At the Farewell Hajj, he ﷺ said: take your rites from me, for I do not know if I will make Hajj after this one.
On a Friday, while he ﷺ stood at 'Arafat, a verse came down. 'Umar remembered the day and the place.
This day I have perfected for you your religion,
completed My favour upon you, and approved for you Islam as religion.
A religion made complete. With what followed, the verse also meant: his mission was done.
When the victory of Allah has come, and the conquest,
and you see the people entering the religion of Allah in crowds,
then glorify the praise of your Lord and ask His forgiveness. He is ever accepting of repentance.
'Umar asked the elders of Badr about this sûra. Some said: at victory, we are told to praise Allah and seek forgiveness.
Then he asked young Ibn 'Abbâs, who said: “It is the sign of the death of the Messenger ﷺ, which Allah told him of.”
'Umar said: I know nothing of it other than what you have said.
Every year, Jibrîl went through the Qur'an with him once. In the year he died, he did it twice.
Every year he ﷺ withdrew to the mosque for ten days. That year, he stayed twenty.
Eight years after Uhud, he ﷺ prayed over its martyrs, like one taking leave of the living and the dead.
Then he climbed the minbar: “I go ahead of you, and I am a witness over you. Your meeting place is the Basin.”
“I do not fear that you will worship others beside Allah. I fear that you will compete for this world.”
'Uqba ibn 'Âmir said: that was the last look I had of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
In the last year of his life, the signs came one after another.
A few Companions understood them. Many saw only the victory.
He ﷺ saw his end coming, and spent the year praying more, reciting more, and taking leave.
Tonight, name one thing of this world you are competing for. Ask Allah to make it small in your heart.