Anecdotes from the Life of the Prophet Muhammad
by Mumtaz Ahmad Faruqui
The Prophet’s Demise
After his return from the farewell pilgrimage and at about the end of the month of Safar, 11 A.H., the Prophet fell ill. Even in the course of his illness he would go out to the mosque to lead prayers as usual, but often felt too weak to speak. One day, after the prayer, he addressed the congregation saying that Allah had offered a servant of His the choice between this earthly life and the life with Him, but he chose the latter. Thus, he signified his approaching end. Thereafter, his strength failed rapidly.
“Lord! Blessed companionship on High,”
were the last words of his earnest prayer in whisper. It was on Monday, the 2nd of Rabi-al-Awwul (in the year 632 according to the Christian era) when he breathed his last, at the age of sixty-three. May the Lord shower His choicest blessings on him.
He was buried in the very room in the house of his wife (Ayesha) where he died. His closest Companions, Abu Bakr, the first Caliph (Commander of the Faithful), and Umar, the second Caliph, on their deaths, were buried beside the Prophet. Later on, a mausoleum was built over these graves with the mosque adjacent to it. This shrine at Medina attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.