called out, "O God, help me against the death-struggle! O God, help me against the death-struggle!" or, according to another account, "There is no God but Allah: but there is struggle in death." Aisha, the faithful, said, "After having seen his Excellency yielding up his soul with so much violence, I never longed again to be of those who yield up the soul with ease; for if it were best to yield up the soul easily, the Almighty would have chosen such an easy death for His Prophet."' (R.)

i. The fact of their death was indubitably established by the state of their body.

aa. 'Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they break not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe' (John xix. 32-35).

bb. 'It is recorded that some of the hypocrites of Medina said, "If Mohammed had been a prophet, he would not have died." Omar Ibn Khattab drew his sword, placed himself before the door of the mosque, and said, "I shall cut in two any one who says that his Excellency the Prophet has died." On account of this word of Omar, the people doubted whether that Excellency was really dead. Thereupon Asma, the daughter of Amish, examined that Excellency's back between his shoulders with her hand, but no longer found the seal of prophetship in its place, so she said, "Of a truth, that prince has migrated from this present world; for the seal of prophetship has disappeared from its place." With this word Asma convinced a number of the companions of the fact of that Excellency's real death.' (R.)

j. Their death was accompanied by extraordinary phenomena, and its effects reached even to the invisible world of spirits.

aa. 'Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the

earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now, when the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God' (Matt. xxvii. 50-54).

bb. 'When the angel of death was admitted into Mohammed's chamber, he said, "Peace be with thee, O Prophet the Most High sends thee greeting, and has commanded me not to take thy spirit, except with thy permission." That prince answered, "O angel of death, I have something to ask of thee;" and, on being requested to say what it was, his Excellency continued, "It is this: that thou shouldest not take my spirit until Gabriel has first come again to me." Then God addressed the angel who has the power over hell, saying, "Extinguish hell-fire; for they are now going to bring the pure spirit of Mohammed my beloved to heaven." He also said to the black-eyed houris, "Adorn yourselves; for Mohammed's spirit is coming." An order was issued to the angels of the Kingdom and to the dwellers in the strong places of the highest Ruler to this effect, "Arise and stand in lines; Mohammed's spirit is coming." And to Gabriel this behest was given, "Go down to the earth, to Mohammed my beloved, and take to him a handkerchief of Sindis-silk." Then Gabriel went his way weeping, and on his arrival, that prince said to him, "O my friend, thou hast left me so long alone." Gabriel answered, "O Mohammed, I bring thee the glad tidings that the flames have been extinguished, the spirits have dressed, and the black-eyed houris have adorned themselves, and the angels have formed lines, to meet thy spirit." His Excellency said, "All these are good things: but tell me something wherewith to cheer up my soul." Gabriel responded thus, "The truth is, that until thou and thy people have entered Paradise, Paradise will be forbidden to all other prophets and their people." Mohammed said, "Give me yet more of these glad tidings.' Gabriel continued in these words, "O Mohammed, God has counted thee worthy of several things which He has not