The Death of Best of Mankind

Why the Death of the Best of Mankind Is Instructive

Because if it happened to him — the most beloved of creation to Allah, the final Messenger, the one for whose sake the worlds were created according to the narrations — then no one is exempt.

That is precisely the lesson the early Muslims drew from it. When the Prophet ﷺ died, the Companions were devastated to the point that some, including 'Umar رضي الله عنه, could not accept it — until Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه recited: "Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and Messengers have passed away before him."

What the Book Draws From This

The circumstances of the Prophet's ﷺ final illness and passing, the reaction of the Companions and how they came to terms with it, and the broader lesson: that mortality is universal, and that a life should be lived accordingly.

Who It Is For

Any Muslim, and particularly those who need a reminder that time is finite and every deed matters while it is still possible to act.

Related Reading

• The Sealed Nectar — the full Seerah, including the final years
• Save Yourself and Your Family From The Hellfire — saving yourself and your family from the Fire
• Live Longer with Less Time — making the most of a short life