When did the Sahaba die?

Answer 1

The last companion (sahabi) of the prophet Muhammad (saw) to die among his close companions was Anas bin Maalik (ra), he was the last living companion who closely accompanied the prophet and fought alongside him in battles but there were many other lesser companions who saw and believed in Muhammad (saw) without to accompany him frequently like the Muhajireen and the Ansar.

Anas bin Maalik was asked when he was the last living companion of the Prophet (saw),

"Is there anybody left from the sahabah of the Messenger of Allah (saw)?" he said: "from his sahabah, there are none, but from those who saw the Prophet (saw) from the bedouin, there are many."Who is a Sahabi?

من اجتمع بالنبي صلّى الله عليه وسلّم، أو رآه مؤمناً به، ومات على ذلك

Who met Allah's Messenger or saw him in state of Imaan, and died with Imaan.

If someone believed in Allah's Messenger but did not meet with him or saw him then he is not classified as a Sahabi(like Najashi, the king of Abyssinia or Uwais al-Qarni from Yemen).

The last Sahabi to leave this world would be 'Isa (Peace be upon him). This is because 'Isa (Peace be upon him) saw Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in state of Imaan, while he was alive. That happened on the day of Israa' (the night travel) and Ma'iraj (Ascension). He met Allah's Messenger twice:

[1] When Muhammad (Peace be upon him) led the Salah in Masjid ul Aqsa, and all the Prophets followed him.

[2] When Muhammad (Peace be upon him) met him on the second heaven.

Adh-Dahabi says:

عيسى بن مريم عليه السلام نبي وصحابي فإنه رأى النبي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم ، وسلّم عليه فهو آخر الصحابة موتا(تجريد أسماء الصحابة ـ الذهبي 1/432 )

"'Isa, the son of Maryam, Peace be upon him, is a Prophet and a Sahabi because he saw Allah's Messenger (i.e. on the night of Ma'iraj), and he greeted him, so, he would be the last amongst Sahaba to die (when he comes back to this world)"

Ibn Hajr agreed with Adh-Dahabi in his book الإصابة في تمييز الصحابة (4/761).

So, 'Isa (Peace be upon him) fulfills the definition of a Sahabi, and would be the last Sahabi to leave this World, and Allah has chosen him for this unique duality: A Prophet and a Sahabi. Praise be to Allah, He does what He wills and chooses whom He wills.

Next, other than 'Isa (Peace be upon him) who was the last Sahabi to leave this world. The Islamic Empire had stretched to a vast portion of the globe at that time, so in various parts of the empire people would value the remaining Sahaba, and historians have mentioned the last Sahabi in various parts of the empire. Abu Tufail 'Amr ibn Wathila al-Leethi was the last one to die in Makkah and over-all.

Makkah:

ابو طفيل عمرو ابن واثله الليثى

He saw Allah's Messenger in the the Last Hajj (Hijjat ul Widaa'). He was young at that time, and he was asked, how your love for him was at that time. He replied, "Like the love of mother of Musa for Musa". Abu Tufail 'Amr ibn Wathila al-Leethi (May Allah be Pleased with him) was amongst Sh'iaan e 'Ali.

Death: Abu Tufail 'Amr ibn Wathila al-Leethi (May Allah be Pleased with him) died after 100 Hijri. Historians have mentioned three different narrations for his death: 100 Hijri, 107 Hijri or 110 Hijri. He died in Makkah. Adh-Dahabi says the correct opinion is that he died in 110th Hijri.

Ibn 'Asakir quotes a narration in Tareekh Madinah Damishq:

آخر من مات من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على وجه الأرض عامر أبو الطفيل بن واثلة وكان يقول ما بقي على وجه الأرض أحد يقدر يقول أنه رأى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم غيري مات بمكة سنة مائة

"The last one to die from the companions (Sahaba) of Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) on the face of the earth is 'Aamir Abu Tufail bin Wathila and he used to say, 'No one is left on the face of the earth who can say: I saw Allah's Messenger, save me'. He died in Makkah in 100 Hijri"

Ibn-Hibban quotes a narration in Ath-Thiqaat :

عامر بن واثلة أبو الطفيل المكى أدرك ثمان سنين من حياة رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم ومات بمكة سنة سبع ومائة وهو آخر من مات من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم بمكة وهو من بنى كنانة

"'Aamir bin Wathila Abu Tufail al-Makki got 8 years from the life of Allah's messenger, and he died in Makkah in the year 107th Hijri, and he was the last one from the companions (Sahaba) of Allah's Messenger to die in Makkah, and he was from Bani Kinanah"

Basrah:

As for other parts, the last sahabi to die in Basrah (part of present day Iraq) was:

انس بن مالك

He is one of the major narrators of hadith. He was ten years old when Allah's Messenger entered Madinah and he used to serve him. He participated in many Ghazawaat and was a participant of Bai'at ur Ridwan. He remained as Imam of Salah in Basra for about 40 years.

Death: Anas bin Malik (May Allah bed pleased with him) died at the age of 103 in 93rd Hijri in Basrah. Some historians mention his dead in 91st Hijri. Adh-Dhabi says the correct opinion is of 93rd Hijri.

Madinah:

The last Sahabi to die in Madinah is:

سهل بن سعد الساعدى

His father was a sahabi, Sa'd bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him), who died in the times of Allah's Messenger. He has narrated many ahaadith.

Death: Sahl bin Sa'd as-Saa'dee died in Madinah in 96th Hijri when he was 100 years old. According to Al-Waqidi he died in 91st Hijri. Adh-Dahabi says many have quoted his death in 91st Hijri.

جابر بن عبدالله ابن عمرو بن حرام

Ibn-Sa'd has quoted in his Tabqaat that Jabir bin 'Abudllah bin 'Amr bin Haram al-Ansaari (May Allah be pleased with him) was the last to die in Madinah, amongst the Sahaba. He witnessed the Second Ba'iah of 'Aqabah and he was also present in Ba'iat ur Ridwan. And Adh-Dhahabi says when he died he was the last one to witness Ba'iah of 'Aqabah. He has narrated many ahaadith. His father was a Sahabi who attained Shahadah in the battle of Uhud. He participated in the battle of Ahzaab and some narrators mention he was from amongst those who witnessed Badr. Al-Waqidi has mentioned a narration from him where he says he participated in sixteen ghazawaat with Allah's Messenger.

Death: Ibn Sa'd narrates that he died in 77th Hijri and he was 84 years old then, and he was the governor of Madinah at that time. Al-Waqidi mentions his death in 78th Hijri. Adh-Dhahabi says he was 94 years old when he died.

Ash-Shaam

The last Sahabi to die in Ash-Shaam (present day Syria, Jordan, Palestine etc.) was:

عبد الله بن بسر بن أبي بسر المازني

He has narrated very few ahadith and they are found in Sahah e Sitta. He was amongst those who opened the Island of Qabras in times of Uthman (May Allah be pleased with him).

Death: 'Abudllah bin Basr bin Abi Basr Al-Maazni (May Allah be pleased with him) died in Hams at the age of 100 in 94thHijri according to al-Waqidi or 88th Hijri according to ibn 'Asakir.

أبو أمامة الباهلي

Ibn Abdul Barr has mentioned Abu Umamah al-Bahili (May Allah be pleased with him) to be the last sahabi to die in ash-Shaam. Many scholars have narrated from him. Adh-Dhahabi says it is narrated that he participated in Ba'iah ur Ridwan.

Death: He died in 81st or 86th Hijri, and he was more than 80 years old.

Kufa

The last Sahabi to die in Kufa (part of present day Iraq) was

عبد الله بن أبي أوفى

Adh-Dahabi says that he was present in Ba'it Ar-Ridwaan. His father was also a Sahabi. He has narrated many Ahadith.

Death: According to al-Waqidi he died in the year 86th Hijri and he was blind at that time. Adh-Dahabi says he died in 88th Hijri and he was near 100 years of age at that time.

Egypt

The last Sahabi to die in Egypt was

عبد الله بن الحارث بن جزء أبو الحارث الزبيدي

He witnessed the opening of Egypt in times of 'Umar bin al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) and stayed there till his death.

Death: Narrations mention his death to be in 85th or 86th or 87th Hijri, Adh-Dhahabi says that 86th Hijri is the correct opinion.

Few scholars have narrated that many Sahabi Jinns existed many years later. According to one Syrian Sufi Scholar the last Sahabi died near Euphrates 70 years back from now, and he was a Jinn.

والله اعلم بالصواب

References to the above mentioned dates and names can be found in:

[1] الطبقات الكبرى - ابن سعد

[2] للحافظ الذهبى سير أعلام النبلاء

[3] تاريخ مدينه دمشق - ابن عساكر

[4] البدايه و النهايه - ابن كثير