The Final Illness & Leading with Prayer

In Safar 11 AH, the Prophet ﷺ visited the martyrs of Uhud and the Baqi' cemetery, praying for them and bidding them farewell. Severe fever and headache struck him. With the permission of all his wives, he spent his final days in the room of Sayyidah Aisha رضي الله عنها. When his illness intensified and he could not walk to the mosque, he commanded: 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' Abu Bakr led 17 prayers during the Prophet's illness. His final repeated whisperings to the Ummah were: **'Al-Salah! Al-Salah! Wa ma malakat aymanukum!'** (Guard the Prayer! Guard the Prayer! And treat your dependents and vulnerable with kindness!). He gave away his last few coins in charity, refusing to meet Allah with worldly wealth.