It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say: When the time comes for a Prophet's soul to be taken, he is given the choice that he may be returned to that reward and joined with it (or sent back to the world). During the illness of death, I was supporting the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) against my chest when suddenly I saw that his neck dropped. I heard him saying, "With those upon whom Allah has bestowed His favor, such as the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous, and excellent are those as companions." So I understood that he had been given the choice.