The Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) last instructions before his departure
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### The Counsel of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) Shortly Before His Departure
During the period of his illness and pain, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) gave great attention to offering guidance and reminders concerning that which would lead people aright. In the final days of his noble life, he repeatedly advised regarding prayer and the proper treatment of servants and dependents, saying:
> “Prayer, prayer! And those whom your right hands possess: clothe their backs, fill their stomachs, and speak gently to them.” (1)
Ka‘b al-Ahbar once asked Umar ibn al-Khattab, after the death of the Messenger of Allah and during Umar’s caliphate, “What were the last words spoken by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)?”
Umar replied, “Ask Ali.”
So he asked Ali (peace be upon him), and the Commander of the Faithful said:
> “I supported him against my chest, and he placed his head upon my shoulder and said: ‘Prayer, prayer.’”
Ka‘b then said:
> “Such was the final covenant of the prophets; with it they were commanded, and upon it they shall be resurrected.” (2)
In the final moments of his noble life, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) opened his eyes and said:
> “Call my brother to me.”
Everyone understood that he meant Ali (peace be upon him), so they called Ali for him. The Prophet said:
> “Come close to me.”
Ali (peace be upon him) approached him, and the Prophet leaned upon him, remaining supported by him while speaking to him. (3)
Soon afterward, the signs of death began to appear upon him.
A man asked Ibn Abbas: “Did the Messenger of Allah die while resting in the lap of someone?”
He replied:
> “He passed away while leaning against the chest of Ali.”
The questioner then said:
> “But Aisha says that the Messenger of Allah died between my chest and throat.”
Ibn Abbas rejected this and said:
> “Do you understand? By Allah, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) passed away while leaning upon the chest of Ali, and Ali was the one who washed him, along with my brother al-Fadl ibn Abbas.” (4)
The Commander of the Faithful, Ali (peace be upon him), also explicitly stated in one of his sermons:
> “Indeed, the Messenger of Allah was taken [from this world] while his head rested upon my chest… and I personally undertook washing him, while the angels assisted me.” (5)
Some traditionists narrate that the final words uttered by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) in the very last moment of his noble life were:
> “No… rather, to the Highest Companion (*al-Rafiq al-A‘la*).”
It is as though the Angel of Death gave him the choice, at the moment of taking his noble soul, between recovering from his illness and remaining in this world, or answering the call of his Lord and joining the Highest Companion. Through these words, he expressed his desire to join his Lord and live among those referred to in the Almighty’s saying:
> “Those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed His favor: the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous — and excellent are those as companions.” (Quran 4:69) (6)
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said this, and then breathed his final noble breaths. (7)
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### Footnotes
1. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 2, p. 254.
2. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 2, p. 262.
3. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 2, p. 263.
4. Ibid., vol. 2, p. 263.
5. Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon 197.
6. Quran 4:69.
7. I‘lam al-Wara, p. 83.
*Excerpted from the book “Sayyid al-Mursalin (peace be upon him and his family),” Volume Two.*
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