hurried back from his house. For a moment he stopped at the door of the mosque where
‘Umar was resolutely speaking to the people, without paying heed to anybody, he pro-
ceeded to Aisha’s room where the dead body of the Prophet (r) lay covered with a mantle.
He uncovered the Prophet's face and kissed it. Then, he proceeded to say “My father and
mother be your ransom. You have tasted the death Allah had decreed for you, a second
death will never overtake you.”
Replacing the mantle on the Prophet's face, he then went out to the Mosque. ‘Umar was
still making a harangue to the people, so he said gently, “Umar, keep quiet.” But ‘Umar was
too excited to listen to Abu Bakr.
Now, Abu Bakr realized that ‘Umar was not in a mood to terminate his speech. So he
stepped forward and called out to the people, whereupon they came round to him leaving
‘Umar.
Abu Bakr praised Allah and then said: “O Men, if any one of you worshipped Muhammed,
let him know that Muhammed is dead. But if anyone worships Allah, then Allah is alive and
He will never die.”
Then he recited the Qur’anic verse:
“Muhammed is but a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have passed away be-
fore him. Will it be that, when he dieth or is slain, ye will turn back on your heels?” He
who turneth back doth no hurt to Allah, and Allah will reward the thankful.” [Soorah
Aali-'Imraan 144]All those persons who were present on the occasion later on stated on oath that when
Abu Bakr recited the verse, it seemed as if it had just been revealed. ‘Umar said: “When I
heard Abu Bakr reciting that verse, I was taken aback and fell down as if I did not have a
leg to stand on. I felt as if I had then come to know of the Prophet’s death.”
OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO ABU BAKR
(may Allah be pleased with him)
All Muslims then swore faithfulness to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), in the
Hall of Banu Sa’ida, as the successor of Allah’s Messenger. The reason for making haste was
due to old rivalries flaring up suddenly through machinations of the devil and selfishness of
the faint-hearted hypocrites. Those who were sincere and well-meaning wanted to ensure
that the Muslims remained united and strong under a leader, who could look after their
affairs and give a burial to the Messenger of Allah (r) as his successor and head of the Mus-
lim community.
BURIAL OF THE PROPHET (r)