The Prayer! The Prayer!

[Umm Yoosuf]

Lessons From The Prophet's Last Illness

In the name of Allaah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Taken from the book "The Prayer ~ Its Effect in Increasing Eemaan & Purifying the Soul" Husayn al-'Awaayishah on pg. 70-71

From 'Ubaydullaah ibn 'Abdullaah who said: I entered upon 'Aa'ishah and said to her: Will you not inform me of the illness of the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam)? She said: Indeed yes. It became severe upon the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam), so he said: Have the people prayed? We said: No, and they are waiting for you O Messenger of Allaah! He said: Put water in the tub for me. So we did so, and he bathed and tried to stand up, but fainted. Then he regained consciousness and said: Have the people prayed? We said: No, and they are waiting for you O Messenger of Allaah! So he said: Put water in the tub for me. So we did so, and he bathed and tried to stand up, but fainted. Then he regained consciousness and said: Have the people prayed? We said: No, and they are waiting for you O Messenger of Allaah! She ('Aa'ishah) said: And the people were gathered in the masjid, waiting for Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) for the last 'Ishaa Prayer. She said: So Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) sent the message to Aboo Bakr that he should lead the people in Prayer. So the messenger came to him and said: Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) orders you to lead the people in the Prayer. So Aboo Bakr said, and he was a soft hearted man: O 'Umar lead the people in the Prayer. So 'Umar replied: You have more right to that. She ('Aa'ishah) said: Aboo Bakr lead them in the Prayer in those days. Then Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) found some improvement in his condition and so he went out supported by two men, on of whom was al-'Abbaas, for the Dhuhr Prayer, and Aboo Bakr was leading the people in Prayer. So when Aboo Bakr saw him he started to move back, but the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) indicated to him that he should not move back, and he said to the two men: Sit me at his side. So they sat him down beside Aboo Bakr and Aboo Bakr prayed standing following the Prayer of the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam), and the people prayed following the Prayer of Aboo Bakr, and the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) was sitting. (150)

From 'Alee (radyAllaahu anhu), who said: The last words of the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) were: The Prayer, the Prayer, and fear Allaah with regard to what your right hand possess. (151)

Consider the attention and importance which the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) gave to the Prayer of the Muslim in the illness from which he died. Every time he came round from being unconscious he asked: Have the people prayed? This occurred four times. Then when he found some improvement in his condition he was anxious to pray with the congregation and to meet his Companions (radyAllaahu anhum), so he went out supported by two of the Companions (radyAllaahu anhum). So what occurred at the time of the final illness of the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) shows the importance of the Prayer, and of the congregation, and the position which the masjid holds in Islaam.

So he gave attention and importance to the Prayer even during the illness from which he died! So what about you, O healthy and fit? What about you, O youth? What about you who have been blessed with strength and vigor? How can you be pleased with staying away from the masjid and the congregation? How then will you treat the Prayer when you become ill?

O Muslim "The Prayer, The Prayer." the last thing which the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, and the first thing which the servant will be accountable for on the Day of Resurrection. So fear Allaah with regard to your own souls, and take account of yourselves before you are taken to account.
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*Footnotes
(150) Reported by Muslim (Eng. Trans. 1/228/no.832)
(151) Reported by Aboo Daawood (Eng Trans, 3/1425/no.5137) and Ibn Maajah, and it is found in Saheehul-Jaami' (no.4492)