The death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed to the Highest Companion in the forenoon of Monday 12 Rabiʿ al-Awwal 11 AH, in the house of ʿAʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her), after Allah had perfected the religion through him and completed His favour — the greatest calamity to befall the Ummah.
The illness of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ grew severe over days, so he ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. Then, on Monday morning, he looked out at them from ʿAʾisha's chamber as they stood in rows for Fajr, and he smiled. They thought he was coming out to them; then he let down the curtain and passed away in the forenoon of that day.
The Muslims were thrown into confusion, until ʿUmar said: The Messenger of Allah has not died! Then Abu Bakr rose and delivered his immortal words: "Whoever worshipped Muhammad — Muhammad has died; and whoever worshipped Allah — Allah is Living and does not die," and recited: "Muhammad is but a messenger; messengers have passed before him."
The Ansar gathered at the Saqifa of Banu Saʿida, and the Muslims pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq as caliph. The Prophet ﷺ was washed and buried where he died, in ʿAʾisha's chamber, on the night of Wednesday, at sixty-three years of age — the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him.
Note — differing reports on the date: There is no dispute that he died on a Monday of Rabiʿ al-Awwal 11 AH; the well-known view is the 12th, and some say the 2nd, owing to a calculational difficulty in the standing at ʿArafa of the Farewell Pilgrimage.