Rafed English

Incidents after the heavenly departure of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)

By: Allamah Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi

Shaykh Mufeed, Shaykh Tusi, Shaykh Tabarsi and all tradition scholars of Shia and Sunni say that when the Messenger of Allah (S) passed away from the world, the leaders of Muhajireen and Ansar, like Abu Bakr, Umar, Abdur Rahman bin Auf etc., left Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) in that tragedy and went to Saqifah Bani Saada, and busied to obtain the Caliphate.

Neither they offered condolence to Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) nor paid any attention to the last rites of the Messenger of Allah (S). Due to this, most of them missed the Prophet’s funeral. Imam Ali (a.s.) sent Buraidah to them to come and attend the funeral but they didn’t come till they had not taken their allegiance from the people. And they became free only when the Prophet had been buried. When it was morning, Lady Fatima wailed: “What a bad morning it is that will lead to an unfortunate day.” Abu Bakr heard this and said, “Your bad days have arrived.”

Then they found an opportunity since Amirul Momineen (a.s.) was busy with the last rites of the Prophet and the Bani Hashim were mourning the Prophet’s death, they went to Saqifah and decided among themselves to appoint Abu Bakr as the Caliph as they conspired like this during the lifetime of the Prophet and from the Ansar people wanted to appoint Saad bin Ubadah as the Caliph, but he could not compete with the Muhajireen, therefore was defeated.

When the allegiance of Abu Bakr was over, a person came to Amirul Momineen (a.s.) when he was carrying the spade and leveling the grave of the Prophet and he said: “The hypocrites have pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr fearing that soon you will be free and they would not be able to usurp your rights. Amirul Momineen (a.s.) kept the spade down and recited the following verses: “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Alif Lam Mim. Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, We believe, and not be tried? And certainly We tried those before them, so Allah will certainly know those who are true and He will certainly know the liars. Or do they who work evil think that they will escape Us? Evil is it that they judge!”[1]

This will be mentioned in detail in another volume, if Allah wills.

Shaykh Tusi has narrated through authentic chains that people asked Imam Muhammad Taqi (a.s.) in writing if Amirul Momineen (a.s.) had, after giving the funeral bath to the Holy Prophet (S) himself performed the bath of Touching the Dead body (Ghusl Mass-e-Mayyit). Imam (a.s.) wrote in reply, “The Holy Prophet (S) was purified but still Amirul Momineen (a.s.) performed the Ghusl. And this practice started that if a dead body is touched before it is bathed, one must perform the Ghusl of Touching the Dead body.

Shaykh Tusi, Shaykh Tabarsi and all Shia and Sunni tradition scholars have narrated that on the day of Shura, when Amirul Momineen (a.s.) was completing the arguments on the members of Shura committee, he asked, “Is there anyone among you except me who gave the funeral bath of the Prophet with the angels who had come down with perfumes and flowers of Paradise. They were turning the body of the Prophet and heard their voices. They were saying: “Keep the private parts concealed so that may Allah keep you concealed.” “None of us,” said the Shura members.

Then Amirul Momineen (a.s.) asked, “Is there anyone among you who shrouded the Messenger of Allah (S) and buried him?” “None of us,” said the Shura members. Then he said, “Is there anyone among you to whom the Almighty Allah sent condolences when the Messenger of Allah (S) passed away and Fatima was mourning; suddenly I heard from the corner of the house someone whom I could not see: Peace be upon you, O Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and mercy of Allah and His blessings.

Your Lord sends you His greetings and says, “There is divine mercy and rewards as recompense of every tragedy, from One who comforts in all past calamities, and makes up for everything that is destroyed. So be patient in accepting condolences from the Almighty Allah. Know that every inhabitant of the earth will die one day and none shall remain from the inhabitants of the heavens also. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

At that time there was no one in the house except me, Fatima, Hasan and Husain and the last remains of the Holy Prophet (S) were placed between us covered with a cloth?” “None of us,” said the Shura members?” Then Amirul Momineen (a.s.) asked, “Is there anyone among you except me to whom the Messenger of Allah (S) gave the camphor of Paradise and said: Divide this into three parts; give me Hunut with one part, one part is for my daughter, Fatima and keep one part for yourself.” “None of us is such,” said the Shura members.

Then Amirul Momineen (a.s.) asked, “Is there anyone among you except me to whom the Messenger of Allah (S) taught a thousand words of knowledge from which each word was a key to other thousand words?” “None of us is such,” said the Shura members.

Kulaini etc. have narrated through authentic chains of narrators from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that when the Messenger of Allah (S) passed away, a great calamity befell Fatima due to the death of the Prophet and the oppressions of the hypocrites, such that its pain was known to no one except the Almighty Allah.

At that time the Almighty Allah sent Jibraeel to them so that he may converse with the infallible lady and comfort her. Jibraeel visited her every day and spoke to her in consolation and informed her about the grades and proximity of the Holy Prophet (S) to the Almighty Allah. And used to inform her about the calamities that were to befall his purified progeny from the enemies of the Holy Prophet (S); and all the kingdoms that were to be true or false. When Lady Fatima saw this, she told Amirul Momineen (a.s.) that someone visits me and talks like this. Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “Let me know when he comes to you again.”
After that when Jibraeel arrived, Fatima used to inform Amirul Momineen (a.s.) and whatever Jibraeel used to narrate was recorded in writing by Imam Ali (a.s.) till a complete book was compiled. It is the Mushaf Fatima; it contains all that is to occur till Judgment Day and that book is in the possession of Qaim (a.s.). Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) says: After the Messenger of Allah (S), Lady Fatima Zahra lived for 75 days in an extremely tragic atmosphere till she joined her beloved father. May Allah bless her, and her father and her husband and her purified progeny and curse of Allah be on all their enemies.

Notes:

[1] Surah Ankabut 29:1-4

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