“I commend the Ansaar to you, for, behold, they are my intimates and bosom friends. They
have fulfilled their duty, and now whatever claims they have on others remain to be re-
quited. Therefore, you shall welcome whatever is done by the good among them, and for-
give those that do wrong.” (Al-Bukhaari, Fada'il Ashab)
LAST LOOK AT THE MUSLIMS IN PRAYER
Abu Bakr continued to lead the prayer. On a Monday morning, when the people were per-
forming the dawn prayer, the Prophet of Allah (r) lifted the curtain of his door and kept his
gaze fixed in the worshippers for some time to see how they paid honors to the Lord. He
perhaps wanted to see the results of his life-long endeavor and struggle, training and guid-
ance. Or, perhaps, having ever been so much fond of prayers, he wanted to know how they
were enthralled and lost in prayers in his absence as they had always been in his presence.
What the Prophet (r) saw was extremely satisfying. For, never had the mission of any
Prophet (r) been carried out to completion in that manner. It reassured him that the at-
tachment of the community he brought up to Allah and His religion was ever durable and
undying, not transient to wear away after his death. Allah knows better how delighted he
was, as his companions say, when his face was beaming with joy. They relate that “The
Messenger of Allah (r) lifted the curtain and kept his eyes fixed upon them, standing on
‘Aisha’s door. It seemed as if his face was an open book. He smiled and then laughed. We
thought that we might be seduced or distracted from our prayers because perhaps, he was
coming out to perform the same. But he told us to complete what we were doing and then
he pulled down the curtain. And that was the day on which he died.” (Al-Bukhaari, Mard-an-
Nabi)
INTERDICTION OF PRAYERS AT SEPULCHERS
Among the last words uttered by the Prophet (r) were: “Allah's curse is upon the Jews
and Christians for having taken their Prophets’ graves as places of worship.”
‘Aisha and Ibn ‘Abbas related that when the time for the Prophet's death drew nigh, he
had a black striped sheet over him. Often, he pulled it over his face and then having felt
restless, removed it. It was in this condition that he said, “Allah's curse is upon the Jews and
Christians for having taken their Prophets’ graves as places of worship.” He was warning the
Muslims against such a practice.