—otherwise I will strike him down with this sword of mine.”

Salim said: The people were unlettered; never before had a prophet been raised among them, so they were left bewildered. They said, “Salim, go to the Companion of the Messenger of Allah and bring him.”

I went to Abu Bakr, who was in the mosque. I reached him weeping and distraught. When he saw me he asked, “Has the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—passed away?”

I answered, “ʿUmar is saying, ‘I will not hear anyone mention that the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—has died without striking him down with this sword of mine.’”

He said, “Lead the way.” I went with him until we arrived to find the people gathered around the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him. Abu Bakr said, “People, make room for me,” and they stepped aside. He advanced, bent over him, touched him, and recited: “Indeed, you will die, and indeed they will die.”

The people asked, “O Companion of the Messenger of Allah, has the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—truly died?” He replied, “Yes,” and they knew he was telling the truth.

They said, “O Companion of the Messenger of Allah, will the funeral prayer be offered for the Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Yes.”

They asked, “How will it be performed?” He replied, “A group will enter, pronounce the takbir, pray, and supplicate, then depart; another group will enter, pronounce the takbir, pray, and supplicate, then depart—until all the people have prayed.”

They said, “O Companion of the Messenger of Allah, will the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—be buried?” He said, “Yes.”

They asked, “Where?” He replied, “In the very place where Allah took his soul, for Allah only takes a soul in a blessed spot.” They realized that he had spoken the truth.

He then instructed that his body be washed by his kinsmen from his father’s side. Meanwhile the Emigrants gathered to consult one another and said, ⦗200⦘