during the last few days of His life, what is written in Matt. xix. to xxvi., and in John xi. to xviii.

b. 'The biographers report that when the Apostle of God had returned from the farewell pilgrimage to Medina (a few months before his death), he was seized with some illness, before the last in which he died. When the news of that illness became known in the country, several individuals openly pretended to be prophets, such as Moseilama, Talha, Aswad, and even a woman, named Sajah. Moseilama wrote a letter to Mohammed, in which he offered to divide the world equally with the Koreish; but Mohammed declined the offer, concluding his answer in these words, "Thou hast ruined the people of Yemama: may the Almighty ruin thee and thy followers!" Aswad was a diviner who had two devils telling him what was going to happen amongst men. When Badzan, Mohammed's Commissioner of Sana in Yemen, had died, he, with the help of his followers, seized and subdued Sana, and even made Badzan's widow ¹ his wife. As soon as Mohammed had learned this from his other Commissioners in those parts, he ordered them by letter to unite and undo that mischief "in any way they might be able." Thereupon they secured the cooperation of Aswad's new wife, and with her help— she intoxicating him for the occasion — they succeeded in cutting off his head. Although the letter in which Mohammed was informed of this success reached Medina only after his death, he had received the same information by a heavenly messenger a day before he died, which he communicated to his friends, saying, "Last night Aswad has been killed;" and on being asked by those around him, he was able to give them even the names of the murderers.

'During his last illness, the Prophet also rose from his bed and went at night to the graveyard to pray for the dead. Ata Ibn Yesar says, "One night that Excellency was told, Arise, go to the Bekia cemetery, and pray for the pardon of those who lie in the graves. He arose and did so; and having gone back to sleep, he received the same injunction a second time, and complied with it in the same manner.

Having once more returned to rest, he was told, Arise and pray for the pardon of the martyrs of Ohod. His Excellency arose, went to Ohod, and prayed for them; but when he returned from Ohod, he suffered from headache, and tied a cloth round his blessed head." Akba Ibn Amir says, "Eight years after the affair of Ohod, the Prophet of God performed prayers over the martyrs of Ohod — that is, he blessed them and prayed for pardon for them. In this way he bade farewell, as it were, both to the living and to the dead."' (R.)

'Abd Allah Ibn Kaab said, "On the day on which Mohammed prayed for the martyrs of Ohod, he also mounted the pulpit, and said, O ye company of the refugees, deal kindly with the assistants. Other people increase in number, but they remain the same. They were the shelter to which I turned: be kind to those who befriend them, and punish those who oppose them. Then Mohammed left the pulpit, and his illness increased so much that he fainted."

'The last war-expedition which Mohammed arranged was that of sending Osama Ibn Zeid to Syria, to the districts of Balka and Darum, belonging to Palestine. When the people were busily preparing for this expedition, and the oldest emigrants were already gathering around Ibn Zeid, that illness commenced by which God in mercy was pleased to take him away. On being informed, during the illness, that the people hesitated with the mission of Osama Ibn Zeid, and that some objected to his placing a young man over the honourable refugees and assistants, he came forth from his chamber, and, with his head tied up, mounted the pulpit, and, after praising God, thus addressed the people: "O ye people, carry out Osama's mission. By my life, if ye object to his leadership, ye also object to that of his father before him; but he is as worthy of it as his father has been." When Mohammed quitted the pulpit, and the people expedited their preparations, his illness became aggravated. Osama left the city with his army and encamped at Jorf, three miles from the city; but, as Mohammed was very ill, Osama remained with his men in the camp, waiting to see what God had decreed concerning His Apostle.' (I. I. and I. H.)

'On Monday some of the Mussulmans who were to accompany Osama, came to bid farewell to the Prophet, and