Allah's Messenger offered prayer over those who had fallen matyrs at Uhud. He then climbed the pulpit as if someone is saying good-bye to the living and the dead, and then said: I shall be there as your predecesor on the Cistern before you, and it is as wide as the distance between Aila and Juhfa (Aila is at the top of the gulf of 'Aqaba). I am not afraid that you would associate anything with Allah after me, but I am afraid that you may be (allured) by the world and (vie) with one another (in possessing material wealth) and begin killing one another, and you would be destroyed as were destroyed those who had gone before you. 'Uqba said that that was the last occasion that he saw Allah's Massenger on the pulpit.
The Book of Virtues - Sahih Muslim 2296 b
This narration from Sahih Muslim recounts the profound sermon delivered by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ following the Battle of Uhud, where he offered funeral prayers for the martyrs. The Prophet's ﷺ position as predecessor at the Hawd al-Kawthar (the Cistern) demonstrates his intercessory role for his Ummah on the Day of Judgment. The immense width described—from Aila to Juhfa—symbolizes the vast capacity of this divine blessing, emphasizing Allah's boundless mercy through His final Messenger.
Spiritual and Moral Exegesis
The Prophet's ﷺ declaration that he fears not shirk (polytheism) for his community but worldly competition reveals profound insight into future spiritual challenges. This indicates that the primary threat to Muslim unity would not be theological deviation but material obsession and internal strife. The historical reference to previous nations destroyed by such conflicts serves as a powerful warning about the consequences of neglecting spiritual priorities for temporal gains.
Practical Guidance for the Ummah
This hadith provides enduring guidance for Muslim conduct: maintain awareness of the afterlife's reality, avoid excessive attachment to worldly possessions, preserve communal harmony, and learn from historical precedents. The Prophet's ﷺ farewell-like tone underscores the urgency of these teachings, making this sermon a crucial part of his spiritual legacy for all generations of Muslims until the Final Hour.