It should be clear that Shia and Sunni scholars have consensus that the Holy Prophet (S) passed away on a Monday and most Shia scholars believe that it was the 28th of Safar, and the majority of the Sunnis say that it was 12th Rabiul Awwal. And from our scholars, Muhammad Ibn Yaqub Kulaini has followed this view.
But the previous statement is more authentic and famous and some Sunni scholars have also mentioned it to be 1st Rabiul Awwal and some think it was 2nd and some even believe that it was 18th and some 10th and some 8th and there is no difference of opinion that at that time the Prophet was aged sixty-three and it was the 10th year of Hijrat.
It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) in Kashaful Ghumma that the Prophet passed away in the 10th year of Hijri and at that time he was aged 63 years. From which 40 years had passed in Mecca and it was here that revelations had started to descend upon him. Thirteen years passed in Mecca and when he migrated to Medina, he was aged 53 years. He lived in Medina for 10 years after the Hijra and his demise occurred on 2nd Rabiul Awwal.1
Moreover in Kashaful Ghumma it is narrated that the age of the Prophet was sixty-three years. From which he lived under the care of his father for 2 years and 4 months. When His Eminence, Abdul Muttalib passed away, the Prophet was eight years old. After him, Abu Talib took over his guardianship.
Some have said that his father passed away before he was born and some say that he was seven months old at the time of the passing away of his father. And when he was six years old, his noble mother passed away. And when his uncle, Abu Talib departed for the heavenly abode, he was 46 years, 8 months and 24 days. And lady Khadija passed away three days after that. Therefore that year was named as the Year of Grief.
And the Holy Prophet (S) lived in Mecca for thirteen years after the declaration of prophethood (Besat). Then he stayed in Cave of Thawr for three or six days. After that he migrated to Medina and reached there on Monday, 11th Rabiul Awwal. He stayed in Medina for 10 years. In the 10th year of Hijrat, he passed away on 28th Safar.
Qutub Rawandi has narrated from Ibn Abbas that one day Abu Sufyan (l.a.) came to the Holy Prophet (S) and said: O Messenger of Allah (S) I want to ask a few questions.” He asked: “Do you want me to tell you what are you going ask before you ask me?” “Yes, O Messenger of Allah (S),” he said. The Holy Prophet (S) said, “You want to ask me about my age.” “Yes, O Messenger of Allah (S),” he said. The Holy Prophet (S) said, “I will live for sixty-three years.” He said, “I testify that you have told the truth.” The Holy Prophet (S) said, “You make only a verbal claim, but don’t believe in it.”
Ibn Babawayh has narrated through authentic chains of narrators from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) that he said: “Do not fast on Monday, do not begin a journey, because it was the day of the passing away of the Prophet and many traditions have been narrated regarding this from the Holy Imams (a.s.).
Shaykh Tusi etc. have narrated through authentic chains of narrators from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) he said: “When a calamity befalls you, you should remember the difficulty of the Prophet because such a calamity has never befallen anyone and neither will it befall anyone in the future.” Ibn Shahr Ashob has narrated that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: “O Ali, when a calamity befalls you, you should remember my difficulty because it is the worst calamity.”
