Sahaba - The Blessed

marched to prevent the nomination. ’Umar ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’
met them and shouted: “O people! Come and pay homage to the
Prophet’s ‘alaihis-salâm’ Khalîfa!” That day all the inhabitants of
Medîna paid homage to Hadrat Abû Bakr ‘radiy-Allâhu ta’âlâ
’anh’. Thus a very grave conflict was avoided. Hadrat Alî, Hasan
and Husayn ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anhum’ were busy consoling the Ahli-Bayt.
Therefore, they were the only three people who paid
homage (to Abû Bakr) later.
The following day, Tuesday, the Sahâba came together in the
mosque. ’Umar ‘radiy-Allâhu ta’âlâ ’anh’ mounted the minbar
and said, “O Ashâb-i-kirâm! You must be grateful to Allâhu
ta’âlâ for having gathered you around Abû Bakr, who is the best
of you. If there is anyone who has not paid homage yet, let him do
so!” Then Abû Bakr as-Siddîq said, “O people! I would like you
to know that I accept the office only lest there should be discord
and bloodshed among the Sahâba. I am human, like any one of
you. It is human nature to make mistakes. When I do not make
mistakes, pay gratitude to Allâhu ta’âlâ. And when I am wrong,
show me the right course! Obey me as long as I obey Allâhu
ta’âlâ. Yet if I am disobedient (to His commandments), pay me
back with your disobedience to me! Now, let us offer our service
to our Prophet ‘alaihis-salâm’. Let us pay him his due. Let us wash
him, perform the salât (termed salât of janâza) for him, and place
him into his blessed grave.” He dismounted the minbar and went
to the Messenger’s ‘alaihis-salâm’ house. He lifted the cloak
covering the most beloved Prophet’s face and smelled the blessed
face, relishing the most delicate musky odour that emanated from
his blessed face and hair. He put his face on the Messenger’s
blessed face and said, “I would sacrifice my mother and father for
your sake; how beautiful you smell, both alive and dead!” Then
quoting a hadîth-i-sherîf that read, “My Ahl-i-Bayt should wash
me (when I am dead),” and which he had heard from the
Messenger ‘alaihis-salâm’, he ordered, “Let Abbâs and Alî ‘radiy-
Allâhu ’anhumâ’ wash him.” Abbâs and his son Fadl came to the
place. Hadrat Alî joined them. The (new) Khalîfa, (i.e. Hadrat
Abû Bakr,) said, “O Alî! Wash the Messenger of Allah.” Then he
turned to Rasûlullah’s servant Usâma and told him to assist with
the washing. He and the other Sahâbîs waited at the door. He
ordered Aws bin Hawlî ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’, one of the Ansâr, to
go in and help the others. They washed the blessed Prophet with
his garment on, wrapped him in three white shrouds and
fumigated him with incense. Abû Talha dug a grave. They could
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