al-Wafat
- Author died
- 303 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat al-Turāth al-Islāmī
al-Wafat (Arabic: كتاب الوفاة, lit. 'The Passing') is a hadith work compiled by the traditionist al-Nasa'i (215–303 AH / 829–915 CE), dedicated to traditions concerning the illness and death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Transmission and Relationship to al-Sunan
al-Wafat was transmitted as part of al-Nasa'i's larger collection, al-Sunan al-Kubra, specifically preserved through the recension of Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn al-Khidr al-Suyuti (al-Asyuti). Because Ibn Asakir (Abu al-Qasim) did not include the section of al-Wafat in his cross-referencing work on the Sunan collections (Atraf), al-Mizzi supplemented these missing traditions in his Tuhfat al-Ashraf. The material collected in al-Wafat was not incorporated into al-Nasa'i's abridged canonical compendium, al-Sunan al-Sughra (al-Mujtaba).
Contents and Structure
The book arranges reports sequentially around the final period of the Prophet's life, using topical chapter headings (tarajim) that highlight specific events and legal or theological implications. It begins with the interpretation of Quranic verses foreshadowing the Prophet's death, such as Surat al-Nasr ( إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ ), followed by indications from which the Prophet deduced his nearing demise.
Other chapters address:
- Remedies and medical treatments administered during his illness.
- What the Prophet recited upon himself during his sickness, such as the Mu'awwidhat.
- The intensity and severity of his physical pain.
- His final words and admonitions, including his instructions regarding the prayer and the treatment of slaves and dependents.
Throughout the text, al-Nasa'i documents transmission discrepancies (ikhtilaf), juxtaposing variant chains of narration to clarify differences among authorities such as Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri and his students.
Publication
The text has been published as a standalone volume edited by Muhammad al-Sa'id Zaghlul and printed by Maktabat al-Turath al-Islami in Cairo.
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