Home > Sira > The Eleventh Year of the Hijra: the Death of the Prophet
The year 11 of the Hijra: the signs of the approach of death, the Prophet's illness, his last prayer, his death, the events between his death and his burial, his grave in the chamber of Aïcha, his children, servants and scribes.
Updated on 05 October 2026 at 10:56 AM
Part of: The Year 11 of the Hijra: the Prophet's Illness and his Death
Aïcha relates that people used to say the Prophet would not die before being given the choice between this world and the Hereafter, and that he used to say in health: "No prophet is taken until he sees his seat in Paradise, then is given the choice." Now, during his last illness, his head on her thigh, he fainted a moment, then recovered, raised his eyes to the ceiling of the house and said: "O Allah, the Highest Companion!" She said: we then understood that he had seen his place and chosen his Lord. Those were the last words of the Messenger of Allah: "the Highest Companion!" In one version he said while dying: "No, rather I ask Allah for the Highest Companion, happier with Jibril and Mika’il and Israfil!" And according to Oum Soulayman or her like: he dipped his hand in a cup of water and wiped his face saying: "O Allah, help me against the agonies of death!" And Ahmad relates that he said: "It is eased for me that I saw the white palm of Aïcha in Paradise!" A proof of his love for her.
Ibn Abi Mulayka relates that Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr entered with a fresh siwak twig: the Prophet looked at it, knowing he loved the siwak; Aïcha took it, chewed it to soften it, and gave it to him: he brushed his teeth with it in the finest manner, then reached for it, and the twig fell from his hand. She said: Allah joined my saliva and his on the last day of this world and the first day of the Hereafter. And Usama ibn Zayd relates: when the Messenger of Allah grew heavy I went down with the people into Medina, entered upon him: he spoke no more, but he would raise his hands to heaven then pass them over me: I knew he was praying for me. And the Prophet said during his illness, according to Usama again: "Send forth the campaign of Usama": Abou Bakr carried it out at the start of his caliphate. And Aïcha said finally: he died in my house, between my palate and my throat, in my turn: and my folly, in my youth, was to rise to lament with the women after laying him on the pillow. And to Allah belong praise and favour.