The distinctive demise of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and His life beyond it

 The Salaat after the demise

The Companions had asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) about the Salaat after His demise.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had said:  After the funeral bath and enshrouding, let me be on my cot in my room.  Then leave my room for some time as the first one to offer Salaat on me will be Jibreel, then Mikaail, then Israfeel, then the angel of death and along with him will be many groups of angels, then you should come in various groups and recite Salaat on me.  First, the members of my Family, (Ahle Bait) will come, then their ladies, then you should come.  Then the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Convey my Salaam to my Companions who will not be present at that time and to all my slaves after me until the Day of Judgment.  The Companions asked:  Who will enter your blessed grave?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Along with the angels of my Lord Almighty, my Family.  (Haashiya Zurqani ‘Alal Mawahib, Vol. 12, Pg. No. 115/116)

Just look at the benevolence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  Whither the Chief of all Prophets and whither we sinners?  Whither the Seal of all Prophets and whither we transgressors?  Do we deserve the Salaam of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)?  There is no good deed of ours because of which the Prophet should greet us with Salaam.  This is nothing but the benevolence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and this is the zenith of His benevolence that He greeted all the Muslims who will come after Him with Salaam.  By this, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) granted peace to us right until the Day of Judgment.  It is nothing but the blessings of the “Salaam” of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that in spite of all our sins, we are leading a dignified life, in spite of thousands of sins, we are still safe.  We should also recite Durood profusely and send our Salaam to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). 

As per the orders of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), after the Funeral Bath and enshrouding, the room was vacated.  The angels came there and conveyed their Salaam.  Then the Companions came in separate groups and conveyed their Salaam.  First, the men would come, then the women, then children.  Thus, no Companion followed anyone’s lead.  Every person would enter the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and have the honor and privilege of conveying Salaam to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), as given in Subul Ul Huda War Rashad, Vol. 12, Pg. No. 331.

The Companions would convey their Salaat in the following words:  Assalaamalaika Ya Ayyuhan Nabiyyu Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakutuhu.  O Allah!  We testify that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has conveyed all the commands that were revealed to Him and He counseled us, He strove in the path of Allah to the point that Allah made His religion dominant and its message was completed.  We believe in Allah, the One and Only.  O Lord Almighty!  Guide us to follow the Holy Word which was revealed to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and resurrect us with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) so that we benefit from His attention and recognize His status on the Day of Judgment.  Verily, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is very affectionate and merciful with the believers. 

We don’t desire any remuneration of our faith and neither do we desire any price or wages of it.  The Companions would say Aameen on this.  (Subul Ul Huda War Rashad, Vol. 12, Pg. No. 330)

What does the Salaat recited by the Companions and the angels mean?  There are 2 opinions about this:

1.     That it means Salaat Ul Janazah, the Funeral Salaat.

2.     That it means Durood.

There is no problem is accepting the second meaning.  The words used in the narrations support this.  The words “‘Ala” used with Salaat in Arabic is used in the same way for Salaat Ul Janaazah as well.