One sleepless night, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), accompanied by his attendant, decided to take a reflective walk through the silent graves of Madinah. Upon arriving at the graveyard, he offered a prayer for the deceased, acknowledging their blessed condition compared to the living, who must still endure the waves of aging and physical decline that were now rapidly afflicting his own health.

The Offer of the Key

The Prophet (pbuh) then made a profound, intimate statement to his attendant, Abu Muwayhibah:

“Abu Muwayhibah! I’ve been given the keys of this world and eternity in it, and now I’m being offered Paradise and meeting with God. I’ve been asked to choose between them.”

His attendant, distraught, cried out, pleading for the Prophet (pbuh) to accept both the keys to this world and the promise of Paradise. Muhammad (pbuh), however, affirmed his final decision: **“No, by God, Abu Muwayhibah. I’ve chosen Paradise and meeting with my Lord.”** This marked his spiritual readiness to leave the temporal world.

The Subtle Succession

A few days later, the Prophet (pbuh) began to suffer from a **particularly severe fever**, making it increasingly difficult for him to perform his public duties. As his condition worsened, he issued a crucial directive: he asked that his closest companion, **Abu Bakr**, take charge of **leading the prayers** ($\text{Imāmat}$) in the Mosque.

This action served as a subtle but unmistakable hint to many Muslims that the Prophet (pbuh) was designating Abu Bakr to lead the community after him. Even when Muhammad (pbuh) felt strong enough to come into the mosque, he would allow Abu Bakr to continue leading the congregation while he himself prayed behind him in the rows, solidifying the transfer of public, religious authority.