Muslim reports that the Mother of the Believers, ‘A’ishah, said: "Shall I not tell you about myself and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" We said: "Yes." She said: "When it was the night the Prophet of Allah ﷺ was staying with me, he turned around to sleep, took off his cloak, removed his sandals and placed them beside him, spread the edge of his garment over his bed, and lay down. He waited only until he thought I had fallen asleep, then quietly took his cloak and sandals, opened the door softly, and went out.
I got up quietly, put my cloak over my head, wrapped myself in it, fastened my garment, and followed him until he reached Al-Baqi‘. He stood before the graves for a long time. Then he raised his hands three times, turned to leave, and I turned back as well. He hastened his pace, so I hastened mine. He ran, and I ran. I arrived back at our room, and scarcely had I laid down when he entered.
He said: 'What is the matter with you, O ‘A’ishah? Why are you out of breath?' I replied: 'Nothing.' He said: 'Tell me, or the Subtle, the All-Aware (Al-Latif, Al-Khabir) will inform me.' So I told him what happened.
He said: 'So it was your dark figure that I saw ahead of me! May the Most Merciful have mercy on you, O ‘A’ishah. When I entered our room earlier, the angel Jibril called me. You had already removed your outer garments, so he did not enter. I thought you had fallen asleep, and I did not want to wake you. When I stepped out, Jibril said to me: "Your Lord commands you to go to the people of Al-Baqi‘ and seek forgiveness for them."'
I asked the Prophet ﷺ: 'What should I say to seek forgiveness for them, O Messenger of Allah?'
He replied: 'Say: "Peace be upon the inhabitants of these dwellings among the believers and the Muslims. May Allah have mercy on those who have gone before us and those who will follow. Indeed, if Allah wills, we will join you."'"
Through this supplication, the Prophet ﷺ prayed for everyone already buried in Al-Baqi‘ and for all those who would be buried there in the future, encompassing both the earliest and the latest generations. This illustrates their elevated status.
Many Companions are buried in this cemetery—may Allah be pleased with them. Among them are the wives of the Prophet ﷺ—may Allah be pleased with them all—with the exception of Khadijah and Maymunah. His daughters, his son Ibrahim, and his grandson Al-Hasan are also buried there. Among the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, only Uthman rests in Al-Baqi.
