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This army is also known as the ' Seriya Usama' (Usama Expedition). It was the last army that the Beloved Prophet ﷺ ordered to be dispatched. On Monday, the 26th of Safar in the year 10 AH, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ ordered preparations for war against the Romans. The next day, he ﷺ summoned Sayyiduna Usama bin Zaid رضی اللہ عنہ and appointed him as the commander of the army. He ﷺ instructed Sayyiduna Usama رضی اللہ عنہ to march towards the battlefield of his father, and to swiftly travel and attack the disbelievers suddenly before they could prepare for battle. Despite his deteriorating health, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ personally tied the flag and handed it to Sayyiduna Usama رضی اللہ عنہ, saying, اغْزُ بِسْمِ اللهِ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَقَاتِلُ مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ “Go forth in the name of Allah and on the path of Allah, and fight those who disbelieve in Allah.” Sayyiduna Usama رضی اللہ عنہ appointed Sayyiduna Buraydah bin al-Hudayb رضی اللہ عنہ as the standard-bearer.
They departed from Madinah and camped at Jarf, a location one mile away, to gather the entire army. The Beloved Prophet ﷺ ordered all the noblemen among the Ansar and Muhajirin to join the army. Some people found it hard to accept that a young man, no older than twenty, had been appointed as the commander of such a large army that included the experienced and respected elders and leaders of both the Ansar and the Muhajirin.
When the Beloved Prophet ﷺ learned of this objection, he was deeply saddened. Despite his illness, he ﷺ wrapped a cloth around his head, wore a shawl and delivered a sermon, saying: “If you have objected to Usama's leadership, then you had previously objected to his father's leadership. By Allah, his father (Zaid bin Harithah) was worthy of leadership, and so is his son. He is one of my dearest companions, just as his father was. Therefore, accept my recommendation regarding Usama; he is one of your best.” After delivering this sermon, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ returned to his house, and his health also further deteriorated.
Sayyiduna Usama رضی اللہ عنہ arrived at Jarf, where the army gathered. The next day, the Beloved Prophet's ﷺ illness got further intense. Sayyiduna Usama رضی اللہ عنہ visited the Beloved Prophet ﷺ to seek his permission to depart. The Beloved Prophet ﷺ, unable to speak due to his illness, raised his blessed hands to the sky and then rubbed his blessed hands on Sayyiduna Usama’s رضی اللہ عنہ body. Sayyiduna Usama رضی اللہ عنہ understood this as a Du’a and took his leave. Sayyiduna Usama رضی اللہ عنہ joined his army and announced to depart on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal.
As they were preparing to mount their horses, a messenger arrived from Sayyiduna Usama’s رضی اللہ عنہ mother, Sayyidatuna Um Ayman رضي الله عنها, informing them that the Beloved Prophet ﷺ was on the verge of veiling from this world. Upon hearing this shocking news, Sayyiduna Usama, Sayyiduna Umar, Sayyiduna Abu Ubaydah رضي الله عنهم, and others immediately rushed to Madinah. They found the Beloved Prophet ﷺ in a state of veiling from this world, and he ﷺ veiled from this world on that same day, either in the afternoon or early evening.
After receiving the news of the blessed passing, Sayyiduna Usama's رضی اللہ عنہ army returned to Madinah. When Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضی اللہ عنہ became the caliph, he, despite some opposition, ordered the army to proceed with the expedition. Sayyiduna Usama رضی اللہ عنہ arrived at Abna and, after a fierce battle, defeated the enemy, killed the murderers of his father, and returned to Madinah with a significant amount of spoils of war.
In the eleventh year of Hijrah, on either the 20th or 22nd of Safar, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ visited Jannat ul-Baqi at midnight. When he ﷺ returned from there, he ﷺ started feeling unwell. His health further deteriorated in the next few days. With the permission of his blessed wives, he ﷺ stayed in the blessed room of Sayyidatuna Aisha رضي الله عنها. When he ﷺ felt very weak, he ﷺ ordered for Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضی اللہ عنہ to lead Salah on his prayer mat. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضی اللہ عنہ led seventeen Salahs during this time.
Shortly before the blessed passing, Sayyiduna Abdul Rahman bin Abu Bakr رضی اللہ عنہ (Sayyidatuna Aisha's رضي الله عنها brother) came with a fresh miswak in his hand. The Beloved Prophet ﷺ looked at him, his blessed gaze fixated, Sayyidatuna Aisha رضي الله عنها, understanding that he wished for the miswak, immediately took it and softened it with her teeth and placed it in his blessed hand, after which, he ﷺ performed miswak.
The Beloved Prophet ﷺ veiled from this world on Monday in Rabi’ al-Awwal. According to a famous opinion, it was the 12th Rabi al-Awwal in the 11th year of migration. His blessed passing gave the blessed companions رضي الله عنهم a great shock. According to the will of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ, his funeral rites were performed by his Ahl al-Bayt and his family members. His blessed Janazah remained in the blessed room of Sayyidatuna Aisha رضي الله عنها. Sayyiduna Abbas رضی اللہ عنہ gave the following details of how the funeral Salah of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ was offered:
When the Final Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away, the men first entered and they recited Salat and Salaam individually without any Imam. Then, the women entered and they also recited Salat and Salaam upon him. Then, the children entered and they also did the same. Then, the slaves went and they also Salat and Salaam upon him. No one did Imamah (led a prayer) over him.
Initially, the blessed companions رضي الله عنهم had a difference of opinion on where the Beloved Prophet ﷺ would be buried. On this occasion, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضی اللہ عنہ said: “I have heard from the Beloved Prophet ﷺ that after the passing of every prophet, he is buried where he has passed away.” After listening to this blessed Hadith, people prepared the grave of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ at that very place (blessed room of Sayyidatuna Aisha رضي الله عنها) and he ﷺ was buried there. Sayyiduna Abu Talhah Ansari رضی اللہ عنہ prepared grave with a niche in the wall; Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Fadl bin Abbas, Sayyiduna Quthum bin Abbas, and Sayyiduna Abbas رضي الله عنهم lowered the blessed body in the luminous grave.