Al-Bukhārī relates: Ismāʿīl narrated to us, Mālik narrated to us, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Dīnār, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent out a detachment and placed Usāmah ibn Zayd in command of it. The people disparaged his leadership, whereupon the Prophet ﷺ stood and said, “If you find fault with his command, you also found fault—earlier—with the command of his father. By Allah, he was indeed worthy of leadership and was among the most beloved of people to me; and this one is among the most beloved of people to me after him.”

Al-Tirmidhī also transmitted it through Mālik and remarked, “A ḥadīth that is ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ.”

Many of the senior Emigrants and Helpers volunteered for Usāmah’s army; foremost among them was ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb. Whoever maintains that Abū Bakr was among them is mistaken, for the illness of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had intensified while Usāmah’s force was still encamped at al-Jurf. The Prophet ﷺ had already instructed Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer, as will be mentioned, so how could he have been in the army when—by the Messenger’s own authorization, granted by the Lord of all worlds—he was the imam of the Muslims? Even if we supposed that he had initially volunteered, the Lawgiver expressly exempted him so that he might lead the prayer, which is the greatest pillar of Islam.

After the Prophet ﷺ passed away, the Truthful One (al-Ṣiddīq) requested Usāmah to release ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, and Usāmah permitted him to remain with Abū Bakr. Abū Bakr then dispatched Usāmah’s army, as will be set forth in detail in its proper place, God willing.

Section: The Qur’anic verses and Prophetic reports that foretold the death of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and how the illness that led to his passing began.

Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“Indeed, you are to die, and indeed they are to die. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will dispute before your Lord.” (al-Zumar 39:30–31)

He also says:
“We did not grant immortality to any human before you; so if you were to die, would they be immortal?” (al-Anbiyāʾ 21:34)

And He says:
“Every soul shall taste death. We test you with evil and with good as a trial, and to Us you will be returned.” (al-Anbiyāʾ 21:35)

And He says:
“You will surely be paid in full your recompense on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever is kept away from the Fire and admitted into Paradise has triumphed; and the life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:185)

And He says:
“Muhammad is but a messenger; messengers have passed on before him. If he dies or is slain, will you turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back on his heels will never harm Allah in the least. Allah will reward the grateful.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:144)

This is the verse that—