The Most Blessed Last Words

“As-salah! As-salah” (The Prayer! The Prayer!)

The last words of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)

These last few words of the Messenger of God (صلى الله عليه وسلم) speaks volumes about his blessed character and nature. His (صلى الله عليه وسلم) last words are reminding us of the thing we will be first questioned about when we are resurrected.

His (صلى الله عليه وسلم) speech is described as “jawami’ al-kalam” - comprehensive speech, eloquent, concise words with a wealth of meaning behind them, comprehensive message and guidance in them.

“As-salah! As-salah!” He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is advising us to guard our prayer, to guard our prayer we must learn to pray properly, the prayer includes the Quran, the prayer includes the shahadah, it includes salawat upon him (صلى الله عليه وسلم), it includes du’a (the original pre-Islamic meaning of ’salah’ was supplication or du’a), salah is prayed in congregation (importance of keeping close to the jama’), it’s about the mosque, it’s about sacrificing time, it’s everyday….

The most amazing thing is that his (صلى الله عليه وسلم) last words, his last concern before leaving the world was for us. He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was thinking about our well being, our guidance until he breathed his last (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The mercy to the world, may Allah bless and raise the rank of His Messenger, His beloved, the final Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

Reflection on Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (ra)

Allah (sw) says in the Quran (4:69):

وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَئِكَ رَفِيقًا

And whoever obeys God and the Messenger, these will be [in paradise] with the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous, upon whom God has bestowed favours”

This ayah lists the people in paradise whom Allah says he has betowed favours upon. What is understood in this ayah is that there are ranks in mankind and the ranking of these people who are in paradise, is known by the order in which they are mentioned in the ayah.The best of all human beings are the Prophets, then the Siddiqeen or the Truthful, then the Martyrs and then the Righteous.

The highest possible station a human being can achieve is the maqam of Siddiq, as Prophethood has ended.  And the person that was given the title ‘al-Siddq’ by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was none other than Abu Bakr (ra). A teacher of mine once said “where prophethood ends Abu Bakr begins”. After the prophets (’alayhum as salam) the best person to have ever lived was Abu Bakr (ra).

What earned Abu Bakr the title al-Siddiq? It was after the Prophets (صلى الله عليه وسلم) night journey (Mi’raj) when the enemies of the Muslims jeered at what the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said of his night journey, claiming it was fanciful and thought the Muslims will not believe such a thing and will leave Islam.

They went to Abu Bakr (ra) and said “Do you know, Abu Bakr, what news your friend has for you in the morning?” said one of the mean. “He says he was on the highest heaven last night, having a talk with Allah, the Almighty. Would you believe it?”

Abu Bakr replied “If he had said this then I believe what the Messenger of Allah has said.”

Abu Bakr (ra) has such firm belief he never had any doubt in the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). It was the above incident plus the sacrifices he made after becoming Muslim, his wealth, leaving his family members who did not accept islam; this is what earned him the title of al-Siddiq, a station better than the martyrs, better than righteous and close to the station of Prophethood.

Abu Bakr (ra) is also teaching us the importance of checking soundness of narration of knowledge in the above incident. The importance of Isnad. When he (ra) replied “If he had said this then I believe…” What he is saying is “you who is telling me this, I don’t trust as a sound source of knowledge, but if the Messenger of God (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had said what you are saying, I believe it.”

This is an incredibly high level of adab Abu Bakr (ra) has of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).