents
Turning Point of the Final Days
In the final illness of the Prophet ﷺ, when his body became weak but his heart remained filled with concern for his Ummah, his last days were marked by a series of clear, focused pieces of advice. These were not random words spoken in pain. They were deliberate guidance, repeated and emphasized, so that the Muslim community would know what must never be neglected after his passing.
His last advice was not one single sentence. Rather, it was a group of key instructions, repeated in different moments, that together show his priorities for this Ummah when he was about to leave this world.
The last advice of the Prophet ﷺ revolves around:
- The rights of Allah, especially Salah.
- The rights of people, especially those under our authority or in our care.
- Holding firmly to revelation and staying away from innovations.
- Maintaining unity, obedience to legitimate leadership, and not falling into division.
- Spreading the message after him and conveying knowledge.
Each of these appeared in his final days, in his final sermons, in his last public address, and in the private words he spoke from his bed in the house of Aishah رضي الله عنها.
The Emphasis on Salah
Among the clearest and most repeated of his last advices was his insistence on Salah. Even when he was too weak to stand, he tried to join the congregation, and when he could not, he still called the Ummah back to their prayer.
It is authentically reported that in his last illness, while his head was in the lap of Aishah رضي الله عنها, he repeatedly said:
"الصَّلَاةَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ"
“The prayer, the prayer, and what your right hands possess.”
(Musnad Ahmad, Sunan Ibn Majah)
This form in Arabic shows intense stress, as if he was saying: “Do not ever neglect the prayer, do not ever abandon the prayer.”
The Quran had already established Salah as the central pillar of obedience:
"وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ"
“And establish the prayer and give the zakah and bow with those who bow.”
(Surah al‑Baqarah 2:43)
His life, from the Night Journey and Mi'raj until his final illness, was filled with Salah. In his last days he showed that, even at the end, Salah remained the greatest living symbol of Islam and the most important daily duty of every Muslim.
When he was too ill to lead, he instructed:
“مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ”
“Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
This choice itself is part of his last advice. It taught the Ummah to never leave the congregational Salah without an imam, and it indicated that leadership belongs to those of greatest piety and closeness to Allah.
Abandoning Salah is a betrayal of one of the clearest and most urgent parts of the Prophet’s final advice to his Ummah.
Care for Those Under Our Responsibility
In the same statement in which he stressed Salah, he also stressed the rights of those under our authority. The words “وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ” at that time referred especially to slaves and servants, but the scholars extended the principle to every person under a Muslim’s care or power, such as employees, students, family members, and dependents.
He reminded the Ummah in those final days that power is a test and that those who are weaker have rights that must be protected. This was in perfect harmony with his constant teaching, for he had said earlier in life:
"اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ فِي مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ"
“Fear Allah regarding what your right hands possess.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud)
His last advice shows that Islam is not only a religion of rituals but also a religion of responsibility. As he was leaving the world, he wanted to make sure that the strong would not oppress the weak after him.
Clinging to the Quran and Sunnah
Another pillar of his final advice was to direct the Ummah back to revelation. In the Farewell Pilgrimage and also in his final days in Madinah, he emphasized that what protects this community from misguidance is not human opinion, but the Book of Allah and his own Sunnah.
Among the famous narrations is his statement:
"تَرَكْتُ فِيكُمْ مَا إِنْ تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدِي، كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَسُنَّتِي"
“I have left among you that which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray after me, the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”
The exact wording varies among the reports, and there is also the well known narration of “the Book of Allah and my family,” but the shared meaning is clear. His Ummah must live by the Quran and by his authentic teachings.
The Quran itself states this principle:
"وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا"
“Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it.”
(Surah al‑Hashr 59:7)
His last advice was not an invitation to invent new forms of religion after his death. In fact, from his deathbed he warned the Ummah against turning his grave into a place of exaggerated veneration:
"لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ"
“May Allah curse the Jews and the Christians, they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Aishah رضي الله عنها explained that he said this while he was dying, in order to stop his Ummah from falling into the same practice.
The last advice includes a clear warning:
Do not change the religion after him, and do not introduce new forms of worship that he and his Companions did not practice.
Unity, Obedience, and Avoiding Division
Throughout his Prophethood, he built a unified community. In his final days, the danger of division after his passing was real. For this reason, he strongly emphasized obedience to legitimate Muslim leadership, as long as it does not involve disobedience to Allah, and warned against fighting and splitting.
He had said before, as a general rule:
"مَنْ أَطَاعَنِي فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ، وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَقَدْ عَصَى اللَّهَ، وَمَنْ يُطِعِ الأَمِيرَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَنِي، وَمَنْ يَعْصِ الأَمِيرَ فَقَدْ عَصَانِي"
“Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah. Whoever obeys the leader has obeyed me, and whoever disobeys the leader has disobeyed me.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Near the end of his life, he reminded the Ummah repeatedly to avoid disagreement and suspicion. In the Farewell Sermon, which forms part of his final general counsel, he said:
"فَلَا تَرْجِعُوا بَعْدِي كُفَّارًا يَضْرِبُ بَعْضُكُمْ رِقَابَ بَعْضٍ"
“Do not return after me as disbelievers, striking the necks of one another.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
The scholars explain that here “disbelievers” is used in a very strong sense to show the gravity of Muslims killing one another. The Prophet ﷺ feared that the Ummah would divide into fighting groups, and he used his final opportunities to close that door.
This is in line with the Quranic command:
"وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا"
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.”
(Surah Ali Imran 3:103)
The rope of Allah is His religion, and part of his last advice is that unity on truth is a protection for the Ummah.
Rights of People and Protection of Blood, Property, and Honor
His last public advices, especially in the Farewell Sermon and other sermons in those final months, stressed the rights of people. He repeated them so that there would be no excuse after him for oppression and injustice.
In one of the central passages of his Farewell Sermon he said:
"إِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ وَأَعْرَاضَكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ حَرَامٌ، كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا، فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا، فِي شَهْرِكُمْ هَذَا"
“Indeed, your blood, your wealth, and your honor are sacred to you, like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this city of yours, in this month of yours.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
He also said on that day:
"اسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ خَيْرًا"
“Treat women well and be good to them.”
(Sahih Muslim)
And he abolished the pre‑Islamic practices of blood revenge and unjust financial dealings, declaring:
"أَلَا إِنَّ كُلَّ رِبًا مِنْ رِبَا الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مَوْضُوعٌ"
“Behold, every usury of the time of ignorance is abolished.”
(Sahih Muslim)
These statements came near the end of his life, and they were part of his last advice because he knew that a community could not remain healthy if bloodshed, financial injustice, and disrespect of honor were allowed to spread.
The last advice of the Prophet ﷺ makes it absolutely clear:
The life, property, and honor of every Muslim are inviolable in the sight of Allah.
Advice Specifically About the Ansar and Companions
In his final illness, he remembered those who had supported him most. He spoke about the Ansar in particular, because after his death political leadership would become a serious question, and he did not want anyone to forget their status.
He said:
"أُوصِيكُمْ بِالأَنْصَارِ، فَإِنَّهُمْ كَرِشِي وَعَيْبَتِي"
“I advise you concerning the Ansar, for they are my inner circle and my trusted ones.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari)
He told the Ummah to be kind to them, to accept their good, and to overlook their shortcomings. This was an emotional and practical instruction, since the Ansar had opened their homes and lives to the Prophet ﷺ and to Islam.
More broadly, he directed the Muslims to respect all his Companions and not to turn against them. The Quran praises them repeatedly, and his last period of life confirms that they are the best generation, as in the hadith:
"خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي"
“The best of people are my generation.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Honoring the Companions and preserving their legacy is therefore part of remaining loyal to his last advice.
The Call to Spread the Message
As he prepared to leave the world, he did not limit his concern to those who had already accepted Islam. He wanted the message to reach every person.
On the Day of Arafah, near the end of his life, he famously said to the huge gathering:
"لِيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ"
“Let those who are present convey (this message) to those who are absent.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari)
In some narrations he added that perhaps the one to whom it is conveyed will understand it better than some who heard it directly. This shows that the responsibility of da'wah, of conveying the truth, passes to every generation, not only to those who physically saw him.
The Quran records the universal nature of his mission:
"وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا"
“And We have not sent you except to all of mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner.”
(Surah Saba 34:28)
His last advice therefore includes a trust: every Muslim is responsible to live and share the message according to their ability and knowledge.
Loyalty to Allah and Not to Turn Back
Near his very end, the Prophet ﷺ expressed the choice he was given between this life and the next. Aishah رضي الله عنها narrates that he said:
"اللَّهُمَّ فِي الرَّفِيقِ الأَعْلَى"
“O Allah, (I choose) the Highest Companion.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Before that, he had warned his Ummah not to turn back after him. He used images that would remain in the minds of his companions. One such narration mentions that on the Day of Judgment some people will be turned away from his Basin (al‑Hawd). He will say, “My companions, my companions,” and it will be said to him that he does not know what they did after him, and then he will say:
"سُحْقًا سُحْقًا لِمَنْ غَيَّرَ بَعْدِي"
“Away, away with those who changed (the religion) after me.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
This is not a rejection of the true Companions, but a warning for the Ummah in general. His last advice calls every Muslim to remain firm on Islam and not to replace it with customs and desires after he is gone.
Remaining loyal to his last advice means:
Do not change the religion, do not betray its principles, and do not let the world make you abandon obedience to Allah and His Messenger.
A Summary of His Last Counsel
When we gather the different reports of his final sermons, his Farewell Pilgrimage, his last days in Madinah, and his last moments in the house of Aishah رضي الله عنها, a clear picture appears of what he most cared about as he left this world.
He emphasized the right of Allah through Salah and obedience.
He emphasized the right of people through justice, protection of life and property, and kindness to those under one’s authority.
He emphasized the protection of his message through clinging to the Quran and Sunnah and avoiding innovations.
He emphasized the safety of the community through unity, obedience to legitimate leadership, and avoiding bloodshed and division.
He emphasized continuation of the mission through conveying the message to those who did not hear it.
The Quran describes his deep concern over his Ummah in a verse that fits perfectly with his last advice:
"لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ، عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ، حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم، بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ"
“There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer. He is concerned over you, and to the believers he is kind and merciful.”
(Surah al‑Tawbah 9:128)
His final advice is an expression of that concern. He did not leave this world until he had made the path clear and had placed in the hands of his Ummah the principles that would guide them until the Day of Judgment.