the Muslims during the Farewell Pilgrimage to come out of their ihram (state of consecration) and turn it into an ‘umrah (lesser pilgrimage), except for those who had brought sacrificial animals with them; such people he instructed to remain in ihram. He himself did not leave his ihram, nor did he perform an ‘umrah after the Hajj—neither he nor anyone who had performed the pilgrimage with him—apart from Aishah, because she had been menstruating.

It is likewise established that the fasting of the month of Ramadan was made obligatory in the second year after the Hijrah, so he fasted nine Ramadans.

He had four daughters and three sons, and he was given the teknonym derived from his eldest child, al-Qasim, so he was called Abu al-Qasim. He married the two daughters of Abu Bakr and of ‘Umar, gave two of his own daughters in marriage to ‘Uthman, and married another daughter to ‘Ali. Of his paternal uncles, Hamzah and al-‘Abbas accepted faith, whereas Abu Lahab and Abu Talib did not, even though Abu Talib used to protect him and defend him.

When he fell ill and became unable to lead the prayer, he appointed Abu Bakr to lead the people; no one else led the prayer with his permission while he was present, whether during his final illness or on the day he went to reconcile the clan of Banu ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf.

Among his closest companions were the ten: Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, ‘Ali, Talhah, al-Zubayr, Sa‘d b.