Summary

On the Thursday four days before his death, the Prophet asked that writing materials be brought so he could write a document after which they would not go astray; the household disputed when Umar said "God's Book suffices you", and the Prophet said: "leave me" ¹.

The account

The Prophet, his pain severe, said: bring me something to write you a document after which you will not go astray — and in the house were men, Umar among them ². Umar said: the pain has overcome him, and you have the Qur'an — God's Book suffices you. The household disputed and quarrelled, some saying bring it so he may write for you, others saying what Umar said; when the clamour grew loud the Prophet said: "leave me" ². That day the Prophet made three bequests: the removal of Jews, Christians and polytheists from the Arabian peninsula, the hospitality of delegations as he had hosted them — and the third the narrator forgot ³. Despite the severity of his illness the Prophet kept leading the people in prayer until that day, and led them in the sunset prayer reciting al-Mursalat 'urfa in it ⁴.

Perspectives

The Sunnis hold that Umar showed compassion for the Prophet's state and sufficed with God's Book, yet Ibn Abbas still counted the day a calamity for the document that was lost ². Shi'i traditions read the event as a prevention of a text that was to be written, while historians treat the report as a later dispute whose text cannot be reconstructed ¹.

For young visitors

In his illness the Prophet asked for a paper to write something for the people; those present disputed over whether to bring it or suffice with the Qur'an, so the Prophet asked them to leave him.

Opinions on the question

The question: How do the sources and traditions understand the story of the writing on the Thursday and its bearing on the succession?

First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame)Main reference

Sunni readings hold that Umar feared for the Prophet's strength and judged the Qur'an sufficient guidance; Ibn Abbas still called the day a calamity for the lost writing, and the three bequests of that day are preserved separately.

More opinions (2)

Academic viewSecondary opinion

Academic historians treat the report — preserved chiefly through Bukhari's chapter 'the Prophet's illness' — as a later-stage controversy over succession whose wording cannot be reconstructed.

Shia (Twelver) viewOther opinion

Twelver Shia tradition reads the incident as the deliberate blocking of a written designation of Ali, and counts 'the calamity of Thursday' among the proofs of withheld succession.

Sources

al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p. 466

al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p. 466; sahih-al-bukhari

al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , pp. 466-467

al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p. 467; sahih-al-bukhari

Sahih al-Bukhari

The Prophet's request for a writing in his last illness

In his last illness the Prophet asked for a writing that would keep the community from error; those present disagreed, one said the book of God was enough, and the writing was not made. Sallabi reads the episode within the Sunni frame as a matter of ijtihad that no one was blamed for; Imami readings that take it as a designation of Ali he treats as false.

The pen-and-paper incident

At a glance

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