Hadith # 712
Yazid bin Haiyan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I went along with Husain bin Sabrah and 'Amr bin Muslim to Zaid bin Arqam (May Allah be pleased with them) and, as we sat by his side, Husain said to him: "O Zaid, you acquired great merits that you saw Messenger of Allah (PBUH), listened to his talk, fought by his side in (different) battles, and offered Salat behind him. You have in fact earned great merits, Zaid! Could you then tell us what you heard from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH)?" He said: "O my cousin! By Allah! I have grown old and have almost spent up my age and I have forgotten some of the things which I remembered in connection with Messenger of Allah (PBUH), so accept what I narrate to you, and what I fail to narrate, do not compel me to narrate that." He then said: "One day Messenger of Allah (PBUH) stood up to deliver a Khutbah at a watering place known as Khumm between Makkah and Al-Madinah. He praised Allah, extolled Him and delivered the Khutbah and exhorted (us) and said, 'Amma Ba'du (now then)! O people, certainly I am a human being. I am about to receive a messenger (the angel of death) from my Rubb and I, in response to Allah's Call, but I am leaving among you two weighty things: the Book of Allah in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it.' He exhorted (us) (to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said, 'The second are the members of my household, I remind you (of your duties) to the members of my family."'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Commentary
The Prophet (PBUH) told his Companions with reference to his human nature that he too could not escape death because it was a grim reality. So he left his example to others with regard to making a will before death. The Hadith points out the desirability of giving good counsel to one's family and friends, exhorting them to observe uprightness and establish Faith, upon parting either for a journey or while one is on deathbed.
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