Prophet Muhammad Grave & Tomb

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was buried in the Noble Chamber alongside two of his esteemed companions and the first two caliphs in Islam, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq and Umar ibn Al-Khattab. The Noble Chamber was previously the house of his wife, Aisha, the house where he lived when he passed away.

It became part of the Prophet's Mosque and is considered one of the most sacred tombs in the world. The tombs are surrounded by walls without windows or doors, making them inaccessible and hidden from view.

The Noble Chamber of the Prophet Muhammad's Grave

The Noble Chamber, also known as the Prophet's Enclosure, is located in the southeastern part of the Prophet's Mosque. The chamber is adorned with bands of gold, green brass, and iron. Its northern and southern sides each measure 16 meters, while its eastern and western sides are 15 meters each. The apparent builder of the enclosure's walls was Al-Zahir Baybars V, who constructed them in 678 AH / 1282 CE. Initially, they were made of wood and were 3 meters high. After the second major fire of the Prophet's Mosque in 886 AH / 1481 CE, Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay V replaced those walls with the current adorned ones. This area also includes a part of the Rawdah.

The enclosure has four doors:

1. The Tahajjud Door – located on the northern side of the enclosure near the Mihrab of Tahajjud, where the Prophet ﷺ used to pray the Tahajjud prayer occasionally.
2. The Repentance Door – on the southern side of the Noble Chamber.
3. Aisha's Door, or the Delegations Door, is on the western side of the Noble Chamber, adjacent to the Delegations' Cylinder.
4. Fatimah's Door – on the eastern side of the Noble Chamber, next to the place where Fatimah's house stood.

Fatimah's Door is the only one used to enter the Noble Chamber, and no one is allowed to enter without permission from the Saudi authorities.

Noble Confrontation of the Prophet Muhammad Grave

The Confrontation is located on the eastern side of the Noble Chamber, providing visitors with a view of the Noble Chamber, where they can send their greetings to the Prophet ﷺ and his companions. The Confrontation has three rounded platforms. The first and largest platform is located on the left side of the Confrontation, directly facing the Noble Prophet ﷺ. Slightly to the right, the second platform faces Abu Bakr, and the third platform faces Umar. Between the first platform and the other two platforms lies Aisha's Door (also known as the Delegations' Door), which remains closed.

Above Aisha's Door, a silver plate is also present, positioned between the platform facing the Prophet ﷺ and the platforms facing his companions. Sultan Ahmed I of the Ottoman Empire added this silver plate to the Confrontation in 1026 AH / 1617 CE. The inscription on the plate, now faded, reads:

"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful: We inform our servants that I am the Forgiving, the Merciful. O Prophet, indeed, We have sent you as a witness, a bringer of good tidings, a warner, and a caller to Allah by His permission, and a light-giving lamp. And give good tidings to the believers that they will have great bounty from Allah. O Most Merciful One, by the honor of this Noble Prophet, forgive your servant who submits to the commands of the great Shariah of your Prophet, Sultan Ahmed, son of Sultan Muhammad, son of Sultan Murad, son of Sultan Murad, son of Sultan Selim, son of Sultan Selim, son of Sultan Bayezid, son of Sultan Murad, son of Sultan Bayezid, son of Sultan Murad, son of Sultan Orkhan, may Allah grant him victory, honor, and clear conquest. The history of dedication, according to calculations' is inspired by its date, dedicated as a pure gift, 1026 AH. Likewise, inscribed on the sides of the plate: 'There is no god but Allah, the Sovereign, the Manifest Truth, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the Truthful, the Promise Keeper'".

Inside the Noble Chamber of the Prophet Muhammad

The Noble Chamber is divided into two sections:

The Outer Enclosure – This section comprises what used to be the house of Fatimah, along with the area surrounding the outer wall of the Prophet's ﷺ grave. Those permitted to access this area can touch the hanging curtain on this wall, but further progression is prohibited. Access is only granted to specific individuals such as senior officials, those tasked with maintaining the enclosure, and cleaners.

The Inner Chamber – This section houses the graves of the Prophet ﷺ and his companions. Surrounding this inner chamber, which was once the house of the Prophet's wife, Aisha, are three concentric walls:

• The first wall was initially built along with the house shortly after the Prophet migrated to Medina. Later, Umar ibn Abdulaziz replaced these walls in 91 AH / 711 CE with stones similar to those of the Black Stone of the Kaaba.
• Umar ibn Abdulaziz also built the second concentric wall, shaping it as a pentagon. This design aimed to differentiate the Noble Chamber from the Kaaba and discourage people from praying towards it.
• Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay built the third concentric wall, from which the curtain hung, around the pentagonal wall in 886 AH / 1481 CE. This was done to reinforce the pentagonal wall after it was damaged by fire. Visitors see this wall when looking through the platforms in the Confrontation area.

The inner chamber has no doors or windows, and no one is allowed to enter it. The last person to enter the inner chamber and witness the noble graves of the Prophet ﷺ and his companions was Ali ibn Ahmad al-Samhudi, a distinguished scholar tasked with restoring the gravesite after a major fire in the Prophet's Mosque around 500 years ago in 886 AH / 1481 CE.

The Arrangement of the Graves

The arrangement of the graves in the Noble Chamber is a matter of scholarly debate. According to the majority of scholars, the positioning of the graves is as follows:

1. The closest grave to the southern wall of the Noble Chamber is that of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
2. Slightly above the Prophet's grave lies Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq's grave, positioned so that his shoulders align with the Prophet's.
3. Above Abu Bakr's grave is Umar ibn Al-Khattab's, positioned so that his shoulders align with Abu Bakr's.

According to this view, the arrangement is as follows:

• Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
• Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq
• Umar ibn Al-Khattab

This arrangement is commonly followed by visitors when offering their greetings to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions in the Prophet's Mosque. After greeting the Prophet ﷺ and standing by his grave, visitors generally take a step to the right to greet Abu Bakr, then another step to the right to greet Umar.

However, there is another opinion based on the following hadith narrated by Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, the grandson of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq:

"It is said that the Prophet ﷺ is placed ahead, with Abu Bakr at his head and Umar at his feet. His head is at the feet of the Prophet ﷺ".

According to this narration, the arrangement of the three graves would be as follows:

Description of the Graves

The description of the graves by Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr illustrates their appearance when he asked his aunt Aisha to show them to him. He said:

"I entered upon Aisha and said, 'O mother, uncover for me the graves of the Prophet ﷺ and his two companions'. She uncovered for me three graves that were neither elevated nor depressed, level with the surface of the red ground".

Al-Qasim was born in the year 36 AH, approximately 25 years after the Prophet's ﷺ passing, and he was still a child when he saw the graves.

Others who saw the graves also described them as being level with the ground. Muhammad ibn Umar said, "The graves of the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr, and Umar were leveled with no mound over them".

Abu Bakr al-Ajjari narrated from Ghunaym ibn Bustam al-Madani, "I saw the grave of the Prophet ﷺ during the rule of Umar ibn Abdulaziz, and I observed it to be elevated about four fingers".

Raja' ibn Haywah reported in the year 91 AH / 711 CE, "When they built the new structure over the graves and demolished the old one, the three graves appeared, and the sand covering them had collapsed".

Ali ibn Ahmad al-Samhudi, who was the last to report seeing the graves in the year 886 AH / 1481 CE, described, "I examined the Noble Chamber and found it to be a level ground. I took some of its soil in my hand and felt its texture, resembling coarse sand. There was no visible trace of the noble graves except for a very slight elevation in the middle of the chamber, which people mistakenly thought to be the Prophet's grave. They took soil from it for blessings, but this misconception arose from the ignorance of those present regarding the details of the Noble Chamber. That particular location is certainly not the Prophet's grave; it is possibly the grave of Umar ibn Al-Khattab".

The Place for the Fourth Grave

The Noble Chamber contains a space reserved for a fourth grave. Although Aisha wished to be buried alongside the Prophet ﷺ and her father, she refrained from it and requested her nephew Abdullah ibn Zubayr to bury her next to the other wives of the Prophet in Jannat al-Baqi. Perhaps it was because Umar ibn Al-Khattab had been buried there, and she had no guardian, or she deemed it more appropriate to be buried next to her counterparts. It is also reported that she offered the spot to Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, who reportedly declined.

There are other narrations in the Hadith tradition suggesting that the fourth spot is reserved for Jesus, son of Mary, who will be buried there after his descent from the heavens. Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:

"Jesus, son of Mary, will descend to Earth, marry, and have offspring. He will live for forty-five years, then die and be buried next to me in my grave. Then, I and Jesus, son of Mary, will arise from a single grave between Abu Bakr and Umar".

Abdullah ibn Salam informed me:

"The Torah describes Muhammad and Jesus, son of Mary, being buried together".

The Nobile Chamber of the Prophet Muhammad History

The Chambers of the Prophet Muhammad History

The house of Aisha bint Abi Bakr and the other wives of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were known as "The Chambers" which is the name given to an entire chapter of the Quran (Chapter 45). These chambers were built from the same materials as the Prophet's Mosque – mud bricks and palm leaves – and were situated adjacent to the mosque itself. Below is an approximate model of how the mosque and chambers appeared:

Each house consisted of a room measuring 5 meters in length and 4 meters in width, with a small backyard. Standing, one could touch the ceilings.

At the time of the Prophet's migration to Medina, he had two wives, Aisha and Sawda bint Zam'a, who was his second wife. A house was built for each of them behind the Prophet's Mosque (which became the mosque's facade when the Qibla direction was changed from north to south).

A house for Hafsa bint Umar, another wife of the Prophet and daughter of Umar ibn al-Khattab, was built to the south of Aisha's house shortly afterward. A narrow street separated the two houses, barely wide enough for one person to pass through. The houses were so close that Aisha and Hafsa would often converse while sitting in their respective chambers. Part of Hafsa's house is now within the Sacred Chamber, while the remaining part is where visitors stand when greeting the Prophet Muhammad.

The Prophet also built a house for his daughter, Fatimah Al Zahraa, and her husband, Ali ibn Abi Talib. This house was located south of Aisha's chamber, the place where they were married. The Prophet would often peek through a hole to inquire about Fatimah.

Aisha's house had two doors, one leading to the Prophet's Mosque and the other facing north. It was exquisitely designed. Countless verses were revealed to the Prophet in this chamber, as he once said to Umm Salamah:

"O Umm Salamah, do not hurt me regarding Aisha. By Allah, the Divine Inspiration never came to me while I was under the blanket of any woman amongst you except her".

The Prophet spent the last days of his life here after seeking permission from his other wives.

After the Prophet's Passing in 11 AH (632 CE)

When the Prophet Muhammad passed away in 11 AH (632 CE), a grave was dug for him in Aisha's house, directly under the place where his bed lay. Two years later, his companion Abu Bakr al-Siddiq was buried beside him. Ten years after that, Umar ibn al-Khattab was buried in the same chamber.

Aisha continued to reside in the same house that housed the graves of her husband, father, and later Umar. After Umar's burial, out of respect for him, she partitioned the house, as it was no longer permissible for her. She lived in a small space that was not overshadowed by the graves until she died in 58 AH (678 CE), 47 years after the Prophet's demise.

The model of Aisha's chamber is divided after the Prophet's and his companions' passing.

In the Umayyad era – 91 AH (711 CE)

In 91 AH (711 CE), the Umayyad caliph Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik purchased the Prophet's wives' houses, which had been inherited by the Prophet's family, and controversially demolished them to expand the Prophet's Mosque. At that time, none of the Companions remained in Medina, and these chambers stood empty. However, Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-Abidin, the Prophet's great-grandson, often sat in the house and sometimes held gatherings in the mosque from there.

When the news spread in Medina, sadness filled the hearts of its people, and the world seemed dark to them.

Imran ibn Abi Anas said: "I saw some of the Companions of the Prophet, such as Abu Salamah ibn Abd al-Rahman, Abu Amamah ibn Sahl ibn Hanif, Kharijah ibn Zaid, crying until their beards were wet. Abu Amamah said that day: 'I wish they had left it as it was until people could see what Allah had pleased His Prophet with and what treasures of the world were in his hands'".

Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab, a prominent Tabi'i, said: "By Allah, I wished they had left it as it was so that people could grow up in Medina and someone coming from afar could see what honor Allah had bestowed upon His Prophet in his lifetime. This would have been something to make people disdain multiplication and vanity".

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, who was the governor of Medina at the time and later became caliph, participated in demolishing the chambers himself. When Aisha's house was demolished, three graves were uncovered. Raja' ibn Haywah mentioned in Fath al-Bari:

"Walid ibn Abd al-Malik wrote to Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, who had purchased the Prophet's wives' chambers, to demolish them and expand the mosque. When the new house was built over the grave and the old house was demolished, three graves were revealed, and the sand covering them collapsed".

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz rebuilt Aisha's chamber during the expansion of the Prophet's Mosque. Abu Bakr al-Ajari described the grave as "elevated about four fingers high".

When the walls were renewed, especially after their reconstruction, the eastern side of the wall of the Sacred Chamber collapsed. To rebuild the wall, a foundation had to be dug, and then something was discovered. Urwah ibn al-Zubayr said:

"When the wall fell on them during the time of Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, they started rebuilding it, and a foot appeared to them, so they panicked, thinking it was the Prophet's foot. They couldn't find anyone who knew until Urwah said to them, 'No, by Allah, it is not the Prophet's foot, it is Umar's foot'".

Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Aqil ibn Abi Talib recounted the collapse of the wall:

"I used to go out every night until I reached the mosque. I would start with the Prophet, send blessings upon him, then I would sit in the place where I prayed until dawn. One rainy night, as I approached the house of al-Mughira ibn Shu'bah, I noticed a smell unlike any I had ever encountered before. I entered the mosque and went to the Prophet's grave, and found that the wall had collapsed. I entered and greeted the Prophet, sending blessings upon him, and stayed there for a while. Soon, I heard a noise, and behold, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz had arrived and informed us. He ordered the workers to cover the graves with white stones. The next morning, he called the builders and said to them, 'Enter and uncover it'. Umar then said, 'I need someone to hand it to me'. So Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz lifted his legs as if to enter, then Qasim ibn Muhammad uncovered it, and Salim ibn Abdullah helped. Umar asked, 'What do you see, Muzahim?' He replied, 'The Prophet's grave is level, but the two men's graves are elevated'. When they finished, they raised him and entered Muzahim, Umar's client, who removed the soil and clay that had fallen onto the grave. Umar said, 'I would rather be Muzahim today than be the ruler of such-and-such, and mention something from the world'".

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz rebuilt the wall with black stones, similar to those of the Kaaba. The walls were 6.5 meters high, with no windows or doors, making it difficult to access the graves. Additionally, a decorated screen was built around the inner wall. This strange structure was erected to prevent people from thinking that the Sacred Chamber, which by then resembled the Kaaba, was another Kaaba in the city.

After the Great Fire - 654 AH (1256 CE)

In 645 AH (1256 CE), a massive fire broke out in the Prophet's Mosque, caused by a candle or an overturned oil lamp, destroying most of the mosque. However, the Prophet's ﷺ mausoleum remained unharmed. Nevertheless, the roof collapsed onto the decorated screen built by Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz centuries ago. Following the fire, the people of Medina appealed to the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustasim in Baghdad for assistance. However, the caliph was preoccupied with the Mongol invasion of Baghdad and could not focus on rebuilding the Prophet's Mosque.

Other Muslim leaders then stepped in to rebuild the mosque, but no one dared to touch the decorated screen or remove the debris from it out of respect for its sanctity, so it remained untouched. The roof of the Prophet's ﷺ tomb was covered only with temporary wood and five layers of covering for many years.

The Maqsurah of the Tomb - 668 AH (1269 CE)

Al-Zahir Baybars I, a prominent Mamluk Sultan of Egypt, defeated the Mongol army after they had slaughtered a significant number of Muslims. For the first time in the history of the Prophet's Mosque, the Sultan constructed a wooden enclosure around the Prophet's ﷺ tomb, as well as the house of Fatimah and Ali. This enclosure marked the barrier beyond which visitors could not approach the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.

At that time, it measured three meters in length and had three doors – one facing east, one facing west, and the other facing south. Sultan Baybars himself took measurements during his visit to Medina before ordering the wood from Egypt. The enclosure still stands today, adorned with golden mesh, where visitors offer their salutations to the Prophet ﷺ and his companions. Additionally, this enclosure includes a part of the Rawdah adjacent to the Prophet's ﷺ tomb.

The First Dome Construction - 678 AH (1279 CE)

Sultan Al-Mansur Qalawun, a Mamluk ruler, was the first to construct domes over the Sacred Chamber in the year 678 AH (1279 CE). These domes were made of wood and covered with lead. They were square at the base and octagonal at the top.

Restoration - 881 AH (1476 CE)

Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay of Egypt initiated significant restoration works for the Prophet's Mosque in 881 AH (1476 CE). Entire sections of the mosque were demolished and then rebuilt. Restoration efforts focused on the walls of the Prophet's ﷺ tomb, which were rebuilt with stones after being damaged by the first major fire.

The roof of the inner chamber was raised, and the wooden dome was replaced with a stone one. The flooring of the Sacred Chamber was replaced with white and red marble.

After the Second Major Fire - 886 AH (1481 CE)

The second major fire broke out in the Prophet's Mosque in Ramadan 886 AH (1481 CE) after lightning struck the minaret, causing it to collapse onto the roof of the mosque and killing the muezzin. The fire started on the roof and quickly spread to other parts of the mosque, even reaching nearby houses due to its severity. The people of Medina exerted great efforts to extinguish the fire, which claimed many lives. Sultan Qaitbay ordered a complete renovation of the Prophet's Mosque and the reconstruction of the Prophet's ﷺ tomb.

Sultan Ali ibn Ahmad al-Samhudi, one of the distinguished scholars of that era, was chosen by the Sultan to oversee the restoration of the Sacred Chamber. For the first time in at least 500 years, there was mention of someone entering the inner chamber where the Prophet's ﷺ and his companions lay. Al-Samhudi, who later authored numerous works about Medina and the life of the Prophet ﷺ, documented his blessed experience. In his book "Wafa' al-Wafa'":

"I sought permission and entered from the rear of the chamber, not going beyond that spot. I smelled a fragrance that was the most pleasant I had ever smelled in my life. Then, with reverence and modesty, I greeted the noblest of prophets and then his two noble companions, the elite among the pious, and made supplications... I contemplated the Sacred Chamber and found it to be a level ground. I took some of its soil in my hands and found it smooth and fine, like the fine gravel that appears between fingers when sifted. I found no traces of the noble graves except for a slight elevation in the middle of the chamber... Perhaps it is the grave of Umar, may Allah be pleased with him".

If there were no doors, perhaps al-Samhudi entered the Sacred Chamber through a gap between the wall and the ground. He also mentioned finding the chamber's ground lower than the ground outside. He added that he had to descend at least three arms' lengths to reach the location of the grave.

During Qaitbay's restoration, the wooden enclosure built by al-Zahir Baybars around the Prophet's ﷺ tomb 200 years earlier was replaced with an iron railing. This railing still stands today, where visitors stand outside it to offer greetings to the Prophet ﷺ and his companions. The Sultan also separated Fatimah's house (J) from the Prophet's ﷺ tomb inside the Sacred Chamber.

Additionally, the Sultan rebuilt the wooden dome erected by Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun over the Sacred Chamber after it was destroyed by the fire. The new dome was made of carved stone and built on a sturdy foundation. He then ordered the construction of another dome above it.

Furthermore, the Sultan erected another large wall around the damaged mausoleum. This wall is where the curtain hangs and is covered with marble.

During the Ottoman Era - 1228 AH (1813 CE)

During Sultan Mahmud II's Reign, the upper dome, built by Sultan Qaitbay in 1228 AH (1813 CE), was replaced. After cracks appeared in the dome, it was demolished and replaced with another one made of bricks covered with lead sheets. Two decades later, during the reign of his predecessor, Sultan Abdulmejid I, this dome was painted green and is now known as the Green Dome.

The walls of the Prophet's ﷺ tomb were covered with tiles. When restoration work was carried out in the Sacred Chamber, all necessary precautions were taken to protect it from debris and dust.

Poetic Inscriptions on the Noble Chamber – 1265 AH (1848 AD)

In the era of Sultan Abdul Majid I, the thirty-first Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, poetic verses in praise of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ were inscribed on the Noble Chamber. One of them was a poem by Ka'b ibn Zuhayr, a companion of the Prophet ﷺ, consisting of 57 verses. The other was the famous poem "Al-Burda" by Imam Al-Busiri, comprising 164 verses. Later, the Saudi regime unjustly erased them.

The Death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed away at the age of 63 after an illness that lasted for 14 days. It is reported that his date of death was on a Monday, the twelfth of Rabi' al-Awwal, in the year 11 AH (633 CE). He was buried two days later, in the middle of the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.

As his time approached, he would dip his hand in a bowl of water, wipe his face, and say, "O Allah, assist me in the pangs of death". He also covered his face with a cloth. His beloved wife Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) supported him in her chamber as he endured the throes of death. When he uttered his final words and his gaze fixed on the heavens, his head leaned, and his soul departed to its Creator.

His noble head was placed gently on a pillow, enveloped in grief. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) tearfully recounted her last moments with her husband:

"The Prophet ﷺ used to say when he was in good health, 'No Prophet dies until he sees his place in Paradise, and then he is given a choice'. When the pangs of death came upon him, and his head was on my thigh, he fainted momentarily. Then he regained consciousness, stared at the ceiling, and said, 'O Allah, the highest companion'. I said, 'So, he doesn't choose us?' And I recognized that this was the Hadith he had narrated to us while he was in good health. Then it was the last word he spoke, 'O Allah, the highest companion'.

Upon his death, the news struck the Companions like a thunderbolt. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) refused to believe in his death completely, believing that the Prophet ﷺ would be resurrected, and he threatened those who said he had died. Meanwhile, Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was stunned, and Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was unable to stand. Abu Bakr and Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) were among the most steadfast on the day of the great calamity, which the nation endured with patience until the Day of Judgment.

The Prophet's Burial

After the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ passing, there was debate over his burial place, with some suggesting Mecca or Jerusalem. Ultimately, Medina was chosen, but the exact location within the city caused disagreement. Abu Bakr, the newly appointed caliph, settled the issue by recalling the Prophet's ﷺ words about being buried where he passed. His body was washed by family members and companions, and he was shrouded in Yemeni clothes before the funeral prayer was performed. The burial method, involving the Lahd style, was decided upon by Abu Bakr. His grave was dug in Aisha's chamber, and his body was placed facing the Qiblah.

Companions participated in the burial, with Ali ibn Abi Talib, al-Fadl ibn al-Abbas, Quthm ibn al-Abbas, and Shuqran descending into the grave. After laying some soil over his body, they placed a red cloth he used to wear and covered it with bricks and soil. His head faced west, towards the Qiblah, while his feet were towards the east. The companions then left the chamber, deeply saddened by the loss, as people continued to visit to pay their respects.

Death and Burial of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq

Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) fell ill with a fever on the 7th of Jumada al-Akhirah in the year 13 AH (634 CE). He passed away fifteen days later on the 22nd of Jumada al-Akhirah in the same year, at the age of 63, the same age as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he died. His caliphate lasted for two years, three months, and ten days.

According to Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), his daughter and the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

Abu Bakr's illness began when he took a cold bath, causing him to develop a fever. He was unable to leave his home for prayer for fifteen days, and Umar led the prayers in his absence. Uthman frequently visited him during his illness. When his condition worsened, they asked him if they should call a doctor, to which he replied, "He has already seen me, so do as you wish". He instructed that his wife, Asma bint Umays wash his body and that he be buried next to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He asked his daughter Aisha about the day the Prophet died, and she confirmed it was on a Monday. When he asked about the day they were currently in, she also said it was a Monday. Upon hearing this, he knew he would not live until the next Monday and instructed them to prepare for his burial on the same day.

The last words of Abu Bakr were a supplication from the Quran: "...cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous". (Quran 12:101) His wife washed his body and wrapped him in two garments as he had instructed. He was buried at night, between the Maghrib and Isha prayers, next to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Aisha's room, with his head resting against the Prophet's shoulder. Following the Prophet's example, Abu Bakr's feet faced east while his head faced west, in alignment with the qibla. Omar ibn al-Khattab, his successor, led the funeral prayer, and Omar, Uthman, Talha, and his son Abdul Rahman lowered him into the grave, which was dug next to the Prophet's grave.

Death and Burial of Umar ibn al-Khattab

Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred on Wednesday, the 26th or 27th of Dhu al-Hijjah in the year 23 AH (644 CE). Like the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his predecessor, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, Umar also died at the age of 63. Ja'far al-Bajali narrated:

"We were sitting with Muawiya when he said, 'The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed away at the age of sixty-three. Abu Bakr passed away at the age of sixty-three. Umar was killed at the age of sixty-three'". His caliphate lasted for more than ten years and a little over six months. He was assassinated by Firuz al-Nahawandi, also known as Abu Lu'lu'ah al-Majusi, while leading the Fajr prayer. Abu Lu'lu'ah was a slave belonging to Mu'ghira ibn Shu'ba and adhered to the Magian religion.

Abu Rafi', a companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him), narrated the incident:

"Abu Lu'lu'ah used to serve Mu'ghira ibn Shu'ba and was skilled in making knives. Mu'ghira used to give him four dirhams every day. One day, Abu Lu'lu'ah complained to Umar, saying, 'O Leader of the Believers, Mu'ghira has burdened me with more work. Please ask him to lighten my load'. Umar replied, 'Fear Allah and be good to your master'. Umar intended to speak to Mu'ghira to ease Abu Lu'lu'ah's burden. However, the slave became angry and exclaimed, 'Everyone else in the world is treated fairly except me!' Umar harbored resentment over this and decided to kill him. He crafted a double-edged dagger, sharpened it, and named it. The next morning, Abu Lu'lu'ah approached Umar during the Fajr prayer and stabbed him twice, causing him to collapse".

Amr ibn Maymun, another companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him), recounted the moment:

"No one was between Umar and me except Abdullah ibn Abbas, whose sandal had been damaged. Whenever he passed between the rows, he would say, 'Straighten your rows'. When there was no gap left, he would step forward and lead the prayer. Sometimes, he would recite Surah Yusuf or Surah An-Nahl or something similar in the first Rak'ah, waiting for the people to gather. Then, he would only say the Takbir when everyone was assembled. However, after the Takbir, I heard him say, 'He has killed me! He has killed me! The dog has killed me!' when Abu Lu'lu'ah stabbed him. The dagger had two points, and Abu Lu'lu'ah had sharpened and named it. Umar held Abdullah ibn Abbas's hand and asked him to lead the prayer. Those directly behind Umar witnessed the incident, but those in other parts of the mosque did not. After the prayer, Umar asked, 'Who attacked me?' He waited for a while before Abdullah ibn Abbas came and said, 'It was Abd al-Mughira'. Umar asked, 'The servant?' He replied, 'Yes'. Umar cursed him and said, 'May Allah curse him! I only wished good for him'. Umar was then taken home, and we accompanied him as if no calamity had befallen anyone before. Some said, 'There's no problem,' while others expressed their concern. Wine was brought, and Umar drank some, but it came out of his wound. Then milk was brought, and he drank it, but it also came out of his wound. They realized he was dead. We entered, and people praised him".

Umar was bathed and shrouded, and despite being a martyr, funeral prayers were performed for him. Suhaib ibn Sinan (known as Suhaib al-Rumi) led the funeral prayer. He was buried in the same chamber next to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Uthman, Sa'id ibn Zaid, Suhaib, and Abdullah ibn Umar lowered him into the grave. His head was placed towards the west, adjacent to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq's shoulders, and his face was towards the qibla. His feet were directed eastward.

Attempts to Dig Up the Prophet's Grave

Throughout history, there have been various attempts to dig up the blessed body of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from his grave. At least two of these attempts were ordered by the Fatimid caliph, who sought to transfer the Prophet's body to Egypt.

However, the most daring attempt occurred in the year 557 AH (1164 CE) when two disguised Christian men posing as pilgrims from Maghreb in Andalusia embarked on their nefarious mission. Upon arriving in the city, they rented a house near the noble chamber located inside the Prophet's Mosque.

Sultan Nur ad-Din Zangi V, one of the greatest Muslim leaders of that time ruling the Seljuk Sultanate of Syria, known for his bravery and victories against the Crusades, saw the Prophet in a dream one night after performing Tahajjud prayer. In the dream, the Prophet pointed to two blonde men and said, "Save me from these two". Startled, Sultan Nur ad-Din woke up not understanding the meaning. He performed ablution, prayed, and slept again, only to see the same dream three times. He then decided to seek advice from his minister, Jamal al-Din al-Mawsili V, known for his fairness and wisdom. The minister advised him to keep the dream to himself and immediately travel to Medina.

The Sultan and his men, accompanied by a thousand horsemen from Syria, arrived in Medina just sixteen days later. Sultan Nur ad-Din entered the Prophet's Mosque and prayed. The governor of Medina, taken by surprise by the Sultan's unexpected visit, inquired about the purpose behind his sudden arrival. Sultan Nur ad-Din informed the governor about his dream and sought assistance.

The governor asked the Sultan if he could recognize the two men if he saw them. The Sultan replied in the affirmative. The governor then announced to the people that the Sultan would distribute alms and gifts to them. After observing the faces of those present and the gathered crowd, the Sultan failed to identify the attackers. He then asked about those absent from the gathering, and the people informed him about two men who were not present. The people praised the absent men, describing them as righteous and modest.

The Sultan ordered the two men to be brought before him and immediately recognized them upon seeing them. After questioning them about the purpose of their visit, the men claimed they had come to perform Hajj and visit the Prophet's Mosque, intending to stay in Medina for a year. The Sultan searched their residence but found no evidence. However, upon closer inspection, he discovered a hidden compartment beneath a wooden plank covered with straw. Upon removing the plank, he found a dug-out tunnel leading towards the noble chamber.

The two men were apprehended and interrogated, during which they confessed to being Christians from Rome who had studied Arabic language and culture. They admitted that their intention was to dig up the Prophet's grave and steal his blessed body to take it to Rome. The Sultan ordered their execution as punishment for their crime.

Following this incident, Sultan Nur ad-Din Zangi ordered the excavation of a great trench around the noble chamber. The trench was filled with melted lead to fortify it against any future attempts to access the noble chamber from below.