Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 4458
We poured medicine in one side of the Prophet's mouth during his illness and he started pointing to us, meaning to say, "Don't pour medicine in my mouth." We said, "(He says so) because a patient dislikes medicines." When he improved and felt a little better, he said, "Didn't I forbid you to pour medicine in my mouth ?" We said, " (We thought it was because of) the dislike, patients have for medicines. He said, "Let everyone present in the house be given medicine by pouring it in his mouth while I am looking at him, except `Abbas as he has not witnessed you (doing the same to me).
| Reference | : Sahih al-Bukhari 4458 |
| In-book reference | : Book 64, Hadith 474 |
Note: 1. "On one side" indicates the Prophet (ﷺ) was laying down, likely sleeping when this event occured.
2. By forcing the househould who witnessed this event, to drink medicine, suggests that he was extremely suspicious of those in his household.
3. The events are dictated by A'isha, who poured the medicine. Of all the witnesses, this is the only account provided.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 4428
The Prophet (ﷺ) in his ailment in which he died, used to say, "O `Aisha! I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaibar, and at this time, I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison."
| Reference | : Sahih al-Bukhari 4428 |
| In-book reference | : Book 64, Hadith 450 |
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5669
When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was on his death-bed and in the house there were some people among whom was `Umar bin Al-Khattab, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Come, let me write for you a statement after which you will not go astray." `Umar said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) is seriously ill and you have the Qur'an; so the Book of Allah is enough for us." The people present in the house differed and quarrelled. Some said "Go near so that the Prophet (ﷺ) may write for you a statement after which you will not go astray," while the others said as `Umar said. When they caused a hue and cry before the Prophet, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Go away!" Narrated 'Ubaidullah: Ibn `Abbas used to say, "It was very unfortunate that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was prevented from writing that statement for them because of their disagreement and noise."
| Reference | : Sahih al-Bukhari 5669 |
| In-book reference | : Book 75, Hadith 29 |
Further Reading: Understanding different perspectives on this hadith
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 3669, 3670
When the Prophet (ﷺ) was on his death-bed) he looked up and said thrice: the Highest Companion (See Qur'an 4:69)' Aisha said, Allah benefited the people by their two speeches. 'Umar frightened the people some of whom were hypocrites whom Allah caused to abandon Islam because of 'Umar's speech. Then Abu Bakr led the people to True Guidance and acquainted them with the right path4 they were to follow so that they went out reciting: "Muhammad is no more than an Apostle and indeed many Apostles have passed away before him.." (3.144)
| Reference | : Sahih al-Bukhari 3669, 3670 |
| In-book reference | : Book 62, Hadith 20 |
Note: 1. An interpretation of this hadith is that Umar's speech (or public disobediance of the Prophet's command) gave those around the deathbed the courage to also abandon the Prophet's command.
2. The Quran verse 4:69 is a later insertion and interpretation of this Hadith. Some argue this provides evidence that the Prophet intended to remind the companions of his command at Ghadeer - his successor and therefore the highest companion.
3. An interpretation that relates to Quran 4:69 does not distinguish one companion from another. It is simply an instruction to Obey Allah (swt) and his Messenger (ﷺ). Hence, this is not an appropriate interpretation of how one determines who the Highest Companion is.
4. A'isha will of course claim her father led the people to the "True Guidance" and the right path, hence such a statement can be discarded as strictly her biased opinion.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 418a
I visited 'A'isha and asked her to tell about the illness of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She agreed and said:1 The Apostle (ﷺ) was seriously ill and he asked whether the people had prayed. We said: No, they are waiting for you, Messenger of Allah. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Put some water in the tub for me. We did accordingly and he (the Holy Prophet) took a bath; and, when he was about to move with difficulty, he fainted. When he came round, he again said: Have the people said prayer? We said: No, they are waiting for you, Messenger of Allah. He (the Holy Prophet) again said: Put some water for me in the tub. We did accordingly and he took a bag, but when he was about to move with difficulty he fainted. When he came round, he asked whether the people had prayed. We said: No, they are waiting for you, Messenger of Allah. He said: Put some water for me in the tub. We did accordingly and he took a bath and he was about to move with difficulty when he fainted. When he came round he said: Have the people said prayer? We said: No, they are waiting for you, Messenger of Allah. She ('A'isha) said: The people were staying in the mosque and waiting for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to lead the last (night) prayer. She ('A'isha) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent (instructions) to Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. When the messenger came,2 he told him (Abu Bakr): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has ordered you to lead the people in prayer. Abu Bakr who was a man of very tenderly feelings asked Umar to lead the prayer. 'Umar said: You are more entitled to that. Abu Bakr led the prayers during those days. Afterwards the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) felt some relief and he went out supported by two men, one of them was al-'Abbas, to the noon prayer.3 Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer. When Abu Bakr saw him. he began to withdraw, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told him not to withdraw. He told his two (companions) to seat him down beside him (Abu Bakr). They seated him by the side of Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr said the prayer standing while following the prayer of the Apostle (ﷺ)4 and the people prayed the prayer of Abu Bakr (standing)5 and the Apostle (ﷺ) while seated. Ubaidullah said: I visited 'Abdullah b. 'Abbas, and said: Should I submit to you what 'A'isha had told about the illness of the Apostle (ﷺ)?6 He said: Go ahead. I submitted to him what had been transmitted by her ('A'isha). He objected to none of it, only asking whether she had named to him the man who accompanied al-'Abbas. I said: No. He said: It was 'Ali.
| Reference | : Sahih Muslim 418a |
| In-book reference | : Book 4, Hadith 98 |
Note: 1. This actual narrator of this hadith is in fact Aisha, not Ubaidullah Ibn `Abdullah bin `Utba.
2. A'isha claims the Prophet sent a messenger to instruct Abu Bakr to lead the prayer, but this cannot be verified independently. Given the implication, and how this claim is used today to legitimize Abu Bakr, this must be treated with a great deal of skepiticism especially when the only narrator of such an important claim is the daughter of the beneficiary of the claim.
3. The Prophet in his extreme sickness is carried to lead the prayers after he regains consciousness.
4. Abu Bakr followed the Prophet in prayer, he did not lead the prayer. Abu Bakr only led the prayer while the Prophet was in an unconscious state, under an instruction from a messenger that cannot be independently verified as having originated from the Prophet himself.
5. The people prayed the prayer of Abu Bakr, meaning a standing prayer, they did not follow Abu Bakr in prayer, a key distinction. To claim the people followed Abu Bakr in prayer is a misrepresentation of the Arabic text. This is validated by Bukhari 713 below.
6. Ibn Abbas did not object to the statements regarding the "illness" of the Prophet, but this does not ratify A'isha's claim that the Prophet sent the messenger.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 418c
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fell ill and his illness became serious, he asked permission from his wives to stay in my house during his illness. They gave him permission to do so. He stepped out (of'A'isha's apartment for prayer) supported by two persons. (He was so much weak) that his feet dragged on the ground and he was being supported by 'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib and another person. 'Ubaidullah said: I informed 'Abdullah (b. 'Abbas) about that which 'A'isha had said. 'Abdullah b. 'Abbas said: Do you know the man whose name 'A'isha did not mention? He said: No. Ibn 'Abbas said: It was 'Ali.
| Reference | : Sahih Muslim 418c |
| In-book reference | : Book 4, Hadith 100 |
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 713
When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) became seriously ill, Bilal came to him for the prayer. He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in your place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Will you order `Umar (to lead the prayer)?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." Then I said to Hafsa, "Tell him, Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in his place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Would you order `Umar to lead the prayer?' " Hafsa did so. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Verily you are the companions of Joseph.1 Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." So Abu Bakr stood for the prayer. In the meantime Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) felt better and came out with the help of two persons and both of his legs were dragging on the ground till he entered the mosque.2 When Abu Bakr heard him coming, he tried to retreat but Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) beckoned him to carry on. The Prophet (ﷺ) sat on his left side. Abu Bakr was praying while standing and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was leading the prayer while sitting. Abu Bakr was following the Prophet (ﷺ)3 and the people were immitating Abu Bakr (in the prayer).4
| Reference | : Sahih al-Bukhari 713 |
| In-book reference | : Book 10, Hadith 108 |
Note: This hadith is narrated by A'isha, the daughter of the Abu Bakr. She has an incentive to narrate such a hadith in favour of her father.
1. The Prophet compares A'isha and Hafsa to the trecherous brothers of Yusuf, while in his dying state. Hence, her narrations are dubious and likely narrated for self interest purposes.
2. The Prophet is so sick, he cannot walk without being carried, yet he is unwilling to let Abu Bakr lead the prayer without him.
3. The claim that Abu Bakr led the prayer is disproved by A'isha own words, wherein she states that Abu Bakr followed the Prophet. The word yaqtadi means lead by, as in Abu Bakr was led by the Prophet sws. In his sickly state, the Prophet did not allow Abu Bakr to lead independently.
4. The word muqtadoon means immitating, not following. Hence, they immitated Abu Bakr, but followed or were lead by the Prophet sws.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5714
(the wife of the Prophet) When the health of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) deteriorated and his condition became serious, he asked the permission of all his wives to allow him to be treated In my house, and they allowed him. He came out, supported by two men and his legs were dragging on the ground between `Abbas and another man. (The sub-narrator told Ibn `Abbas who said: Do you know who was the other man whom `Aisha did not mention? The sub-narrator said: No. Ibn `Abbas said: It was `Ali.) `Aisha added: When the Prophet entered my house and his disease became aggravated, he said, "Pour on me seven water skins full of water (the tying ribbons of which had not been untied) so that I may give some advice to the people." So we made him sit in a tub belonging to Hafsa, the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) and started pouring water on him from those water skins till he waved us to stop. Then he went out to the people and led them in prayer and delivered a speech before them.
| Reference | : Sahih al-Bukhari 5714 |
| In-book reference | : Book 76, Hadith 31 |
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi Book 49, Hadith 216
that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent and army and put Usamah bin Zaid in charge of them. So the people contested his leadership, so the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'If you contest his leadership, then you did contest the leadership of his father before him. And indeed, by Allah, he was certainly fit for leadership, and he was of the most beloved of people to me, and this one is among the most beloved of people to me after him.'"
| Reference | : Jami` at-Tirmidhi Book 49, Hadith 216 |
| In-book reference | : Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3816 |
