The exertion of moving proved too much for his strength.  He was now indeed a broken man, and this activity was but the last conquest of mind over his ever-growing weakness of body.  He returned exhausted to Ayesha’s room, and, knowing that his mission was over, commanded Abu Bekr to lead the public prayers.  By this act he virtually nominated Abu Bekr his successor; for the privilege of leading the prayers belonged exclusively to himself, and his designation of the office was as plain a proof as there could be that he considered the mantle of authority to have descended upon his friend and counsellor, who had been to him so unfailing a resource in defeat and triumph through all the tumultuous years.

From this time the Prophet grew steadily worse.  His physical break-up was complete.  He had used every particle of his enormous energy in the fulfilment of his work; now that activity had ceased there were no reserves left.

He became delirious, and finally weak to the point of utter exhaustion.  Many are the traditions concerning his dying words, chiefly exhortations for the preservation of the faith he had so laboriously brought to life.  He is said to have cursed both Jews and Christians in his paroxysms of fever, but in his lucid moments he seems to have been filled with love for his disciples, and fears for the future of his religion and temporal state.

He lingered thus for two more days—­days which gathered round him the deep spiritual fervour, the human love and affection of every Believer, so that the records are interpenetrated with the grief and tenderness of a people’s sorrow.  On the third day he rallied sufficiently to come to morning prayer, where he took a seat by Abu Bekr in token of his dedication of the headship of Islam to him alone.  The Believers’ joy at the sight of their Prophet showed itself in their thronging thanksgivings and in their escort of their chief back to his place of rest.  It seemed that his illness was but slight, and that before long he would appear among them once more in all the fullness of his strength.  But the exertion sapped his little remaining vitality, and he could scarcely reach Ayesha’s room again.  There a few hours afterwards, after a period of semi-consciousness, he died in her arms while it was yet only a little after mid-day.

The forlorn Ayesha was almost too terrified to impart the dreadful news.  Abu Bekr was summoned instantly, and came with awe and horror into the mosque.  Omar, Mahomet’s beloved warrior-friend, refused to believe that his leader was really dead, and even rushed to announce his belief to the people.  But Abu Bekr visited the place of death and assured himself by the still cold form of the Prophet that he was indeed dead.  He went out with despair in his countenance, and convinced the Faithful that the soul of their leader had passed.  There fell upon Islam the hush of an intolerable knowledge, and in the first blankness of realisation they were dumb and passive.