The last sermon from the minbar

Five days before his death the Prophet sat on the minbar, his head bound, forbade the taking of graves as places of worship, offered himself for retaliation, commended the Ansar, and spoke of a servant God gave the choice who chose what is with Him ¹.

On the Wednesday five days before his death the Prophet's pain grew severe; he ordered seven water-skins from various wells poured over him until he felt relief, then entered the mosque with his head bound and sat on the minbar ². He said: God's curse on the Jews and Christians who took their prophets' graves as places of worship — and: do not take my grave as an idol to be worshipped ³. He offered himself for retaliation: whoever's back I struck, here is my back — let him take his due; whoever's honour I cursed, here is my honour — let him take his due; and a man stood and claimed three dirhams, which he ordered repaid ¹. Then he commended the Ansar: they are my belly and my trusted chest — they have fulfilled what was on them and what is for them remains; accept from their doer of good and overlook their wrongdoer ⁴. He said: God gave a servant the choice between being granted of this world's splendour and what is with Him, and he chose what is with Him — Abu Bakr wept and said: may our fathers and mothers ransom you; the Prophet was the one given the choice, and Abu Bakr was the most knowing of the Companions ⁴. Then he said: the person most generous to me in companionship and wealth is Abu Bakr; were I to take an intimate friend other than my Lord I would take Abu Bakr; let no door in the mosque remain but Abu Bakr's door ⁴.