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Pilgrimage in Islam was prescribed during the 9th year
of the Islamic Hijra or 623 C.E. The Prophet of Islam
(May Peace and Allah’s Mercy be upon him) deputed Abu
Baker (May Allah be pleased with him) to lead the
pilgrims to perform Haj. During the 10th year of Hijra,
the Prophet (PBUH) left Medina on the 26 of Zul Qi’dah
with an average of 90,000 Muslims who joined him to
perform Haj. On the 9th of Zul Hijjah, the Prophet (PBUH)
left Makkah to Arafat with a group of Muslims who
exceeded 1,15,000. At the Mount of Mercy (Al Rahmah),
the Prophet mounted his camel, and addressed the Muslims
in Urnah Valley of Mount Arafat. Rabi’ah Ibn Umaiyah Ibn
Khalaf was repeating after the Prophet, sentence by
sentence. The haj performance to Makkah and Arafat was
the only one and the last one that the Prophet (PBUH)
did. The khutba was also therefore the last one that the
Prophet (PBUH) delivered. For this reason, the speech
that he gave was called Khutbatul Wida’ or The farewell
Sermon.
In
the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful After praising,
and thanking Allah (Subhanahuwa Taala), the Prophet (PBUH)
said:
“O People, lend me
an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this
year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore,
listen very carefully to what I am saying to you.
“There is none to
worship except Allah (SWT). None is like Him or equals
Him nor has He any co-sharer. He fulfilled His promise
and helped His Messenger, and He alone defeated and
smashed all the concerted forces of falsehood.
O Men, the
unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calendar in
order to make permissible that which Allah (SWT)
forbade, and to forbid that which Allah had made
permissible. With Allah (SWT) the months are twelve;
four of them are holy; three of these are successive and
one occurs singly between the months of Jumadah and
Shaaban.
O People, just as
you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so
regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred
trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their
rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt
you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and
that He will indeed reckon your deeds.
Every right
arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is
henceforth waived and the first such right I waive is
that arising from the murder of infant Rabiyah bin Al-Harith
(relative of the Prophet).
Allah (SWT) has
forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all
interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your
capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither
inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah (SWT) has Judged
that there shall be no interest, and that all the
interest due to Abbas ibn Abd’ul Muttalib (the Prophet’s
uncle) shall henceforth be waived…
Beware of Satan,
for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope
that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big
things, so beware of following him in small things.
O People, it is
true that you have certain rights with regard to your
women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that
you have taken them as your wives only under a trust
from Almighty Allah and with His permission. If they
abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be
fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well
and be kind to them for they are your partners and
committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not
make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as
well as never to be unchaste.
O People, listen
to me in earnest, worship Allah (SWT), perform your five
times daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan,
and offer Zakat. Perform Hajj if you have the means.
All mankind is
from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a
non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab has any superiority over
an Arab. Similarly white has no superiority over black,
nor does a black has any superiority over white; [none
have superiority over another] except by piety and good
actions. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to other
Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.
Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to
a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and
willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to
yourselves.
“Oh people, be
mindful of those who work under you. Feed and clothe
them as you feed and clothe yourselves.”
O People, no
prophet or apostle will ever come after me, and no new
faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O people,
and understand words which I convey to you. I leave
behind me two things, the Quran and my example, the
Sunnah, and if you follow these you will never go
astray.
Remember, one day
you will appear before Allah (SWT) and answer for your
deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of
righteousness after I am gone.
All those who
listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those
to others again; and it may be that the last ones
understand my words better than those who listen to me
directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed
your message to your people.”
Thus the beloved
Prophet (PBUH) completed his Final Sermon, and upon it,
near the summit of Arafat, the revelation came down:
“…This day have
I perfected your religion for you, completed My Grace
upon you, and have chosen Islam for you as your
religion…” (Quran 5:3)
Even today the
Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is passed to
every Muslim in every corner of the world through all
possible means of communication. Muslims are reminded
about it in mosques and in lectures. The meanings found
in this sermon are indeed astounding, touching upon some
of the most important rights Allah has over humanity,
and humanity has over each other. Though the Prophet’s
soul has left this world, his words are still living in
our hearts. |
