Abu Bakr's Announcement of the Prophet's Death

When news of the Prophet's death spread, Medina was plunged into shock and chaos. Umar ibn al-Khattab, overcome with grief and denial, stood in the mosque with his sword drawn, threatening anyone who said the Prophet had died, insisting he had only gone to meet his Lord as Musa had and would return. Abu Bakr, who had been at his house in al-Sunh, rushed to Aisha's apartment, uncovered the Prophet's face, kissed him between the eyes, and said: 'How blessed you are in life and in death.' He then went out to the mosque, asked Umar to sit down (but Umar continued), and addressed the people with the most consequential speech in Islamic history: 'Whoever used to worship Muhammad, then know that Muhammad has died. And whoever used to worship Allah, then Allah is Ever-Living and never dies.' He then recited: 'Muhammad is not but a messenger. Other messengers have passed before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels?' (Al Imran 3:144). Umar later said: 'When Abu Bakr recited that verse, it was as if I had never heard it before. My legs could no longer carry me, and I fell to the ground.'