Page 88 - Seekers Guide Book

Islam and the Quran
had died. At the time of Prophet’s demise, Abu Bakr
(one of the Prophet’s closest companions) was not in
Madinah. Upon his return, when he saw the reaction of
some of the companions, he said the following to counsel
them to overcome the emotional turmoil:

For those of you who worshipped
Muhammad, know that he was a man and is
dead and for those of you who worshipped
God, know that He is alive and eternal.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 1241, 1242)

Afterwards, the companions realized that they were
denying the reality and accepted the fact of the death of
the Prophet, and that he was not going to return. The
same message has been alluded to in the following verse
of the Quran:

Muhammad is only a messenger. Messengers
have passed away before him. If he should
die, or be killed, will you turn back on your
heels? Those who turn on their heels do not
harm the Lord in the least. God will reward
the grateful. (Quran 3:144)

Death is not a negative event in the life of a believer; it
is a part of the creation plan of God. If one consciously
realizes that death means meeting God, he would become
positive in thought and character and will prepare himself
for it.

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