6/65. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1627 — Abu Bakr and Tawhid
What was narrated concerning the death and burial of the Prophet (SAW)
Hadith About Abu Bakr After the Prophet’s Death
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1627
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1627
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ عِنْدَ امْرَأَتِهِ ابْنَةِ خَارِجَةَ بِالْعَوَالِي فَجَعَلُوا يَقُولُونَ لَمْ يَمُتِ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ إِنَّمَا هُوَ بَعْضُ مَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُهُ عِنْدَ الْوَحْىِ . فَجَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَكَشَفَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ وَقَبَّلَ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَقَالَ أَنْتَ أَكْرَمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ أَنْ يُمِيتَكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ قَدْ وَاللَّهِ مَاتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ . وَعُمَرُ فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ مَا مَاتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَلاَ يَمُوتُ حَتَّى يَقْطَعَ أَيْدِيَ أُنَاسٍ مِنَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ كَثِيرٍ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ . فَقَامَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَصَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ فَقَالَ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ حَىٌّ لَمْ يَمُتْ وَمَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ مُحَمَّدًا فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا قَدْ مَاتَ {وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلاَّ رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِنْ مَاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِكُمْ وَمَنْ يَنْقَلِبْ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ} . قَالَ عُمَرُ فَلَكَأَنِّي لَمْ أَقْرَأْهَا إِلاَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ .
A'isha Narrated from:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed away, Abu Bakr was with his wife, the daughter of Kharijah, in villages surrounding Al-Madinah. They started to say: ‘The Prophet (ﷺ) has not died, rather he has been overcome with what used to overcome him at the time of Revelation.’ Then Abu Bakr came and uncovered his (the Prophet’s (ﷺ)) face, kissed him between the eyes and said: ‘You are too noble before Allah for Him to cause you to die twice. By Allah, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has indeed died.’ ‘Umar was in a corner of the mosque saying: ‘By Allah, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has not died and he will never die until the hands and feet of most of the hypocrites are cut off.’ Then Abu Bakr stood up, ascended the pulpit and said: ‘Whoever used to worship Allah, Allah is alive and will never die. Whoever used to worship Muhammad, Muhammad is dead.“Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah; and Allah will give reward to those who are grateful.’” [3:144]‘Umar said: ‘It was as if I had never read (that Verse) before that day.’”
[1] Āl 'Imrân 3:144.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1627In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 195English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 1627
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1627
This Hadith about Abu Bakr after the Prophet’s death records a moment of shock and clarity. Some people said the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had not died. Abu Bakr came, uncovered his face, kissed him between the eyes, and stated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم had indeed died. Then he stood before the people and reminded them: whoever worshiped Allah, Allah is alive and never dies; whoever worshiped Muhammad, Muhammad had died. He also recited the verse that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was a Messenger and that messengers had passed before him. The core teaching is firm Tawhid during grief. Love for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم must remain tied to worship of Allah alone.
What we learn from this hadith
- Deep grief should not make a person lose the truth of Tawhid.
- Abu Bakr faced the painful reality with clear words.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was honored, yet still a human Messenger who died.
- Qur’an was used to steady the community at a moment of shock.
