Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Tdlib 203
6.12 The honour of washing and
burying the Prophet (g)
When the Prophet (g) died, 'Ali (4) was one of those who
washed him, along with &-~adl ibn al-'Abbk and Usbah ibn
~a~d.~" 'Ali (&) said: "1 washed the Messenger of Allah (g), and
I checked to see what is usually seen in one who is deceased, hut I did
not see anything; he looked good in life and in death."522 He said:
"May my father be sacrificed for the good (meaning the Prophet);
how good you looked in life and in death."523 'Ali (&) .. was among
those who went down into the grave of the Messenger of Allah (g)
and buried him, along with al-Fdl ihn 'AbbSls, Qatham ibn 'Ahbh
and Shuqrin, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (3g).524
The news of the death of the Messenger of Allah (g) struck
the Companions like a thunderbolt, because of their intense love for
him and because they were used to living under his care, like children
living under their father's care, only more so. The share of that care
that Ah1 al-Bayt and the Hhhimi family - foremost among them
FSl!imah, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (g) and 'Ali ihn
Abi Taih - enjoyed was greater than others for obvious reasons,
based on natural human inclination and the fact that they were closely
related; they were characterised by sensitive feelings, sbong
emotions and deep love. But they bore this calamity with strong faith,
acceptance of the decree of Allah and submission to His command.525
6.13. The story of the letter that the Prophet (g)
thought of writing during his final illness
It is proven in Bukhari and Muslim and elsewhere in the hadith
of Ibn 'Abhiis (&) that he said: "When the Messenger of AUah (g)
was dying and there were some men in the house, the Prophet (@J
said: 'Come, let me write you a document after which you will never