Among the many ‘uncomfortable’ questions to which the Muslim majority has no answers is the death of the Holy Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) or should we say martyrdom?
The Muslim majority holds one of these opinions – the Holy Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) died from natural causes or from a tumour or from poison that was administered to him (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) at the time of the Khaiber expedition.
Was this the real cause of the Holy Prophet’s (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) death?
Reply
All the opinions advanced by the majority fail to address clear signs in the Holy Quran and history that Holy Prophet’s (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) life was in impending danger and therefore it should come as no surprise that he (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) was in fact killed.
The Muslim majority fails to take into consideration the following arguments:
1. Poisoning by Jews is a bad argument
2. Proof from Quran of Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) martyrdom
3. The Ahle Tasannun affirm the role of the two wives
4. Martyrdom by sword or poison
5. Martyrdom of Imam Hasan (a.s.) reveals Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) killer
6. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was martyred on Monday
7. Best death is martyrdom
8. When the companions abandoned the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) to die
9. Attempt to kill the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in Aqabah
10. Assassination of Saad Ibn Ubadah by Jinn?!
Back to Top 1. Poisoning by Jews is a bad argument
The fable of the poisoning by the Jews of Khaibar is particularly hard to digest since it puts the Muslims in very bad light.
The incident goes like this – after the victory of Khaibar the Jews invited the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) and the Muslims for a feast. They poisoned the food to test the truthfulness of the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم). If the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) did have knowledge of the unseen as he claimed, then he would not consume the poisoned food. If he consumed it, then his claim is false and he is not a prophet of God.
According to the Muslims the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) consumed the poisoned food and died years later from it. So according to the Muslims, Prophet Muhammad (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) WAS NOT a prophet of God and the Jews were right!
We can see how ridiculous that sounds and only ends up combining the Muslims and the Jews in the same category of disbelievers.
History records that the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) in fact DID NOT consume the poisoned food and proved the truthfulness of his claims.
Perhaps having realized the stupidity of this assertion, the fabricators of traditions introduced another contradictory report from Ayesha that the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) died from an internal tumour.
- Musnad Abi Yala vol. 8 p. 258
Back to Top 2. Proof from Quran of Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) martyrdom
There are Quranic verses that clearly hint at grave danger to the Prophet’s sawa life.
- ‘Apostle! Deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people…’ (Surah Maidah (5): 67).
Verses like these highlight that the Prophet’s (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) life was in peril. It was enough to endanger the communication of the message.
Then the Holy Quran hints at the Prophet’s death (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) by killing:
- ‘And Muhammad is no more than an apostle; the apostles have already passed away before him; if then he dies or is killed will you turn back upon your heels?’ (Surah Ale Imran (3): 144)
Back to Top 3. The Ahle Tasannun affirm the role of the two wives
The Ahle Tasannun have documented the role of the two wives in conspiring against the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم).
Ibn Abbas narrates: For the whole year, I wanted to ask Umar Ibn Khattab regarding the explanation of a verse (in Surah al-Tahreem (66:3))…O ‘Chief of the believers’! Who were the two wives of the Prophet who aided one another against him?
He said – They were Hafsah and Ayesha.
- Sahih-e-Bukhari vol. 6, book 60, trad. 435
- Tafseer al-Jubaai under the exegesis of Surah Tahreem (66): 3
Even the Sihaah (most reliable books of the Ahle Tasannun) document the very suspicious circumstances surrounding the Prophet’s (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) death.
Ayesha narrates – When Allah’s Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) contracted the terminal disease, he ordered us – Don’t put the medicine in my mouth. But we disobeyed him on the ground that every patient dislikes medication! So we administered the substance by his mouth. When he regained consciousness, he (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) demanded – Who did that? Have I not admonished you not to do that?
- Sahih Bukhari vol. 8 p. 42
- Sahih Muslim vol. 7 p. 42
- Musnad Ahmed Ibn Hanbal vol. 6 p. 53
- Tarikh Ibn Kathir vol. 4 p. 446
Without going into any interpretations, what is immediately clear is that the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) was sneakily administered a substance in his last days against his explicit command.
Back to Top 4. Martyrdom by sword or poison
There are reports that martyrdom by sword or poison is the lot of the infallibles.
Imam Hasan (عليه السلام) relates from his grandfather the Holy Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) – There is none from us but he is either killed or poisoned.
- Ithbaat al-Hudaat v 1 p 344
- Kefaayah Al-Athar p 162, 227
- Sharh Usool al-Kafi of Mulla Sadra v 1 p 96
- Behaar al-Anwaar v 27 p 217
In another report that coincides with the Ahle Tasannun narration, Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) informs – Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) was poisoned before death, the two of them made him (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) drink it.
- Tafseer al-Burhan under the exegesis of Surah Ale Imran (3): 144
- Tafseer al-Safi under the exegesis of Surah Ale Imran (3): 144
- Tafseer al-Ayyashi under the exegesis of Surah Ale Imran (3): 144
- Behaar al-Anwaar vol. 22 p.516
Traditions of this nature are categorical in underscoring the Prophet’s (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) martyrdom.
Back to Top 5. Martyrdom of Imam Hasan (a.s.) reveals Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) killer
There are many similarities between the martyrdom of Imam Hasan (عليه السلام) and that of Holy Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم).
Imam Jafar Sadiq (عليه السلام) informs that Imam Hasan (عليه السلام) informed his family – O my nation – surely I will die by poisoning just like the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) died of poisoning.
- Behaar al-Anwaar vol. 43 p. 327-328
- Al-Manaaqib of Ibn Shahr Ashob vol. 4 p. 8
The similarity does not end there. Imam Hasan (عليه السلام) was also poisoned by his wife Jodah on the instructions of her father Ashath Ibn Qays, a stooge of Muawiyah.
A third similarity is that both Holy Prophet sawa and Imam Hasan as were martyred on 28th Safar!
Perhaps the numerous similarities between the two martyrdoms is a message for those with intellects.
Back to Top 6. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was martyred on Monday
Not only do we know that the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) was killed, we even know the day of his martyrdom.
The narrator asked Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) – May I be your ransom! What about Mondays, why are they called Al-Ithnain?
Imam (عليه السلام) – It has been named after those two (tyrants).
Narrator – But Al-Ithnain (Monday) was known as such before those two.
Imam (عليه السلام) – Once you are told something try to understand it! Indeed Allah already knew the day on which He would capture the soul of His Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم), and the day on which the Prophet’s Trustee (عليه السلام) would be oppressed. Thus, it was named after those two.
- Al-Khesaal chap 7 trad 61
The tradition clearly links the two companions to Prophet’s (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) martyrdom on Monday, else it would be pointless for Allah to name Monday after them.
Back to Top 7. Best death is martyrdom
When traditions clearly state that the best death is by martyrdom then the questions Muslims must ask themselves is why would Allah deprive His Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) of martyrdom.
Isn’t Prophet Muhammad (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) the best prophet? Weren’t prophets lower in stature like Zakariyya (عليه السلام) and Yahya (عليه السلام) and tens of thousands of Bani Israel prophets (عليه السلام) martyred by their nations?
There are many traditions that declare that the Muslim nation will behave in the same way as the Bani Israel right down to the last footstep. If Bani Israel have tormented their prophets and finally killed them, then the Muslim nation can be expected to do the same.
Then it is not surprising if the Holy Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) was martyred. On the contrary we should be surprised why the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) was given a natural death as the Muslim majority claim.
Back to Top 8. When the companions abandoned the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) to die
To anyone familiar with the Quran it is not altogether surprising that the companions did not care for the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) life. At least on two occasions – Uhud and Hunain – the companions left the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) to die amidst the enemies with none except Ali Ibn Abi Talib (عليه السلام) as lifesaver, literally.
‘When you ran off precipitately (on Day of Uhad) and did not wait for any one, and the Apostle was calling you from your rear…’ (Surah Ale Imran (3): 153)
‘Certainly Allah helped you in many battlefields and on the day of Hunain, when your great numbers made you vain, but they availed you nothing and the earth became strait to you notwithstanding its spaciousness, then you turned back retreating.’ (Surah Taubah (9): 25)
By this measure, those around the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) very much capable of killing him (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) and to make frail attempts to defend the honour and just nature (adalat) of these Muslims amounts to rejecting the Quran.
Back to Top 9. Attempt to kill the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in Aqabah
To any student of history, it should come as no surprise that the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) was murdered given the attempts on his life over the last two years of his life.
The incident of Aqabah is the biggest evidence of the conspiracy to eliminate the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم).
The event unfolded during the Tabook expedition when the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) had to pass by a steep valley (Aqabah). Two groups of hypocrites lay in hiding on either side of the pass to frighten the Prophet’s (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) camel. The Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) was saved by Jibrail’s (عليه السلام) warning and the plot was exposed to him (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم), as also to Huzaifah Ibn Yaman who was behind the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم).
According to varying reports the number of hypocrites ranged from twelve to twenty-four. They included the usual suspects – five companions of the contract (to kill the Prophet s.a.w.a. and divide caliphate amongst themselves), five members of the Shura and Muawiyah and Amr al-Aas.
- Tafseer al-Qummi under the exegesis of Surah Ale Imran (5): 67
- Tafseer of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) p. 387-389
- Kitab al-Sulaim vol. 1 p. 429, 729
- Khesal vol. 2 p. 499 under chapter of twenty-four traits
The incident of Aqabah is not a Shiite fabrication which is the first line of defense for anything even remotely uncomfortable to the Muslim majority.
The incident is well-documented in the most reliable books of the Ahle Tasannun including the Sihaah:
- Sahih-e-Muslim p. 1,282 trad. 2,879
- Tarikh Ibn Kathir vol. 4 p. 181-182
- Matalib al-Alia of Ibn Hajar vol. 14 p. 272
There are numerous incidents of the caliphs always pressing Huzaifah to reveal the identity of the hypocrites of Aqabah.
Back to Top 10. Assassination of Saad Ibn Ubadah by Jinn?!
To those who claim that the murder of the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) could not have been engineered amidst the Muslims and such a murder plot lacks any precedent, we would like to draw their attention to the murder of Saad Ibn Ubadah al-Khazraji.
All Muslims are unanimous that contrary to the claims of consensus (ijma), many companions and even clans – like the Khazraj led by Saad Ibn Ubadah refused to pay allegiance to Abu Bakr. In fact, they were not even on speaking terms. Till the time Saad Ibn Ubadah was alive, the government remained insecure, haunted by the prospect of a rebellion.
So what did the government do?
They had Saad Ibn Ubadah eliminated by a Jinn! At least that was the official version – a Jinn had killed Saad Ibn Ubadah. In reality, it was the handiwork of the official hitman – Khalid Ibn Walid, who had earlier also tried to eliminate Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (عليه السلام). Khalid’s role in Malik Ibn Numayrah’s murder followed by rape of his wife is well-documented in the history books.
Saad Ibn Ubadah’s murder was a clear message to those who were dissenting with Abu Bakr’s authority and refused to pay him allegiance – they could meet with the same fate as Saad. This led many to pay allegiance to the ruler despite reservations about him and his companion. The appearance of consensus (ijma) was ultimately based on a Jinn!
Now the question that needs answering is when a popular companion and leader of one-half of Ansar can be eliminated so easily and the blame can be put at the doorstep of a Jinn, why can’t the Holy Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) be eliminated likewise behind the façade of natural death or poisoning by Jews or some other cover-up?
So, it’s clear that the Prophet (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) was in fact poisoned by Jews, just not by the Jews of Khaibar.
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