Ibn Sa`d writes: “When the Prophet (a.

Ibn Sa`d writes: “When the Prophet (a.s) died, his head was on the lap of `Ali (a.s). It was `Ali (a.s) who gave him the last bath. Al-Fadl Ibn `Abbas was supporting the Prophet (a.s) and Usamah ibn Zayd was giving the water.”[1] When Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) had given the bath to the Prophet (a.s), he draped his body in the shroud and alone offered the Funeral Prayer.

The persons who were gathered at the mosque were discussing as to who must be asked to lead the last parting prayer for the Prophet (a.s) and where he should be interred. Some people thought that the compound of the mosque was a suitable place for the purpose. Other said that the Jannat al-Baqi` was the right place. When `Ali (a.s) learned about these discussions, he came out of the room and said, “The Prophet (a.s) was our leader in his lifetime and is our Imam and leader in his death too!

Therefore, every individual group should go into the room and offer Funeral Prayer individually! As far as the place for his interment is concerned, he will be buried at the same place where he breathed his last!” As instructed by the Imam (a.s) the Banū-Hashim first went into the room and offered the Funeral Prayers. Then followed the Muhajirūn and the Ansar. Of course, one group was deprived of offering the Prophet’s Funeral Prayer.

They were the persons who were jostled together at the Saqifah of Banū-Sa`idah busy in the worldly conclave of deciding about the corporal power structure! After the Funeral Prayers, the Prophet (a.s) was interred in the same room where he expired. Zayd ibn Sahl excavated the grave. The persons in charge of the interment were `Ali (a.s), `Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib, al-Fadl ibn `Abd al-Muttalib and Usamah ibn Zayd. When the time for burial came, the Ansar called from outside, “O `Ali!

Please include one of our persons in the process that we do not remain deprived of the felicity!” `Ali (a.s) called Aws ibn Khawli to come in and allowed him to descend into the grave of the Prophet (a.s). `Ali (a.s) took the body in both his hands and lowered it into the grave. When the body was laid in the grave, he removed the cloth from the face, turned the body towards the Kiblah, and put the cheek on the dust in the grave.

`Ali (a.s) put the earth on the body with his own hands, leveled its surface and sprinkled water over it! [1] Al-Tabaqāt, Vol 2, Page 263 Previous…