2. The Prophet's Last Will: What Really Happened? - Maulana Syed Muhammad Rizvi

- In the last majlis, we discussed the differing views of the Prophet's personality between the Sunni and Shī‘a schools. Sunnis view the Prophet's sayings as having official and personal dimensions, while Shī‘as consider him ma‘ṣūm, with all his actions and words being divinely inspired.
- This difference became evident during the Prophet’s last days, notably in the event described by ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās as “the sorrow of Thursday.”
- The Prophet wanted to write a will to prevent the community from going astray, but his request was met with opposition from some companions, particularly ‘Umar ibn Khaṭṭāb.
- Despite the Prophet's insistence, his request was not fulfilled, leading to confusion and division among those present.
- The opposition argued that the Prophet was overwhelmed by illness and that the Qur’an alone was sufficient, while others, including members of the Ahlul Bayt, wanted to honor his request.
- After the companions left, the Prophet gave three verbal pieces of advice, which included expelling idol-worshippers from Arabia and treating delegations generously. The third piece was either forgotten or omitted.
- The omission of the third piece of advice suggests it was related to succession, which was a topic of contention and political interest.
- Historical accounts indicate that the Prophet’s desire to document his succession plan was hindered by the political climate and resistance from some companions.
- Two years after the Prophet’s death, Abu Bakr dictated a will to appoint ‘Umar as his successor while unconscious, raising questions about the consistency of how succession issues were handled.
- Abu Bakr's will was completed and accepted without question, while the Prophet’s attempt to document his succession plan was met with skepticism and dismissed by some.
- Ibn Abil Hadid reported that ‘Umar admitted to preventing the Prophet from specifying ‘Ali as his successor out of concern for the unity of Islam.
- Greed for power has historically influenced political decisions, as seen with the Banu ‘Abbās who, despite initially claiming to support the Ahlul Bayt, ultimately sought power for themselves.

29th Safar 1446 AH
Monday, 29th September 2024

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