His illness grew severe (1) on Thursday. I performed ablution for him, and he said, “Make sure the water passes between the fingers.”

When the night of Friday came his condition became critical, and he breathed his last in the early hours of the day. The people cried out; the wailing rose so high that it seemed as though the whole world were shaking, and the alleys and streets overflowed with mourners.

Al-Khallāl relates: ʿIṣmah ibn ʿIṣām told me, Hanbal narrated to us:

“One of the sons of al-Faḍl ibn al-Rabīʿ gave Abū ʿAbd Allāh—while he was in prison—three hairs, saying, ‘These are from the hair of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.’

“At the time of his death Abū ʿAbd Allāh instructed that one hair be placed on each of his eyes and one upon his tongue, and so it was done when he passed away.”

ʿAbd Allāh ibn Aḥmad, Muṭayyin, and others said, “He died after twelve nights of Rabīʿ al-Awwal had elapsed, on a Friday.” The same was stated by al-Bukhārī and ʿAbbās al-Dūrī. Ibn Qāniʿ erred when he claimed it was Rabīʿ al-Ākhir.

Al-Khallāl also reports: al-Marwadhī told us, “The bier was brought out after the people had dispersed from the Friday prayer.”

Aḥmad in his Musnad records: Abū ʿĀmir narrated to us; Hishām ibn Saʿd, from Saʿīd ibn Abī Hilāl, from Rabīʿah ibn Sayf, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “No Muslim dies on Friday or the night of Friday without Allah shielding him from the trial of the grave.” (2)