It is almost universally agreed among historians and hadith scholars that, from the time the Prophet’s illness began, Ali (peace be upon him), along with the members of Banu Hashim and some of the Muhajirun (the emigrants) and Ansar (the supporters), was occupied with caring for the Prophet during his illness, preparing him for burial after his death, and receiving those who came to offer condolences and pay their respects. He was unaware of the events taking place to exclude him from the caliphate. Even if he had known about the measures the people were taking, he would not have left the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) lying lifeless in his home to go and demand his right, especially when everything that happened unfolded with such unexpected and astonishing speed.

It is certain that Ali and his companions among Banu Hashim, along with some of the Muhajirun and Ansar, did not learn what had happened until the people emerged from the Saqifah, escorting Abu Bakr to the mosque and chanting his name. Whenever they encountered someone, they would pull him toward the mosque and order him to pledge allegiance. At first, the people were struck by a sense of astonishment similar to that which had overwhelmed them at the moment of the Messenger of Allah’s death (peace and blessings be upon him).

Ibn Hisham’s Sirah and other sources relate that, after Abu Bakr received the pledge of allegiance, the people turned their attention to preparing the Messenger of Allah for burial. Ali ibn Abi Talib, al-Abbas, his two sons al-Fadl and Qutham ibn al-Abbas, and Usama ibn Zayd undertook this task. Usama had returned from al-Jurf with the army that had been stationed there.

Shuqran, the freedman of the Messenger of Allah, supported the Prophet against his chest, while al-Abbas and his sons turned his body with him. Usama poured water over him, and Ali washed him while he was still wearing his shirt. Ali washed him from beneath the garments without touching his body directly with his hands, saying:

“May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! How beautiful you are, both in life and in death.”

Shaykh al-Mufid stated:

When the Commander of the Faithful wished to wash the Prophet, he summoned al-Fadl ibn al-Abbas and instructed him to hand him the water. When he had finished washing and applying the funeral perfumes to the Prophet, Ali stepped forward and performed the funeral prayer over him alone, allowing no one else to join him in that prayer.

Meanwhile, the Muslims were in the mosque discussing who should lead the funeral prayer and where the Prophet should be buried. The Commander of the Faithful came out to them and said:

“The Messenger of Allah is our leader, both in life and in death. Therefore, let groups of people enter one after another and pray over him without an imam, then leave. Allah never takes the soul of a prophet in a place without that place being approved for his burial. I shall bury him in the chamber in which he passed away.”

No one opposed him in this matter.

Ibn Abd al-Barr narrated in Al-Isti‘ab that, after Ali and Banu Hashim had prayed over the Prophet and departed, the Muhajirun entered, followed by the Ansar, and then the rest of the people. They all performed the funeral prayer over him without an imam.

When the funeral prayers were completed, al-Abbas sent for Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, who used to dig graves for the people of Mecca in the form of a trench-like burial pit. He also sent for Zayd ibn Sahl, who dug graves for the people of Medina. He was told to dig a grave for the Messenger of Allah, so he prepared a lahd—a side niche within the grave.

The Commander of the Faithful, al-Abbas, al-Fadl, and Usama ibn Zayd entered to undertake the burial themselves. From outside the house, the Ansar called out:

“O Ali, we remind you of Allah and of our right, through the Messenger of Allah, that we should not be deprived of this opportunity today. Allow one of our men to enter, so that we may have a share in laying the Messenger of Allah to rest.”

Ali replied, “Let Aws ibn Khawli enter.” Aws was a distinguished veteran of the Battle of Badr from Banu Awf.

When Aws entered, Ali told him to descend into the grave. He did so, and the Commander of the Faithful placed the Messenger of Allah in his hands and lowered him into the grave. Once the Prophet had been placed inside, Ali told Aws to come out, and he did.

Ali (peace be upon him) then descended into the grave, uncovered the face of the Messenger of Allah, placed his cheek against the ground, and positioned the Prophet’s face toward the direction of the qiblah. He then placed the bricks over the burial niche, covered it with earth, and raised the grave approximately one handspan above ground level. Some accounts state that it was slightly higher.

Reports differ regarding the exact day on which the Prophet was buried. Most state that it was the second day after his death, while some report that his burial took place during the final hour of Tuesday.

Fatimah (peace be upon her) came to the grave at the time of the burial and said:

“Could your hearts truly bear to throw earth over the Messenger of Allah?”

She then took some soil from the grave and placed it upon her eyes, reciting the following verses:

What harm would befall one who has smelled Ahmad’s soil If he were never to smell precious perfumes again?

Calamities have poured upon me, such that if they had fallen Upon the days, they would have turned them into nights.

On that day, the world lost a man whose face was unmatched in nobility throughout history; a man who gave humanity what no other man had given it and left behind what no other man had left behind. No other man had carried to the world a message like his, a miracle that has endured through the ages.

For fourteen hundred years, up to the present day, he has been able to shake the world from one end to the other. He will remain, for as long as history endures, the foremost figure in human history, a man whose message continues to challenge tyrants, oppressors, kings, and the mighty rulers of the world.

His biography will remain a rich source of lessons in sacrifice for the sake of truth, justice, faith, and the highest ideals. His divine law will remain humanity’s greatest miracle for as long as religions, laws, and human beings continue to exist on the face of the earth.

Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One from whom I ask that He accept this work of mine and reward me for it with the reward granted to those who strive and struggle in His cause. He is the Most Generous of those from whom requests are made.