Hazrat Umar (ra) at the Demise of the Holy Prophet (sa)
With regard to Hazrat Umar’s (ra) reaction when the Holy Prophet (sa) passed away, Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) narrates that as the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa) was drawing near, there were some people gathered at his home, including Hazrat Umar (ra) bin Khattab. The Holy Prophet (sa) said, “Come, let me write something down for you, after which you will never go astray.” This took place in the final days of the Holy Prophet’s (sa) illness. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) said to the people who were present at the time, “The Holy Prophet (sa) is extremely ill and you have the Quran; the Book of Allah is sufficient for you.”
The others present in the home did not agree with this and objected. They began to disagree with one another; some said that a paper and pen should be brought so that the Holy Prophet (sa) could write something down so that they would not go astray. Then there were others who agreed with what Hazrat Umar (ra) had said, that the Holy Prophet (sa) should not be caused any difficulty. As this conversation continued and they continued to disagree with one another, the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed them to leave.
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab-ul-Wasiyyat, Hadith no. 4234)
This narration is from [Sahih] Muslim, and there is also some detail of this in [Sahih] Bukhari as well.
Ubaidullah bin Abdillah narrates on account of Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) who said:
“When the Holy Prophet (sa) was severely ill, he said that he should be given something to write with so that he may write something which would never be forgotten. Hazrat Umar (ra) said to those present that “the Holy Prophet (sa) is very ill; we have the Book of Allah” meaning they had the Holy Quran which was sufficient and thus there was no need to trouble the Holy Prophet (sa).
Following this, a disagreement arose and the noise became loud. The Holy Prophet (sa) instructed them all to leave and that people should not quarrel around him. Upon this, Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) left. He used to say that the greatest loss of it all was that the Holy Prophet (sa) was hindered from writing something.
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Ilm, Hadith no. 114)
I will briefly mention what has been written in the commentary of this [hadith] by Hazrat Syed Zainul Abideen Walliullah Shah Sahib (ra):
“لَا تَضِلُّوْا بَعْدَهُ [after which you will not go astray]” – these are the words from the hadith – “clearly show that even in his final moments, the Holy Prophet (sa) was concerned about لَا تَضِلُّوْا بَعْدَهُ that is, he wished to write something down for them lest they forgot. ‘Dilal’ can also mean to forget and to go astray as a result of forgetfulness. And the words, غَلَبَهُ الْوَجَعُmeaning he was overcome by illness means that Hazrat Umar (ra) did not wish for the Holy Prophet’s (sa) discomfort to increase. These were the words of Hazrat Umar (ra).”
Shah Sahib (ra) further writes:
“Hazrat Umar (ra) could not even fathom the demise Holy Prophet (sa). When Hazrat Umar (ra) said, عِنْدَنَا كِتَابُ اللّٰهِ حَسْبُنَا [we have the Book of Allah, that is sufficient for us], he said it because Allah Almighty states:
مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتٰبِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ
“[We have left out nothing in the Book’ (6:39)].” This is from Surah al-An‘am. “Then:
تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ
“[to explain everything (16:90)], meaning this Book clearly explains everything and nothing has been left out.”
Shah Sahib then writes:
“لَا يَنْبَغِيْ عِنْدِيْ التَّنَازُعُ, meaning some who were extremely emotional at the time like Hazrat Umar (ra), said that at such a time, the Holy Prophet (sa) should not be caused any trouble, while others said that his command should be followed”; in other words, to bring a pen and ink.
“However, the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed them to leave”, when they began to disagree amongst each other “and he said, ‘Do not make noise around me.’ This shows that even in the condition of illness, the Holy Prophet (sa) had such a great deal of respect and honour for the Book of Allah, that after hearing Hazrat Umar (ra) saying this, he no longer asked for a pen, ink and paper to be brought. As is evident from other narrations in Bukhari, the Holy Prophet (sa) remained alive after this incident for a few days and on that same day he also gave a few other instructions as well. However, he did not repeat this”, meaning he did not ask for this again. “This shows that whatever he had wished to write down was present in the Book of Allah.
“It seems that he wished to urge Muslims to remain attached to the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet (sa) agreed with Hazrat Umar (ra) and thus remained quiet. This is the level of respect which the so-called [Muslim] scholars have no concern for.”
It was the Holy Prophet’s (sa) respect for the Holy Quran that these so-called scholars show no regard for.
Shah Sahib further writes, “They express one opinion and deem it to be akin to divine revelation.”
He further writes, “We should never forget his pure and noble example” i.e. the pure example of the Holy Prophet (sa). “In comparison to the Book of Allah, everything else is worthless.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Ilm, Hadith no. 114, translated by Syed Zain-ul-Abideen Waliullah Shah, Vol. 1, p. 190, Nazarat Ishaat, Rabwah)
Urwah bin Zubair has narrated on the authority of Ummul Momineen, Hazrat Aisha (ra), that when the Holy Prophet (sa) passed away, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was in Sunh. Sunh was a place situated two miles from Medina. Ismail said that Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was in the outskirts. When Hazrat Umar (ra) heard this news, he stood up.
At the time of the Holy Prophet’s (sa) demise, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) had gone to the environs of Medina. When he heard the news of the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Umar (ra) stood up and said, “By Allah! The Messenger (sa) of Allah has not passed away.” Hazrat Aisha (ra) says, “Hazrat Umar (ra) would often say: ‘By God! Deep down I thought’, i.e. Hazrat Umar (ra) thought ‘that Allah the Almighty would certainly raise the Holy Prophet (sa), so that some people’s hands and feet would be cut.’”
In the meantime, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) came; Hazrat Umar (ra) was not ready to accept that the Holy Prophet (sa) had passed away. He had said that the Holy Prophet (sa) would be given life again.
During this time Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) arrived. He removed the cloth from the face of the Holy Prophet (sa) and kissed it. He then said, “May my mother and father be sacrificed for you; you were pure in this life and when death has overtaken you. I swear by Him in Whose hands is my life! Allah will never allow two deaths to overcome you,” and upon saying this, he went outside to where the people were and said, “Wait a moment, O ye who is making vows in God’s name!” That is, he addressed Hazrat Umar (ra) and said, “Wait a moment, O you who is making vows in God’s name.” When Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) began speaking, Hazrat Umar (ra) sat down. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) praised and glorified God Almighty and then said:
اَلَا مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ مَاتَ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اللّٰهَ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوْتُ
“Whosoever worshipped Muhammad (sa) should know that Muhammad (sa) has indeed passed away, and whosoever worshipped Allah should remember that He is living and can never die.”
Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then recited the verse:
اِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَّ اِنَّهُمْ مَّيِّتُوْنَ
“Surely thou wilt die, and surely they [too] will die” (Ch.9: V.31). He then recited the following verse:
وَ مَا مُحَمَّدٌ اِلَّا رَسُوْلٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ اَفَائِنْ مَّاتَ اَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلٰٓى اَعْقَابِكُمْ وَ مَنْ يَّنْقَلِبْ عَلٰى عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَّضُرَّ اللّٰهَ شَيْـًٔا وَ سَيَجْزِي اللّٰهُ الشّٰكِرِيْنَ
“And Muhammad is only a Messenger. Verily, [all] Messengers have passed away before him. If then he die or be slain, will you turn back on your heels? And he who turns back on his heels shall not harm Allah at all. And Allah will certainly reward the grateful.” (Ch.3: V.145)
Sulaiman states, “Upon hearing this, people began to weep so profusely that they began to have hiccups.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Fazail Ashaab-ul-Nabi, Hadith no. 3667) (Furhang-e-Sirat, p. 157, Zawar Academy, Karachi, 2003)
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) states:
“By Allah! When Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) recited the [aforementioned] verse, it seemed as if the people were not even aware that such a verse had been revealed by Allah and it was as if everyone had learnt this verse from him. Thereafter, wherever I would go, I would hear this verse being recited.”
Zuhri states, “Saeed bin Musayyib told me that Hazrat Umar (ra) said, ‘By Allah! When I heard Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) recite this verse, I became so nervous out of fear that my legs would not support my weight and I fell to the ground. When I heard Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) recite this verse, I knew that the Holy Prophet (sa) has passed away.’”
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Maghazi, Hadith no. 4454)
On one occasion, the Promised Messiah (as) stated this and quoted the Arabic wording of the hadith; at present, I will read the translation, when the sermon is published, the words of the ahadith can be published then as well; the Promised Messiah (as) states:
“Sahih Bukhari, which is referred to as the most authentic book [of traditions], has the following narration:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ اَنَّ اَبَا بَكْرٍ خَرَجَ وَ عُمَرُ يُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ اِجْلِسْ يَا عُمَرُ فَاَبٰى عُمَرُ اَنْ يَجْلِسَ فَاَقْبَلَ النَّاسُ اِلَيْهِ وَتَرَكُوْا عُمَرَ فَقَالَ اَبُو بَكْرٍ اَمَّا بَعْدُ مَنْ مِنْكُمْ يَعْبُدُ مُحَمَّدًا فَاِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا قَدْ مَاتَ وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ يَعْبُدُ اللّٰهَ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوْتُ۔ قَالَ اللّٰهُ وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ اِلَّا رَسُوْلٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ۔ اِلَى الشَّاكِرِينَ۔ وَقَالَ وَاللّٰهِ كَاَنَّ النَّاسَ لَمْ يَعْلَمُوْا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ اَنْزَلَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ حَتّٰى تَلَاهَا اَبُوْ بَكْرٍ فَتَلَقَّاهَا مِنْهُ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ فَمَا اَسْمَعُ بَشَرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ اِلَّا يَتْلُوهَا اَنَّ عُمَرًا قَالَ وَاللّٰهِ مَا هُوَ اِلَّا اَنْ سَمِعْتُ اَبَا بَكْرٍ تَلَاهَا فَعَقِرْتُ حَتَّى مَا يُقِلُّنِي رِجْلَايَ وَحَتَّى اَهْوَيْتُ اِلَى الْاَرْضِ حَتَّي سَمِعْتُهُ تَلَاهَا اَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ مَاتَ
“‘Ibn Abbas (ra) narrates that’”, on the day of the Holy Prophet’s (sa) demise, “‘Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) went outside, Hazrat Umar (ra) was speaking to some people’”, i.e. saying that the Holy Prophet (sa) had not passed away and was in fact alive. “‘Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, “O Umar! Sit down,” but Umar (ra) refused to sit down. Thus, people turned their attention to Abu Bakr (ra) and moved away from Umar (ra). Abu Bakr (ra) praised and glorified Allah and then said, “Whosoever worshipped Muhammad (sa), should know that Muhammad (sa) has indeed passed away and whosoever worshipped Allah should know that He is living and can never die. And proof of the Holy Prophet’s (sa) demise is that God has stated, ‘Muhammad was but a messenger, all messengers before him have passed away (i.e. have died)’”, and then he recited the verse up to اَلشَّاكِرِيْن.’”
The Promised Messiah (as) further writes:
“The narrator states, ‘By God, before this time, it was as if the people were unaware that God had even revealed such a verse and it seemed to them as if they heard it for the first time when Abu Bakr (ra) recited it to them.’ Thus, all the Companions learnt [the meaning of] this verse from Abu Bakr (ra) and there was no companion or other person who did not recite this verse. Umar (ra) said, ‘By God! I heard this verse for the first time from Abu Bakr (ra). When I heard him recite this verse, I was moved and pained to such an extent that my legs were unable to carry my own weight, and I fell to the ground as soon as I heard this verse recited and heard the words that the Holy Prophet (sa) had passed away.’”
The Promised Messiah (as) further states:
“In Qastallani’s commentary of Sahih Bukhari, it is written:
وَعُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ يُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ يَقُوْلُ لَهُمْ مَا مَاتَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ وَلَا يَمُوْتُ حَتّٰى يَقْتُلَ الْمُنَافِقِيْنَ
“i.e. Hazrat Umar (ra) would tell the people that the Holy Prophet (sa) had not passed away, and that he could not pass away until he had killed the hypocrites.”
The Promised Messiah (as) further states:
“In Malil wa Nahal by Shahrastani, the following extract is mentioned regarding this incident:
قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ مَنْ قَالَ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا مَاتَ فَقَتَلْتُهٗ بِسَيْفِيْ هٰذَا۔ وَاِنَّمَا رُفِعَ اِلَي السَّمَآءِ كَمَارُفِعَ عِيْسَي ابْنُ مَررْيَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامَ وَقَالَ اَبُوْبَكْرٍ بْنُ قُحَافَةَ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ مُحَمَّدًا فَاِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا قَدْ مَاتَ وَمَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اِللٰهَ مُحَمَّدٍ فَاِنَّهٗ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوْتُ وَقَرَءَ هَذِهِ الْاٰيَةَ وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ اِلَّا رَسُوْلٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ اَفَائِنْ مَّاتَ اَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلٰٓى اَعْقَابِكُمْ (آل عمران 145) فَرَجَعَ الْقَوْمُ اِلٰي قَوْلِهٖ
“‘Umar (ra) bin Al-Khattab used to say, “Whoever says that the Holy Prophet (sa) has passed away, I will kill him with this sword of mine. In fact, the Holy Prophet (sa) has been raised to the Heavens, just like Jesus son of Maryas.” Abu Bakr (ra) said, “Whosoever worshipped Muhammad (sa) should know that Muhammad (sa) has indeed passed away, and whosoever worshipped the God of Muhammad (sa) should know that He is living and can never die.” That is, to live forever and remain is an attribute of God alone. No human or animal before this ever lived forever that one would assume that the Holy Prophet (sa) will survive for eternity.’” It could not be assumed that they would be eternal because they will all pass away. “‘Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then recited the following verse’”, the translation of which is:
“And Muhammad is only a Messenger. Verily, [all] Messengers have passed away before him. If then he die or be slain, will you turn back on your heels?”
(Ch.3: V.145).
“‘And it was only after hearing this verse did the people abandon this concept.’ Now ponder that if from this verse of the Quran, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) did not believe that all prophets had passed away – furthermore, if this proof was not absolutely conclusive – then why is it that 100,000 companions who were present at the time according to you” (the Promised Messiah (as) is answering the questioner) “accepted something [as an argument] that was doubtful and inconclusive? Why was this argument not put forth [to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)]. The proof you have given is inconclusive and that you do not possess any absolute or clear verse of the Quran.
“In fact, the verse رَافِعُكَ اِلَيَّ states that Prophet Jesus (as) was raised to the Heavens with his physical body? Also have you not heard of the verse بَلْ رَفَعَهُ اللّٰهُ اِلَيْهِ. Then why is it a far-fetched notion that the Holy Prophet (sa) could be raised physically to the heavens? On the contrary, the Companions, who possessed knowledge of the expressions of the Holy Quran, upon hearing this verse and the words خَلَتْ and the explanation of the words اَفَاِنْ مَّاتَ اَوْ قُتِلَ, immediately abandoned their initial beliefs [of the Holy Prophet (sa) being alive]. Indeed, their hearts grieved deeply at the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa) and they were immensely saddened and pained. Hazrat Umar (ra) said, ‘After hearing this verse, my state was such that I could not move a muscle and I fell to the ground.’
“Glory be to Allah! How fortunate were these individuals who obeyed the Quran to the letter! When they pondered over the verse and understood that all prophets before had passed away, then aside from crying and weeping over their grief, they did nothing else.”
(Tohfa Ghaznaviyyah, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 15, pp. 579-583)
Then, on another occasion, the Promised Messiah (as) said:
“From the following words of Hazrat Umar (ra), ‘Whosoever says that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) has passed away, I shall kill them with this sword of mine’, it is evident that Hazrat Umar (ra) had a mistaken view regarding the life of the Holy Prophet (sa) [in that he would not die] and he claimed that if anyone said that the Holy Prophet (sa) had passed away, then they had exhibited disbelief and become an apostate.
“May Allah bestow countless blessings on Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) as he was able to swiftly quell this strife and by presenting a clear and unambiguous verse of the Quran which declared that all the previous prophets had passed away. In fact, through this elucidation and consensus of the Companions (ra), he put an end to many false claimants during the Faej A‘waj [Era of darkness and misguidance]. And just as he [i.e. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)] had Musailmah Kazzab and Aswad Ansi etc. killed, through this consensus of all the Companions, he finished off the false claimants during the Faej A‘waj.” Just as he killed a false claimant, he also finished off this false belief. “Thus, he did not kill four false claimants; he killed five, as it were.”
The Promised Messiah (as) then says:
“O Allah! Shower countless blessings upon him. If the meaning of ‘khalat’ meant that some prophets were raised physically to the Heavens, then in such an instance, Hazrat Umar (ra) would have been correct and instead of proving him wrong, this verse would have supported his viewpoint. However, the next part of the verse explains its meaning, i.e. اَفَائِنْ مَّاتَ اَوْ قُتِلَ which Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) recognised and through this, he explained that to believe this verse to mean that all prophets passed before, either through death or whilst alive, was a deceptive notion and a transposition and a great calumny against that which was intended by God; and only those people could intentionally fabricate this who had no fear of the Day of Reckoning and actively changed the meanings intended by God Almighty; they would undoubtedly be eternally cursed.
“But until this time, Hazrat Umar (ra) was unaware of this verse and some other companions were also under a similar misconception and this error on their part was due to the decreed frailties of man. They believed that some prophets were alive and would return to the world; therefore, why then would the Holy Prophet (sa) not be included amongst them. But by reading the remainder of the verse [اَفَائِنْ مَّاتَ اَوْ قُتِلَ], Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) ensured that they understood that the word ‘khalat’ was exhibited through two aspects, i.e. natural death, or through being killed. It was then that those of an opposing view accepted their mistakes and all of the Companions unanimously accepted that all previous prophets had passed away, and the words اَفَائِنْ مَّاتَ اَوْ قُتِلَ affected them greatly and everyone abandoned their beliefs contrary to this. All praise is due to Allah for this!”
(Tohfa Ghaznaviyyah, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 15, pp. 581-582, footnote)
The Promised Messiah (as) mentioned this in Tohfa Ghaznaviyyah.
In another place, the Promised Messiah (as) states:
“On the occasion of the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), all of the Companions testified that all prophets had passed away. In regard to the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Umar (ra) stated that he had not passed away and stood up with his sword drawn out. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) then stood up and stated:
مَا مُحَمَّدٌ اِلَّا رَسُوْلٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ
“[And Muhammad is only a Messenger. Verily, (all) Messengers have passed away before him.]
“The situation at the time was akin to the end of times as the Holy Prophet (sa) had departed from this world and all the Companions were gathered together; even the army of Usama (ra) did not leave.
“Upon these words of Hazrat Umar (ra), Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) loudly proclaimed, ‘Muhammad (sa) has passed away’ and the argument he presented was:
مَا مُحَمَّدٌ اِلَّا رَسُوْلٌ
“[And Muhammad is only a Messenger]. Now, if even the slightest notion of Jesus (as) being alive in the Heavens was entertained by the Companions, they would have certainly spoken up. However, they all remained silent and then they went into the marketplaces and announced this verse as if it had just been revealed that very day. God-forbid, the Companions were not such that they would become overawed by Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and would not refute what he said – that was certainly not the case; rather, what Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) stated was indeed the truth, hence everyone lowered their heads. This was the ijma [unanimous consensus] of the Companions.
“Hazrat Umar (ra) also claimed [at the time] that the Holy Prophet (sa) was going to return. Thus, if this argument [put forward by Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)] was not a perfect one”, and this could only be perfect if there was no exception, because had Jesus (as) ascended into the Heavens alive, then he would have had to return – in such a case, this would not have been an argument, but rather a mockery and “Hazrat Umar (ra) himself would have refuted this.”
(Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 440-441)
The Promised Messiah (as) has repeatedly mentioned this incident in various instances. The reason why I have narrated these various accounts is so that those who entertain the belief that Jesus (as) is alive in the Heavens, can remove such a thought from their minds because no mortal being has ever ascended to the Heavens alive, nor can they ever go. By virtue of this argument, Jesus (as) has also passed away.
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) narrates:
“Once, during the era of Hazrat Umar’s (ra) Khilafat, I was walking along with him whilst he was going to tend to some work of his. There was no else with him at the time besides me and he was holding a whip in his hand. Hazrat Umar (ra) would be saying something to himself and would repeatedly strike the back of his feet with the whip. Hazrat Umar (ra) then turned towards me and stated, ‘O Ibn Abbas! Upon the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), do you know why I said that?’”, i.e. that the Holy Prophet (sa) had not passed away and that whoever stated that he had passed away, he would kill him with his sword.
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) narrates, “I said, ‘O Leader of the Faithful! I do not know. Only you are aware as to why you said that.’ Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, ‘By Allah! The reason why I said that was because I would read the verse:
وَ كَذٰلِكَ جَعَلْنٰكُمْ اُمَّةً وَّسَطًا لِّتَكُوْنُوْا شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ يَكُوْنَ الرَّسُوْلُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيْدًا
“And thus have We made you an exalted nation, that you may be guardians over men and the Messenger of God may be a guardian over you.”
(Ch.2: V.144)
By Allah, I believed that the Holy Prophet (sa) would remain alive among his ummah as a guardian over their deeds. Thus, it was for this reason that I said this on that day.’”
(Sirat Ibn Hisham, p. 901, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2001)