And he emphasized much that people should join him and...

And he emphasized much that people should join him and appointed some to assure that people obey these instructions. Meanwhile the Messenger of Allah (S) was affected by his terminal illness. When he fell ill he took the support of Amirul Momineen (a.s.) and went to Baqi graveyard and most companions were with him. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: The Almighty Allah has commanded me to pray for those buried at Baqi.

When he reached there, he said: “Peace be upon you, O people of the graves; be of good cheer in what you have attained over (living) people. Seditions have come, thick and dark as a black night; the beginnings of some follows quickly upon the ends of others!” He said further: “Jibraeel used to review the Qur’an with me once a year, but this year he reviewed it with me twice.

I see this as an indication of the coming of my end.” Then addressing Ali (a.s.), he continued: “I was, O Ali, given the choice of the treasures of this world and eternal life or Paradise, but I chose Paradise and meeting my Lord. When I die, you should wash me and cover my nakedness, for no one shall look upon it except that he would be blinded.” The Prophet then returned to his home, where he remained ill for three days.

On Wednesday, he went out to the mosque with his head tightly bandaged with a cloth. He was leaning on Ali with his right hand, and on Fazl bin Abbas with the other. He sat on the pulpit and praised Allah repeatedly, then said: “O people, my term among you shall soon come to an end. Let, therefore, anyone who has entrusted me with an object of value come to me that I may return it to him.

Anyone to whom I am in debt, let him come and declare it to me.” A man rose up and said: “O Apostle of Allah, you owe me a promise; I married, and you promised me three ounces of precious metal.” He said: “Give them to him, O Fazl.” His condition was thus on Wednesday and Thursday, but on Friday, he again sat on the pulpit and spoke to the people. He said: O people, there is nothing which can stand between Allah and anyone that could benefit a man or ward off evil from him except good deeds.

O people, let no ambitious man claim anything, or one full of desires, desire anything! For by Him Who sent me with the truth, only good deeds coupled with Allah’s mercy can lead to salvation. Even I, had I rebelled against Allah, would have fallen.