The Demise of the Holy Prophet (sa) and the Consensus (II) (Hazrat Musleh Mau'd's (ra) Narration)

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) states regarding the first consensus among the Muslims on this occasion:

“All prophets prior to the Holy Prophet (sa) passed away, including Jesus (as). When the Holy Prophet (sa) passed away, the Muslims were in a state of anguish and the grief became unbearable. This same anguish led Hazrat Umar (ra) to draw out his sword while saying, ‘if anyone says that the Holy Prophet (sa) has passed away, I will behead them. The Holy Prophet (sa) has not passed away, rather, just like Mosesas, he has gone to meet God and will return to eliminate the hypocrites, and then pass away.’ Hazrat Umar (ra) believed that until the hypocrites were eliminated, the Holy Prophet (sa) could not pass away. Since there were still hypocrites present at the time of his demise, he thought that the Holy Prophet (sa) had not yet passed away. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) arrived from a village he had been visiting near Medina. He went to the Holy Prophet’s (sa) home, saw his body and confirmed that he had indeed passed away, after which he left. He emerged whilst saying, ‘Allah the Almighty will not allow the Holy Prophet (sa) to die twice’, meaning one being the physical demise, whilst the other referring to the spiritual death of Muslims upon his demise. He then went straight to the congregation of the Companions and said that he wished to say something to the people. Hazrat Umar (ra) was standing with his sword in hand with the intention that if anyone announced the Holy Prophet’s (sa) demise, he would kill them. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) stood and made this very announcement to the people, saying:

مَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ يَعْبُدُ مُحَمَّدًا فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا قَدْ مَاتَ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ حَىٌّ لاَ يَمُوتُ

“Meaning, ‘Let whoever worshipped Muhammad hear that Muhammad (sa) has passed away. Let whoever worshipped Allah rejoice, for He is Living and can never die.’

“Then, (as mentioned earlier), he recited the following verse from the Holy Quran:

وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٞ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِ الرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِيْن مَّاتَ أَوۡ قُتِلَ انقَلَبۡتُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَعۡقَٰبِكُمۡ ۚ

“‘And Muhammad is only a Messenger. Verily all Messengers have passed away before him. (How then would he not pass away as well?). If then he die or be slain, will you turn back on your heels (and leave Islam)?’

Hazrat Umar (ra) states, ‘When Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) recited this verse of the Holy Quran, it opened my eyes and it felt as if this verse had only just been revealed. It became clear to me that the Holy Prophet (sa) had passed away. My feet began to tremble and I fell to the ground.’”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) continues:

“This is the only Ijma‘ [consensus] of the companions because, at the time, all the companions were present. In reality, the Muslims never experienced a time like this because, after that, they never gathered together in the same manner. In this consensus, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) recited the following verse:

“‘Muhammad was but a messenger, verily all messengers before him have passed away. Therefore, it is not an objectionable matter if he too passes away.’ And all of the companions agreed with him.”

(Mas‘alah-e-Wahi-o-Nubuwwat ke Muta‘allaq Islami Nazariyyah, Anwar al-‘Ulum, Vol. 23, pp. 327-328)