Al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Bayhaqī relates in his work “Signs of Prophethood,” on the authority of al-Wāqidī. Yet al-Wāqidī is weak, his teachers are unnamed, the chain is in any case broken, the report contradicts sound narrations, and it contains a flagrant oddity—the claim that the seal (of prophethood) was removed. Allah knows best what is correct.

Al-Wāqidī and others have transmitted many accounts about the Prophet’s passing that include reprehensible elements and severe peculiarities. We have deliberately omitted most of them because of the weakness of their chains and the strangeness of their contents—especially those circulated by many later storytellers and the like, a great deal of which is undoubtedly fabricated. The sound and good ḥadīths recorded in the well-known collections are more than sufficient; they spare us from resorting to falsehoods and reports with unknown isnād. Allah knows best.

Section: Important matters that occurred after his death ﷺ and before his burial ﷺ

Foremost, greatest, and most blessed for Islam and its people was the pledge of allegiance to Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq. When the Prophet ﷺ passed away, al-Ṣiddīq had just led the Muslims in the dawn prayer. At that moment the Messenger of Allah ﷺ experienced a brief recovery from the severity of his illness; he drew aside the curtain of his chamber and looked at the Muslims standing in rows behind Abū Bakr. The sight pleased him, and he smiled—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—so much so that the worshipers almost left their prayer out of joy, and Abū Bakr wished to step back and join the ranks. He signaled for them to remain as they were, then let the curtain fall. That was the last glimpse they had of him.

When Abū Bakr finished the prayer he entered upon the Prophet and said to ʿĀʾishah, “I think the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has recovered from his pain. Today is the turn of the daughter of Khārijah”—meaning one of his wives—who lived at al-Sunḥ, east of Madinah. He therefore mounted his horse and rode to his house. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away later that same forenoon; some say at the time the sun reached its zenith. Allah knows best.

Once he had died, the Companions differed: some declared, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has died,” while others said, “He has not died.” Salim ibn ʿUbayd pursued al-Ṣiddīq to al-Sunḥ and informed him of the Prophet’s death. Abū Bakr immediately returned, entered the Prophet’s house, uncovered his face, kissed him, and confirmed that he had indeed passed away. He then went out to the people, addressed them beside the pulpit, clarified the Prophet’s death as we have already detailed, ended all debate, and removed every doubt. The people all rallied to him, and a number of Companions pledged allegiance to him in the mosque. A misgiving nonetheless arose among some of the Anṣār, and the idea took hold in a few minds that the succession might lawfully belong to an Anṣārī. Others proposed a compromise in which the leadership would be