again for the second and the third tifrom the time he washed to the time he fainted after his attempts  to stand up. Therefore he sent to Abu Bakr to lead the prayer himself. Abu Bakr then led the prayer  during those days. They were seventeen prayers in the lifetime of Muhammad(Peace be upon him).
Three or four times ‘Aishah talked to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to exempt Abu Bakr from  leadership in prayer lest people should despair of him, but he refused and said:
“You (women) are like the women who tried to entice Joseph (Yusuf) into immorality. Convey my  request to Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.”
A DAY OR TWO PRIOR TO DEATH:
On Saturday or on Sunday, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) felt that he was well enough to perform  the prayer; so he went out leaning on two men in order to perform the noon prayer. Abu Bakr, who  was  then about to lead the prayer withdrew when he saw him coming; but the Prophet (Peace be upon  him)  made him a gesture to stay where he was and said: “Seat me next to him.” They seated him on the  left  hand side of Abu Bakr. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) led the prayer, and Abu Bakr followed him  and  raised his voice at every ‘Allâhu Akbar’ (i.e. Allâh is the Greatest) the Prophet (P  eace be upon him)  said, so that the people may hear clearly.
A DAY BEFORE HIS DEATH:
On Sunday, a day before he died, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) set his slaves free, paid as a  charity  the seven Dinars he owned and gave his weapons as a present to the Muslims. So when night fell
‘Aishah had to borrow some oil from her neighbour to light her oil-lantern.
Even his armour was mortgaged as a security with a Jew for thirty Sa‘ (a cubic measure) of barley.
THE LAST DAY ALIVE:
In a narration by Anas bin Malik, he said: “While the Muslims were performing the dawn prayer on
Monday — led by Abu Bakr, they were surprised to see the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)  raising the curtain of ‘Aishah’s room. He looked at them while they were praying aligned properly and  smiled cheerfully. Seeing him, Abu Bakr withdrew to join the lines and give way to him to lead the  prayer. For he thought that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) wanted to go out and pray.” Anas said:
“The Muslims, who were praying, were so delighted that they were almost too enraptured at their  prayers. The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) made them a gesture to continue their prayer,  went into the room and drew down the curtain.”
The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) did not live for the next prayer time.
When it was daytime, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) called Fatimah and told her something in a  secret voice that made her cry. Then he whispered to her something else which made her laugh.
‘Aishah enquired from her after the Prophet’s death, as to this weeping and laughing to which Fatimah  replied: “The first time he disclosed to me that he would not recover from his illness and I wept. Then  he told me that I would be the first of his family to join him, so I laughed.”
He gave Fatimah glad tidings that she would become the lady of all women of the world.
Fatimah witnessed the great pain that afflicted her father. So she said: “What great pain my father is  in!”. To these words, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) remarked:
“He will not suffer any more when today is over.”
He asked that Al-Hasan and Al-Husain be brought to him. He kissed them and recommended that they  be looked after. He asked to see his wives. They were brought to him. He preached them and told  them  to remember Allâh. Pain grew so much severe that the trace of poison he had at Khaibar came to  light.
It was so sore that he said to ‘Aishah: “I still feel the painful effect of that food I tasted at Khaibar. I  feel as if death is approaching.” He ordered the people to perform the prayers and be attentive to  slaves. He repeated it several times.
THE PROPHET BREATHES HIS LAST:
When the pangs of death started, ‘Aishah leant him against her. She used to say: One of Allâh’s  bounties upon me is that the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) died in my house, while I am  still  alive. He died between my chest and neck while he was leaning against me. Allâh has mixed his saliva  with mine at his death. For ‘Abdur Rahman — the son of Abu Bakr — came in with a Siwak (i.e. the  root