when his sickness grew severe he asked his wives: "where shall i stay tomorrow?" "where shall i stay?" they understood what he wanted. so they allowed him to stay wherever he wished. he moved to ‘aishah’s room leaning — while he was walking — on al-fadl bin al-‘abbas and ‘ali bin abi talib. head banded as he was, he dragged his feet till he came into her abode. it was there that he spent the last week of his life.

during that period, ‘aishah used to recite al-mu‘awwidhat (chapters 113 and 114 of the qur’ân) and other supplications which he had already taught her.