2439 – Ahmad b. ʿAbd Allah b. ʿAbd al-Rahman narrated to us; he said: ʿAbd al-Rahman b. Abi Hatim narrated to us; he said: Abu Saʿid Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Yahya b. Saʿid narrated to us; he said: Yahya b. Adam narrated to us; he said: Humayd b. ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Ruyani informed me, from Salamah b. Nubayt al-Ashjaʿi, from Nuʿaym—meaning b. Abi Hind—from Nubayt—meaning b. Sharit—from Salim b. ʿUbayd, who was one of the ahl al-suffa; he said:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell unconscious during his final illness. When he came to he asked, “Has the prayer fallen due?” They replied, “Yes.” He said, “Tell Bilal to give the call to prayer, and tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” He then lost consciousness again; when he regained it he repeated the same words. ʿAʾishah said, “Abu Bakr is a sensitive man.” He answered, “You women are like the companions of Joseph! Tell Bilal to call the adhan, and tell Abu Bakr to lead the congregation.”

The prayer was set up, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, “Is the prayer established?” They said, “Yes.” He said, “Bring me someone I can lean on.” Barirah came with another person, and he leaned on the two of them, his legs trailing on the ground, until they reached Abu Bakr, who was leading the people in prayer. He sat down beside him, and Abu Bakr began to step back, but he restrained him until the prayer was completed.

When the Prophet of Allah ﷺ passed away, ʿUmar said, “If anyone speaks of his death I shall strike him with this sword of mine.” Abu Bakr took him by the arm and walked in until they entered; the people made room for him until he reached the Prophet of Allah ﷺ. He bent over him—his face almost touching his face—until he was certain that he had indeed died, whereupon he recited: “Indeed you are to die, and indeed they are to die” [Q 39:30].

They asked, “Companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, has the Prophet of Allah ﷺ died?” He said, “Yes,” and they realized it was as he said.

They asked, “Companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, shall we perform the funeral prayer for the Prophet ﷺ?” He said, “Yes.” They asked, “Companion of the Messenger of Allah, show us how we should pray over him.” He said, “One group will come and offer the prayer, then another group will come.”

They asked, “Companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ⦗1366⦘, will the Messenger of Allah ﷺ be buried?” He said, “Yes.” They asked, “Where?” He replied, “In the place where Allah took his soul, for He did not take his soul except in a blessed spot.” They knew it was as he said. Then he added, “Your Companion is before you.”

Abu Bakr went out. The Emigrants gathered together, weeping and trying to compose themselves. They said, “Let us go to our brothers the Helpers, for they have a share in this right.” When they reached them, the Helpers said, “A commander from us and a commander from you.” ʿUmar took Abu Bakr’s hand and declared, “Two swords in one sheath will never fit—or he said: will not work.” Taking Abu Bakr’s hand, he said to the people, “Who is the one described in these three verses: ‘When he said to his companion’ [Q 9:40]—who was his companion? ‘When the two of them were in the cave’ [Q 9:40]—who were the two? ‘Do not grieve; Allah is with us’ [Q 9:40]—with whom?”

He then stretched out his hand and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr, saying, “Give your pledge.” So the people gave a pledge that was the finest and most complete.