Chapter X: Remembrance of Death
Hazrat Abu Bakr received his death news while he was away to Banu Hares bin Khazraj. He hurriedly came and went straight to the dead body of the Prophet and began to kiss his cheeks and say : O Messenger of God, may my parents be dedicated to you God will not give you the taste of death twice. By God, the Messenger God has died. Then he came out and addressed the people : O people, he who worships Muhammad should know that he has expired and he who worships the Lord of Muhammad should know that He is ever living and has got no death. God says : Muhammad is nothing but an apostle. Before him there passed many apostles. If he then dies or is killed, will you turn on your backs? On hearing this verse of Quran, the people were in such a condition as they did never hear of this verse before.
Hazrat Ibn Omar reported that when Hazrat Abu Bakr entered the room of the Prophet, he began to recite Darud and Hamd and the inhabitants of the house raised such a hue and cry that those who were praying outside heard it. When ever he said something, the noise further increased. Some one stood by the door and on his advice the noise stopped. He said loudly : O Ahli Bait, salam to you all. Everybody will die and everybody has got an agent in the affairs of God, every desire has got an object of hope and every fear has got salvation. Rely on God. On hearing
Vol-IV THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES 401
this, the dwellers of the hut could not understand whose voice it was. They then stopped crying and weeping. Soon they came within the hut and began to weep and cry again. This time an unknown voice said : O Ahli-Bait, remember God and glorify Him under all circumstances, you will then become sincere worshipers. There is consolation of God in each danger and there is agent in every desired object. Remember God within your mind. Obey His commands and put them in execution. Hazrat Abu Bakr said : They are Khizir and Isha'a. They were present at the Janaza of the Prophet.