THE LAST SERMON OF PROPHET
MUHAMMAD
(Peace Be Upon Him)
This sermon was delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul-Hijjah, 10 A.H. (632
CE) in the 'Uranah valley of Mount Arafat in Makkah. It was the occasion
of the annual rites of Hajj (the pilgrimage). It is also known as the Farewell
Pilgrimage.
After praising, and thanking Allah (The One True God) the Prophet began
with the words:
"O People! lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I
shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen carefully to what I am
saying and Take These Words to Those Who Could Not Be Present Here
Today.
“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.
“Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest
obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital is yours to keep. You
will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall
be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib
(Prophet's uncle) be waived.
“Every right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is henceforth
waived and the first such right that I waive is that arising from the murder of
Rabiah ibn al-Harithah.
“O Men! the unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calendar in order to
make permissible that which Allah forbade, and to prohibit which Allah has
made permissible. With Allah the months are twelve in number. Four of
them are holy, three of these are successive and one occurs singly between
the months of Jumada and Shaban.
“Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope of
that he will 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 Allah's trust 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 anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never to
be unchaste.
“O People! listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily
prayers, fast during month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat
(obligatory charity). Perform Hajj if you can afford to.
“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a
non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a
white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over
white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a
brother to every 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. Remember one day you will
meet Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not astray from the path
of righteousness after I am gone.
“O People! No Prophet or Apostle Will 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 QUR’AN and my SUNNAH (i.e., sayings, deeds, and approvals) and if
you follow these you will never go astray.
“All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those
to others again; and may 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."
As part of this sermon, the Prophet recited them a Revelation from Allah,
which he had just received, and which completed the Qur’an, for it was the
last passage to be revealed:
This day the disbelievers despair of prevailing against your religion, so
fear them not, but fear Me (Allah)! This day have I perfected for you
your religion and fulfilled My favor unto you, and it hath been My good
pleasure to choose Islam for you as your religion (Surah 5, Ayah 3).
The sermon was repeated sentence by sentence by Safwan's brother Rabiah
(RA), who had a powerful voice, at the request of the Prophet and he
faithfully proclaimed to over ten thousand gathered on the occasion. Toward
the end of his sermon, the Prophet asked, “O people, have I faithfully
delivered unto you my message?" A powerful murmur of assent “O Allah,
yes!", arose from thousands of pilgrims and the vibrant words “Allahumma
na’m” rolled like thunder throughout the valley. The Prophet raised his
forefinger and said: “Be my witness O Allah, that I have conveyed your
message to your people."
