Early in 11 AH, a few months after the Farewell Hajj, the Prophet ﷺ fell ill with a severe fever. With the permission of his wives, he stayed in the room of ʿAʾishah. When he could no longer lead the prayer, he instructed, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer."

On his last morning he lifted the curtain of his room and looked at the Muslims praying in rows behind Abu Bakr, and smiled. Later that day, a Monday in Rabiʿ al-Awwal, he passed away in ʿAʾishah’s room, aged about sixty-three. Among his last words was a prayer to be with "the highest companion".

The news stunned the companions; ʿUmar could not accept it. Abu Bakr came, uncovered the Prophet’s ﷺ face and kissed him, then addressed the people: "Whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad has died; and whoever worships Allah, Allah is Ever-Living and never dies." He recited: "Muhammad is no more than a messenger; messengers have passed away before him…" (3:144), and it was as if the people had never heard the verse before.

He was buried in the room where he died, which is now within his mosque in Madinah. Abu Bakr was chosen as the first caliph, and the message he had conveyed continued.