How Did Abu Bakr Siddiq Died?
Narrations About the Cause of Abu Bakr's Death
Narrators differed regarding the cause of the death of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq — may Allah be pleased with him — and there are several opinions. Some said he died from the effect of poison that the Jews had given him a year before his death.
It was also said that he died due to tuberculosis. Al-Tabari narrated that he died because of a fever he contracted after bathing on a very cold day.
Abu Bakr’s Illness
Abu Bakr — may Allah be pleased with him — bathed on a very cold day and subsequently developed a fever. He remained ill for fifteen days, and the fever was so severe that he was unable to go out to lead the prayer. He used to instruct Omar ibn al-Khattab — may Allah be pleased with him — to lead the people in prayer.
Aisha, Mother of the Believers — may Allah be pleased with her — said: "When my father’s illness intensified, I cried and he fainted. I said, 'Whoever's tears remain concealed, he will be buried by the one who releases them.' He awoke and said, 'Not as you said, my daughter, but: {And the intoxication of death will bring the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid}".
He then asked about the day of the Prophet’s — peace be upon him — death. ‘Aisha informed him that it was a Monday. He asked her about the current day, and she said it was Monday. So he wished to die on that day. He asked her about the Prophet’s — peace be upon him — shroud, and she told him that the Prophet was shrouded in three new Yemeni white sheets, with no shirt and no turban. So he ordered that his garment be washed and that he be shrouded in it along with two new sheets.
Abu Bakr’s Sermon Before His Death
When Abu Bakr felt that his end was near, he gathered the people and gave a sermon. He mentioned his condition and the nearness of his death, then renounced the caliphate and asked them to choose a caliph from among themselves. He said: “Allah has released you from the oath of allegiance to me and removed the pledge from you; the matter is returned to you, so appoint over yourselves whomever you like”.
They then came to him and asked him to choose the most suitable among them. He took their oath that they would be pleased with whomever he chose, and they pledged to him. He then said: “Give me time to consider for the sake of Allah, His religion, and His servants”. He then called ‘Uthman and consulted him. Uthman suggested ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, so he said: "Write", and ‘Uthman wrote his will to appoint ‘Umar.
Some people came and said: “What will you say to your Lord, as you have appointed ‘Umar over us?” He replied: “I will say: I have appointed over them the best of your people”.
The Day of Abu Bakr’s Death
When did Abu Bakr al-Siddiq die (Hijri)?
When people learned of Abu Bakr’s serious illness at the end of his life, they asked to bring him a doctor. He said: “He has already come and said to me: I will do what I wish”. So they knew he was bidding them farewell.
At the time of his death — may Allah be pleased with him — he instructed that his wife Asma bint Umays and his son Abd al-Rahman wash him. Then he was buried, and ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab — may Allah be pleased with him — led the people in the funeral prayer.
Then they carried him to the Prophet Muhammad's grave. His son Abd al-Rahman entered with Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn ‘Affan, and Talhah ibn Ubayd Allah. They placed his head near the Prophet’s shoulder and aligned his grave with the Prophet’s, making it flat just like his. The last words Abu Bakr spoke were: {Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous}.
He instructed Aisha during his final moments to return what remained with him to the treasury of the Muslims. He said: “Nothing remains with us from the spoils of the Muslims except this Ethiopian servant, this camel used for water, and the worn-out covering of this cloak. So when I die, send them to ‘Umar”.
When ‘Umar learned of this, he cried and said: “May Allah have mercy on Abu Bakr. He has made it hard for those who come after him”.
The duration of his caliphate was two years, three months, and ten nights. He died at the age of sixty-three, after sunset on Monday, the 22nd of Jumada al-Akhirah, in the 13th year after Hijrah.
