As soon as Abu Bakr saw him he came down from the minbar and invited the Prophet to take his rightful place, but the latter raised his hand, indicating him to stay.  Then he spoke to the faithful followers of his lore: “My friends, listen, these are my last words.  No one can escape God’s decree and today is my last day on earth.  It has pleased God to take your leader away from you.  I pray that you will look after my family, who will be without a father.  Do not neglect to pray at the appointed hours, and do not forget to fast during Ramadan.  These things I press upon your hearts.  Do not forget to wash before the prayers and to make the pilgrimage to Mecca once in your lives.  Remember that telling lies is a great shame; on the Day of Reckoning you will be cursed if you do.  Do not take the property of others, for doing so would send you to the Fire.

 “Remember that the hypocrites are in the lowest depths of Hell.  Remember that slandering your neighbor is wicked, and secret meetings (that is, conspiracy) and fitna, sedition.  This is the day of saying farewell, the last day of seeing each other until the day when the angel calls us from our graves.”

The Prophet laid again his hands on the shoulders of the two brothers who led him back to his room where Aisha had newly made the bed.  To the men, the Prophet said, “My brethren, leave me here.  I am grateful for your help in my last hour.”  He lay down while Hasan and Husayn, who had come in quietly, watched their grandfather while tears were running down their faces.

Then they saw a gentleman coming who greeted them politely, saying, “I beg leave to enter.  I want leave to see Muhammad, son of Abdullah.”  Fatimah answered firmly, “Just now it is not convenient.  The Holy Prophet is very ill.”  But the stranger insisted, though politely, that his business was urgent, so Fatimah permitted him to see her father.  She said to him, “Why do you want to see my father now, while he is so ill?”  But her father said from his bed, “Fatimah, show him in.  This is no ordinary visitor, it is no man, no earth-born human being.  This is Azrail.  He is the carrier of souls.  He is coming to fetch me; his business is urgent.  Let him in without delay.  He is sent by the Almighty …

He is sent by God Omniscient,
who bids him to take the spirits.
He conveys the souls departed,
he pulls out the human spirits