The Seerah · Chapter 29
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PART 4 · THE MADINAN PERIOD · الْعَهْدُ الْمَدَنِيُّ

STAGE 4 · THE MESSAGE COMPLETED

وَفَاةُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ

Chapter 29: The Passing of the Prophet ﷺ

His last days, his last words — and the message that lives on

Sheikh Mohamed Fawzyالشيخ محمد فوزي

© 2026 Sheikh Mohamed Fawzy. All rights reserved. Version 1.7

A sign إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ

“That is the sign of your end”

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: ... قَالَ مَا تَقُولُونَ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ﴿إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ﴾ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ أُمِرْنَا نَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، إِذَا نُصِرْنَا وَفُتِحَ عَلَيْنَا. وَسَكَتَ بَعْضُهُمْ فَلَمْ يَقُلْ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ لِي أَكَذَاكَ تَقُولُ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُلْتُ لَا. قَالَ فَمَا تَقُولُ قُلْتُ هُوَ أَجَلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَعْلَمَهُ لَهُ، قَالَ ﴿إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ﴾ وَذَلِكَ عَلَامَةُ أَجَلِكَ ﴿فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا﴾. فَقَالَ عُمَرُ مَا أَعْلَمُ مِنْهَا إِلَّا مَا تَقُولُ.
Ibn ‘Abbās said: “…[‘Umar] said: ‘What do you say about the words of Allah: When the help of Allah has come, and the victory?’ Some of them said: ‘We were commanded to praise Allah and seek His forgiveness when He helps us and gives us victory.’ Others were silent and said nothing. Then he said to me: ‘Is that what you say, Ibn ‘Abbās?’ I said: ‘No.’ He said: ‘Then what do you say?’ I said: ‘It is the end of the life of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, which Allah let him know. He said: When the help of Allah has come, and the victory — and that is the sign of your end — then exalt [Him] with the praise of your Lord and ask His forgiveness; indeed, He is ever accepting of repentance.’ ‘Umar said: ‘I know nothing of it except what you say.’”
Sahih al-Bukhari 4970Sahih

His mission was complete: the help of Allah had come, Makkah was opened, and people were entering Islam in crowds.

11 AH بِدَايَةُ الْمَرَضِ

“Where will I be tomorrow?”

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَسْأَلُ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ يَقُولُ «أَيْنَ أَنَا غَدًا أَيْنَ أَنَا غَدًا» يُرِيدُ يَوْمَ عَائِشَةَ، فَأَذِنَ لَهُ أَزْوَاجُهُ يَكُونُ حَيْثُ شَاءَ، فَكَانَ فِي بَيْتِ عَائِشَةَ حَتَّى مَاتَ عِنْدَهَا ...
‘Ā’ishah said that during the illness in which he died, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept asking: ‘Where will I be tomorrow? Where will I be tomorrow?’ — hoping for ‘Ā’ishah’s day. So his wives allowed him to stay wherever he wished, and he stayed in ‘Ā’ishah’s house until he died there…
Sahih al-Bukhari 4450Sahih
Ar-Raḥīq al-Makhtūm: his illness began at the end of Ṣafar, 11 AH, with a strong headache and fever. It lasted about thirteen or fourteen days.
The prayer مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ

“Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer”

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ: مَرِضَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَاشْتَدَّ مَرَضُهُ فَقَالَ «مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ». قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ إِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ، إِذَا قَامَ مَقَامَكَ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ. قَالَ «مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ». فَعَادَتْ فَقَالَ «مُرِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ، فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ». فَأَتَاهُ الرَّسُولُ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فِي حَيَاةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.
Abū Mūsā said: The Prophet ﷺ fell ill, and his illness became severe. He said: ‘Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ ‘Ā’ishah said: ‘He is a tender-hearted man; if he stands in your place he will not be able to lead the people in prayer.’ He said: ‘Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ She said it again, and he said: ‘Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer — you are like the women [in the story] of Yūsuf.’ So the messenger went to him, and he led the people in prayer during the life of the Prophet ﷺ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 678Sahih
Monday النَّظْرَةُ الْأَخِيرَةُ

He smiled at his Ummah in prayer

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ: أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ كَانَ يُصَلِّي لَهُمْ فِي وَجَعِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الَّذِي تُوُفِّيَ فِيهِ، حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَهُمْ صُفُوفٌ فِي الصَّلَاةِ، فَكَشَفَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سِتْرَ الْحُجْرَةِ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْنَا، وَهْوَ قَائِمٌ كَأَنَّ وَجْهَهُ وَرَقَةُ مُصْحَفٍ، ثُمَّ تَبَسَّمَ يَضْحَكُ، فَهَمَمْنَا أَنْ نَفْتَتِنَ مِنَ الْفَرَحِ بِرُؤْيَةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَنَكَصَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ لِيَصِلَ الصَّفَّ، وَظَنَّ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَارِجٌ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ، فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ أَتِمُّوا صَلَاتَكُمْ، وَأَرْخَى السِّتْرَ، فَتُوُفِّيَ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ.
Anas ibn Mālik said that Abū Bakr used to lead them in prayer during the illness of the Prophet ﷺ in which he died. Then, on Monday, while they stood in rows in the prayer, the Prophet ﷺ lifted the curtain of his room and looked at us. He was standing, and his face was like a page of the Muṣḥaf. Then he smiled and laughed. We were almost distracted [from our prayer] by our joy at seeing the Prophet ﷺ. Abū Bakr stepped back to join the row, thinking that the Prophet ﷺ was coming out to pray. But the Prophet ﷺ signalled to us to complete our prayer, and let the curtain fall. He passed away that same day.
Sahih al-Bukhari 680Sahih

The last sight he saw of his Companions was them standing together in rows, praying behind Abū Bakr — and it made him smile.

His daughter فَاطِمَةُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا

“No suffering for your father after today”

عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: لَمَّا ثَقُلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ جَعَلَ يَتَغَشَّاهُ، فَقَالَتْ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْهَا السَّلَامُ وَاكَرْبَ أَبَاهُ. فَقَالَ لَهَا «لَيْسَ عَلَى أَبِيكِ كَرْبٌ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ». فَلَمَّا مَاتَ قَالَتْ يَا أَبَتَاهْ، أَجَابَ رَبًّا دَعَاهُ، يَا أَبَتَاهْ مَنْ جَنَّةُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ مَأْوَاهُ، يَا أَبَتَاهْ إِلَى جِبْرِيلَ نَنْعَاهْ ...
Anas said: When the illness of the Prophet ﷺ became heavy, he began to lose consciousness, and Fāṭimah (peace be upon her) said: ‘Oh, how my father suffers!’ He said to her: ‘There will be no suffering for your father after today.’ When he passed away, she said: ‘O my father — he has answered the Lord who called him. O my father — whose home is Jannat al-Firdaws. O my father — to Jibrīl we announce his passing.’…
Sahih al-Bukhari 4462Sahih
His last words الرَّفِيقُ الْأَعْلَى

“O Allah — the Highest Companion”

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ وَهْوَ صَحِيحٌ «إِنَّهُ لَمْ يُقْبَضْ نَبِيٌّ حَتَّى يَرَى مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ، ثُمَّ يُخَيَّرَ». فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ بِهِ وَرَأْسُهُ عَلَى فَخِذِي غُشِيَ عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ، فَأَشْخَصَ بَصَرَهُ إِلَى سَقْفِ الْبَيْتِ ثُمَّ قَالَ «اللَّهُمَّ الرَّفِيقَ الْأَعْلَى». فَقُلْتُ إِذًا لَا يَخْتَارُنَا. وَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ الْحَدِيثُ الَّذِي كَانَ يُحَدِّثُنَا وَهْوَ صَحِيحٌ قَالَتْ فَكَانَتْ آخِرَ كَلِمَةٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا «اللَّهُمَّ الرَّفِيقَ الْأَعْلَى».
‘Ā’ishah said: While he was in good health, the Prophet ﷺ used to say: ‘No prophet is taken [in death] until he is shown his place in Paradise and then given the choice.’ When the time came, with his head resting on my lap, he fainted, then woke up, fixed his gaze on the ceiling of the room and said: ‘O Allah — the Highest Companion.’ I said: ‘So he will not choose us.’ And I knew that it was the hadith he used to tell us when he was healthy. She said: That was the last word he spoke: ‘O Allah — the Highest Companion.’
Sahih al-Bukhari 4463Sahih

The famous story that the Angel of Death knocked at the door and asked permission, and that a voice (said to be al-Khiḍr) offered condolences afterwards, is not authentic: Ibn Kathīr called it mursal with a weak chain (al-Bidāyah wa-al-Nihāyah), and al-Albānī graded it fabricated (mawḍū‘, al-Silsilah al-Ḍa‘īfah 5384). It is not taught here.

The date تَارِيخُ الْوَفَاةِ

Monday, Rabī‘ al-Awwal, 11 AH

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تُوُفِّيَ وَهْوَ ابْنُ ثَلَاثٍ وَسِتِّينَ ...
‘Ā’ishah reported that the Prophet ﷺ passed away at the age of sixty-three.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3536Sahih
Ar-Raḥīq al-Makhtūm: he passed away in the forenoon of Monday, 12 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, 11 AH (June 632 CE), aged sixty-three. That it was a Monday is in al-Bukhari (680, 1387); some scholars prefer another date early in Rabī‘ al-Awwal. He was buried in ‘Ā’ishah’s room, where he passed away — today inside his Mosque in Madinah.
Steadfast مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ

“Allah is Ever-Living and does not die”

The news shook Madinah. ‘Umar, overcome with grief, could not believe it. Then Abū Bakr arrived…

قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: ... فَجَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَكَشَفَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَبَّلَهُ قَالَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي طِبْتَ حَيًّا وَمَيِّتًا، وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَا يُذِيقُكَ اللَّهُ الْمَوْتَتَيْنِ أَبَدًا. ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا الْحَالِفُ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ. فَلَمَّا تَكَلَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ جَلَسَ عُمَرُ. فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ أَلَا مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا قَدْ مَاتَ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ. وَقَالَ ﴿إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُمْ مَيِّتُونَ﴾ وَقَالَ ﴿وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِنْ مَاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِكُمْ وَمَنْ يَنْقَلِبْ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ﴾ قَالَ فَنَشَجَ النَّاسُ يَبْكُونَ ...
‘Ā’ishah said: “…Abū Bakr came, uncovered the face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and kissed him, and said: ‘May my father and mother be your ransom! You were pure in life and in death. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, Allah will never make you taste death twice.’ Then he went out and said: ‘O you who are swearing [that he has not died], be calm!’ When Abū Bakr spoke, ‘Umar sat down. Abū Bakr praised Allah and glorified Him, and said: ‘Whoever used to worship Muḥammad ﷺ — Muḥammad has died. And whoever worships Allah — Allah is Ever-Living and does not die.’ And he recited: ‘Indeed, you will die, and they will die’ [al-Zumar 39:30], and: ‘Muḥammad is no more than a messenger; messengers have passed away before him. So if he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back on his heels will not harm Allah at all, and Allah will reward the grateful’ [Āl ‘Imrān 3:144]. And the people sobbed and wept.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3667–3668Sahih
Lessons دُرُوسٌ وَعِبَرٌ

What we learn

1

Every soul will taste death

Even the best of creation passed away — Allah alone is Ever-Living.

2

Prayer to the end

In his last days he cared most about the prayer and the Ummah.

3

The message lives on

Abū Bakr and the Companions carried it on — and now it is in our hands.

Review مُرَاجَعَةٌ

Quick quiz

Score: 0 / 4
1.Which sūrah did Ibn ‘Abbās explain as a sign of the Prophet’s end?
Correct (al-Bukhari 4970).
Sūrat al-Naṣr: “When the help of Allah has come…”
2.Whom did he tell to lead the people in prayer?
Right (al-Bukhari 678).
Abū Bakr.
3.What were his last words?
Yes (al-Bukhari 4463).
“O Allah — the Highest Companion.”
4.How old was the Prophet ﷺ when he passed away?
Correct (al-Bukhari 3536).
Sixty-three.
The end of our journey الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ

Send blessings upon him

We have followed his life from Makkah to Madinah — from the cave of Ḥirā’ to the Farewell Hajj. The best way to thank Allah for him is to love him, follow him, and send blessings upon him:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا ۝٥٦
Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.
Surat al-Aḥzāb 33:56سورة الأحزاب: ٥٦
عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى قَالَ: لَقِيَنِي كَعْبُ بْنُ عُجْرَةَ فَقَالَ أَلَا أُهْدِي لَكَ هَدِيَّةً سَمِعْتُهَا مِنَ النَّبِيِّ، صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى، فَأَهْدِهَا لِي. فَقَالَ سَأَلْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ عَلَّمَنَا كَيْفَ نُسَلِّمُ. قَالَ «قُولُوا اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ».
‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā said: Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah met me and said: ‘Shall I not give you a gift that I heard from the Prophet ﷺ?’ I said: ‘Yes, give it to me.’ He said: We asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: ‘O Messenger of Allah, how should we send ṣalāh upon you, the People of the House? For Allah has taught us how to send salām.’ He said: ‘Say: O Allah, send Your ṣalāh upon Muḥammad and upon the family of Muḥammad, as You sent Your ṣalāh upon Ibrāhīm and upon the family of Ibrāhīm; indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muḥammad and the family of Muḥammad, as You blessed Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm; indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.’
Sahih al-Bukhari 3370Sahih

Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammad — the Seerah lives on in those who follow him

ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam ﷺ

END OF PART 4 · نِهَايَةُ الْبَابِ الرَّابِعِ

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