Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother Burhan,

Please let me know what is the meaning of the Ayeat no 144 of surah Al Imran(Oma mohammed in illa rasul kad khalat kable rasul) and when did this ayeat was blessed to holy prophet and why Hadrat Abu bakar recited the same Ayeat after the death of Prophet (saw). Your kind guidance will be appreciated. May allah give us his noor to give us true guidance.

Your brother in Islam

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Answer:

PM’s Death

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Please let me know what is the meaning of the Ayeat no 144 of surah Al Imran(Oma mohammedin illa rasul kad khalat kable rasul)

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verse 144:

144 Muhammad is no more than a Messenger: many were the Messengers that passed away before him. If he died or were slain will ye then turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels not the least harm will he do to Allah; but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those who (serve him) with gratitude.

If one were to read the above Verse 144 in context with the preceding and proceeding verses of the Surah (vv 121-200), one would realize that these verses were revealed by Allah Subhanah after the Battle of Uhud. Due to a break and disobedience of command in the muslim ranks, the believers lost this battle against their arch-enemies the Quraish; and during the battle there was a very strong rumor dispersed that the Messenger of Allah (saws) had been slain.

In the heat of the battle, upon hearing this false rumor that the Messenger of Allah (saws) had been slain, the true believers obviously felt sincere pain and lost heart. But the hypocrites who had accompanied the believers in battle took this opportunity to spread mischievous talk and began to suggest that since the Prophet (saws) was now dead, they should go to the chief of the hypocrites (Abdullah ibn Ubayy) and request him to obtain amnesty for the muslims from the Quraish! Some amongst the impudent hypocrites started voicing that had Mohamed (saws) been a true Messenger of Allah, he would not have been slain; thus they should return back to their ancestral faiths! Obviously, the true believers would have nothing from such frivolous talks and suggestions of the hypocrites, but the rumor of the death of their beloved leader and Messenger (saws) was so strong, that it completely depleted their morale and sank their hearts and there was utter confusion amongst the muslim army ranks, not knowing what to do next.

Allah Subhanah revealed this Verse to absolutely rebuke the mischief of the hypocrites and to strengthen the hearts of the believers by declaring that Mohamed (saws) was not only mortal like all the other Messengers of Allah that came before him, and regardless of whether he dies or is martyred, the deen of Allah will and must survive. If the faith of one or some amongst them was so weak that only the news of the death of the Messenger of Allah (saws) would be enough to change their belief into disbelief, then they should know that Allah and His Religion does not stand in need of such weak believers!

Your Question: why Hadrat Abu bakar recited the same Ayeat after the death of Prophet (saw).

When the Noble Prophet (saws) breathed his last on this earth and his blessed soul departed for its heavenly abode, the believers gathered near the Prophet’s house and mosque and their grief and sorrow was such that they just could not comprehend that their beloved leader and Prophet (saws) had died! Hadrat Umar (r.a.) especially was very vocal and, in his absolute grief and sorrow, absolutely refused to accept the inevitable death of his beloved Prophet (saws) and declared that he would take retribution against anyone who claimed that the Prophet (saws) was dead!

Then Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) came and calmed the situation as narrated by Hadrat Aisha (r.a.):

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.333 Narrated by Aisha

(Upon hearing about the death of the Prophet (saws)), Abu Bakr came riding his horse from his dwelling place in As-Sunh. He got down from it, entered the Mosque and did not speak with anybody till he came to me and went direct to the (body of the) Prophet (saws), which was covered with a marked blanket. Abu Bakr uncovered his (saws’s) face. He knelt down, kissed him, and then started weeping and said, "My father and my mother be sacrificed for you, O Allah's Prophet (saws)! Allah will not combine two deaths on you. You have died the death which was Decreed for you."

Narrated Abu Salama from Ibn Abbas : ‘Abu Bakr came out and 'Umar was addressing the people, and Abu Bakr told him to sit down but 'Umar refused. Abu Bakr again told him to sit down but 'Umar again refused. Then Abu Bakr recited the Tashah-hud (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Messenger) and the people attended to Abu Bakr and left 'Umar. Abu Bakr said, "Amma ba'du, whoever amongst you worshipped Muhammad, then let him know that Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped Allah, (let him know that) Allah is alive and will never die!’ and recited the verses of the Glorious Quran Surah (Ale-Imran verse 144): ‘Muhammad is no more than a Messenger: many were the Messengers that passed away before him. If he died or were slain will ye then turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels not the least harm will he do to Allah; but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those who (serve him) with gratitude.’

Upon hearing these words of Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), Hadrat Umar (r.a.) and other companion's nerves were calmed and they finally were able to comprehend and accept the situation and the inevitable death of their beloved leader and Messenger.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan