and peace bathed, then came out, led the people in prayer, and afterwards delivered a sermon, as already cited in the report of ʿĀʾishah.
[Reports on this episode]
Al-Bayhaqī (1) said: al-Ḥākim narrated to us; al-Aṣamm informed us; from Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Jabbār; from Yūnus ibn Bukayr; from Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq; from al-Zuhrī; from Ayyūb ibn Yashīr:
During his final illness the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Pour over me seven skins of water from seven different wells so that I may come out and make my instructions to the people.” They did so; he came out and sat upon the pulpit. The first thing he mentioned—after praising and extolling Allah—was the Companions of Uḥud: he sought forgiveness for them and prayed for them.
He then said, “O Emigrants! You are now increasing in number, whereas the Helpers remain as they are and do not increase. They are my intimate trusted ones to whom I have taken refuge; therefore honour their noble men and overlook the faults of those who err.”
He continued—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—“People! A servant among the servants of Allah has been given the choice between this world and that which is with Allah.” Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) understood what he meant ahead of everyone else and wept, saying, “Rather, we ransom you with our very selves, our children, and our wealth!”
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Calm down, O Abu Bakr. Look at these doors opening onto the mosque; close all of them except the door of Abu Bakr, for I know of no one who has been better to me in companionship than he.” This is a mursal report, but it is supported by many corroborating chains.
Al-Wāqidī (4) said: Farwah ibn Zubayd ibn Ṭawsā related to me, from ʿĀʾishah bint Saʿd, from Umm Dharrāh, from Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), who said:
“The Messenger of Allah came out with his head wrapped in a cloth. When he stood upon the pulpit, the people crowded around and stood in awe. He said, ‘By Him in whose hand is my soul, I can see myself standing at the Basin at this very moment.’ He then pronounced the testimony of faith, and when he finished, the first thing he did was to seek forgiveness for the martyrs who were killed at Uḥud.
He then said, ‘A servant from among Allah’s servants was offered the choice between this world and that which is with Allah, and the servant chose what is with Allah.’ Abu Bakr wept, and we were astonished at his tears. He said, ‘May my father and mother be your ransom! We would sacrifice our fathers, mothers, our very selves, and our wealth for you.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was the one who had been given the choice, and Abu Bakr understood him better than any of us.
The Messenger of Allah kept saying to him, ‘Calm down.’ ”
Imam Aḥmad (5) said: Abū ʿĀmir narrated to us; Fulayḥ narrated; from Sālim Abū al-Naḍr; from Busr (6) ibn Saʿīd from