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
It is related that the people of the Book knew the day of his death, among them a Christian of the Levant who said: yesterday died the noblest of envoys, the most generous of men! And that the well of Zamzam dried up and the stars began to fall that year, as is related in the collections of portents. Aïcha likewise relates that the pulpit of the mosque groaned when he left it for the outskirts of Medina. Then the funeral sermons were delivered by Abou Bakr as-Siddiq, and the disciples relate that he said in the sermon after the Prophet’s death: "O people, whoever worshipped Mohamed: Mohamed has died; and whoever worships Allah: Allah is alive and does not die!" Then he recited the verse of the sura Al Imran. Then he said: "Allah chose Mohamed and raised him to His nearness: he died in the religion of Allah! Whoever of you would take an example, let him take the example of this one; and whoever would take the example of a dead man, let him take the example of the dead:
for the living are not safe from straying!" Distinctive traits have been related on this in the book of characteristics, and Allah is most knowing. The campaigns of Usama were sent after his death by Abou Bakr, and their news and that of the rest of the year eleven have been treated in their place. His children were: al-Qasim, Abdallah, Zaynab, Rouqayya, Oum Koulthoum and Fatima of Khadija; and Ibrahim of Marie the Copt; and he left no male descendant who survived. His servants were many: Anas ibn Malik served him ten years; Zayd ibn Haritha was his beloved freedman; Bilal ibn Rabah his muezzin; Abou Houlayfa, Rabah, Chouqran, Salma, and others. His scribes of the Quran and otherwise were, among others: Ali ibn Abi Talib, Oubayy ibn Ka’b, Zayd ibn Thabit, Mou’awiya, Khalid ibn Sa’id, Aban ibn Sa’id and Handhala ibn ar-Rabi’: may Allah be pleased with them all. And to Allah belong praise and favour, upon him and his family the best prayers and the purest salutation.