Sunni historical sources...

Sunni historical sources, such as al-Ṭabarī and Ibn Hishām, narrate that the Prophet (PBUHH) fell seriously ill and was bedridden for several days, during which he led the prayers sporadically and eventually appointed Abū Bakr to lead the congregation in his place [2] . The illness, believed to have lasted for about thirteen days, significantly restricted his public activity and offered limited access to those wishing to consult him [3] .

One of the most debated incidents in this period is the “Calamity of Thursday”, in which the Prophet (PBUHH), during the final days of his illness, reportedly requested writing materials to leave behind a statement that would prevent the ummah from going astray. According to Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb opposed the request, saying, “The Book of Allah is sufficient for us,” resulting in a dispute among those present [4] .

Shia sources interpret this as a critical lost opportunity to formally designate ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as the Prophet’s successor [5] . The Prophet (PBUHH) spent his final days in the house of his wife ʿĀʾishah, though Shia sources suggest that his movements between his wives’ homes were curtailed due to his illness, and that he ultimately settled in ʿĀʾishah’s residence only after being granted permission from his other wives [6] .

Sunni and Shia scholars agree that the death of the Prophet (PBUHH) was sudden in its finality, even though the illness had persisted for days. The Prophet (PBUHH) passed away on a Monday, 28 Ṣafar or 12 Rabīʿ al-Awwal at the age of 63 in the arms of ʿĀʾishah, though it is mentioned in Nahj al-Balagha that at the time of his demise, the Prophet’s head lay on the chest of Ali (AS) [7] . The death of the Prophet (PBUHH) ushered in not only grief but also confusion and dispute over leadership.

The Event of the Prophet’s Death The death of the (PBUHH) is among the most sensitive and debated episodes in Islamic historical memory, shaping both doctrinal beliefs and communal identity. The actual moment of his passing, though a shared sorrow among Muslims, is narrated with distinct variations in Sunni and Shia traditions. These differences pertain not only to the physical circumstances of his death but also to who was present and how his final words and actions were interpreted.

According to widely transmitted Sunni sources, the death of the Prophet (PBUHH) occurred on a Monday, the 12th of Rabīʿ al-Awwal in the 11th year of the Hijra (June 8, 632 CE).