Thursday, August 13, 2026

The Blessed Passing and Luminous Appearance of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ

Final Illness and Blessed Passing

In the 11th year of migration, on the 20th or 22nd Safar, the Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went to Jannat-ul-Baqi at midnight. When he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم returned from there, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم started feeling unwell. His health further deteriorated in the next few days.

With the permission of all of his blessed wives, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stayed in the blessed room of Sayyidatuna ‘Aisha. When he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم felt very weak, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ordered for Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ to lead Salah on his prayer mat. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ led seventeen Salahs during this time.

A little while before the blessed passing, Sayyiduna Abdul Rahman bin Abu Bakr رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, the brother of Sayyidatuna ‘Aisha رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا came with a fresh Miswak in his hand. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم looked at him, his blessed gaze fixated. Sayyidatuna ‘Aisha رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا understood that he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم wished for the Miswak. She immediately took the Miswak, made it soft with her teeth and placed it in his blessed hand, after which, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed Miswak.

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم veiled from this world on Monday in Rabi’ al-Awwal. According to the famous opinion, it was the 12th Rabi al-Awwal in the 11th year of migration.

His blessed passing gave the blessed companions a great shock. According to the will of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, his funeral rites were performed by his Ahl al-Bayt and his family members. His blessed Janazah remained in the blessed room of Sayyidatuna ‘Aisha رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا. Sayyiduna Abbas رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ gave the following details of how the funeral Salah of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was offered:

When the Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed away, the men first entered and they recited Salat and Salaam individually without any Imam. Then, the women entered and they also recited Salat and Salaam upon him. Then, the children entered and they also did the same. Then, the slaves went and they also recited Salat and Salaam upon him. No one did Imamah (led a prayer) over him.

In the beginning, there was a difference of opinion amongst blessed companions as to where the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would be buried. On this occasion, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said: “I have heard from the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم that after the passing of every prophet, he is buried where he has passed away.” After listening to this blessed Hadith, people prepared the grave of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم at that very place (blessed room of Sayyidah ‘Aisha) and he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was buried there. Sayyiduna Abu Talhah Ansari رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ prepared grave with a niche in the wall; Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Fadl Bin Abbas, Sayyiduna Quthum Bin Abbas and Sayyiduna Abbas رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم lowered the blessed body in the luminous grave.

Blessed Appearance

Sayyiduna Anas رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ has said: “The blessed body of the Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was very soft and delicate. I have never even seen silk softer and more delicate than his blessed body. I have never smelt any other fragrance better than the fragrance of his blessed body. 1

It was one of the unique attributes of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم that he had no shadow. His shadow did not appear on the ground in the sunlight, in the moonlight or in any other light. 2

Between both of his shoulders was the Seal of Prophethood that was equal to the size of a pigeon egg. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was of a medium height. It was his miracle that when he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would separate from people, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would appear medium-tall in height and when he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would sit or walk with others, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would look the tallest of all.

His blessed head was large; his blessed hair was slightly curly; his blessed face was the reflection of Divine beauty and shone like the moon of the fourteenth night of the lunar month. 3

Sayyiduna Anas رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ has further added: “The colour of the blessed face of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was neither absolutely white like chalk, nor was it wheatish, but rather, his blessed face was red and white and glowing.” 4

His blessed eyebrows were extended and thin, and looked as if they were joined to each other from a distance. There was a vein between them which would stand out in times of anger. His luminous eyes were big and naturally appeared as though kohl had been applied in them. 5

Referance:

1 Bukhari, Kitab, al-Munaqib, vol. 2, p. 489, Hadith 3561

2 Sharah al Zurqani Ali Al-Al-Mawahib, vol. 5, pp. 524-525

3 Sharah al Zurqani Ali Al-Al-Mawahib, vol. 5, p. 485

4 Al-Shumai’l al-Muhammadiyah, p. 15

5 Al Shuma’il al-Muhammadiyah, pp. 19-21

It was the miracle of his luminous eyes that just as he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would see the things in front of him, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would also see the things that were behind him.

Like his luminous eyes, his blessed ears also had miraculous glory. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has himself said: “I see those things which no one amongst you sees, and I hear the sounds which no one amongst you hears.” 1

His blessed forehead was bright and broad. His blessed cheeks were soft, delicate and smooth. His blessed teeth were wide and sparkling. When he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would converse, light would emanate from between his front two teeth. When he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would smile in the dark, light would spread everywhere. 2

His blessed tongue was the channel of Divine revelation and was extremely eloquent. When excellent eloquent speakers listened to his speech, they would be stunned. His blessed voice was very beautiful; its excellence is that during the sermons, all people, whether near or at a distance, would listen to his sacred speech equally well wherever they were seated. 3

His blessed hands were very soft, delicate and fleshy. The person with whom he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would shake hands would be left with fragrant hands for the entire day.

His blessed feet were wide and fleshy. They were so soft and delicate that water did not stay on them. While walking, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would put his steps on the ground 4 in a dignified manner. When he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would walk, it seemed as if he was descending from a height. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would take every step firmly. 5

Referance:

1 Al Khasais al-Kubra Laswati, vol. 1, p. 104

2 Al-Shuma’il Al-Muhammadiyah, pp. 21,26

3 Sharah al-Zurqani Al-al-Muwahib, vol. 5, pp. 444, 445

4 Al Shuma’il al-Muhammadiyah, p. 21

5 Al-Shuma’il Al-Muhammadiyah, p. 86

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