ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib Denying the Prophet’s Death There was a pall of gloom over al-Madinah after the death of the Prophet (a.s). Muslims were gathered inside and around the al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Holy Prophet’s Mosque). Their eyes were turning again and again towards the room where the mortal remains of their beloved mentor were lying. Every person was in deep sorrow and grief.

The initial rites of the funeral were being performed in the midst of tears and mourning. Suddenly in this sad environment rose a shrill voice: “Some hypocrites think that the Prophet (a.s) has passed away! By Allah! He is not dead and is visiting Allah as did Mūsa ibn `Imran and returned after remaining away from his people after forty days. At that time too it was said that Mūsa was dead. By Allah!

The Prophet (a.s) will return and cut the hands and feet of the persons who say that the Prophet (a.s) has died.”[1] Again, the voice rose in a warning tone: “One who says that the Prophet (a.s) is dead, I shall strike him with my sword.

The Prophet (a.s) has been carried away to the Firmament!”[2] These sounds were coming from the mouth of `Umar who was adamant in saying that the Prophet (a.s) was alive and the rumor of his death has been spread by the hypocrites and thus he had put guard over the tongues of the people swinging around his sword. Ibn Kathir writes: “`Umar stood up and started sermonizing and threatened the people who talked about the death of the Prophet (a.s) that he would cut them to pieces!

He said that the Prophet (a.s) was lying unconscious and when he rose, he will kill people and cut their limbs. At this time `Amr ibn Za’idah was reciting the [1] Tārīkh al-Tabarī, Vol 2, Page 442 [2] Tārīkh Abul-Fidā’, Vol 1, Page 156 following Verse at the rear of the Mosque: ‘Muhammad (a.s) is a Prophet and many prophets have gone by afore him’!”[1] The effect of this outrageous talk of `Umar was to affect the thinking of the people and to change their topic of discussion.

Therefore, the saddened masses started looking at one another in surprise and whispering to one another whether the Prophet (a.s) had really died or was alive! Although the people who heard him were not willing to believe his words, they had no courage to ask him to go inside and see for himself whether the Prophet (a.s) was really dead or not. Everyone was dumbfounded and was looking at `Umar fencing around with his sword!