By Manzoor Ahmad


THE enlightening, soul-stirring and epoch-making sermon delivered by Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the occasion of his farewell pilgrimage (Haj) occupies a unique place in the history of mankind. It emphasizes explicitly on universalisation, socialisation and moralisation of the humanity at large.

On revelation of Surah 110, “When came the Help of Allah and Victory. And you saw people entering the Religion of Allah in crowds. Praise your Rab and beg His forgiveness. Surely He is Ever Forgiving,” the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) decided in A.H. 10 to perform Haj, as he in the light of the said Surah felt that his mission has been accomplished and that the end of his life was approaching.

He left Madina on Saturday, the 216th of Zul-Qadah and after journeying for nine days entered the city of his destination, Makkah on Sunday, the 4th of Zul-Hijjah. A large number of people had accompanied him who were further augmented and turned into a multitude of 1,14,000 to 1,44,000 on the 9th of Zul-Hijjah (March 08, 632) the day of his historic sermon at Arafat. He had also given orations on the 10th as well as the 11th or 12th in sequence both at Mina. These public addresses were actually the gist of his lifelong Islamic teachings.

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) during the speech paused almost after every sentence to get it repeated by a stentorian who was Rabia ibn Omaiyah ibn Khalaf in order that the worlds of the most memorable address could be heard by the entire concourse.

The salient features of the everlasting sermon are summed up hereunder which are still fresh and will remain as such for ever:

Praising Allah he said, ‘O people! Listen to me. I do not know whether I shall be here again and meet you.’ Further he quoted from the Holy Quran: “O mankind! We created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (one who is) the most righteous of you.” He in unambiguous words declared, ‘No Arab is superior to any non-Arab (Ajami) nor any non-Arab is superior to any Arab; the only criterion of superiority is piety. All human beings are Adam’s children and he was created from dust.’

‘O people! Your blood, properties and honour are as inviolable as this day, this month and this city, amongst one another. You all shall appear before Allah and He shall interrogate you of your actions.’

‘Behold! Do not go astray after me and begin killing one another. If anything is kept as trust with anyone, he is bound to return it to its owner when asked for.’

‘O people! All Muslims are brothers to one another. Be solicitous about your slaves, feed them such food as you eat and clothe them as you wear.’

In unequivocal words he pronounced, ‘O people! All practices of the days of ignorance are under my feet.’ Forbidding such practices he wiped out the practice of blood revenges and usury. Likewise abolishing the practice of usury he set an example and remitted the amount of interest which was due to be received by the family of his uncle Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib.

‘O people! Allah has already ordained shares (inheritance) of each heir. Now none should leave any share by will for any heir,’ (in contravention of the set rules).

Addressing particularly the people of his tribe he clearly said, ‘O people of Quraish! lest you appear before Allah with the burden of this world around your neck and other people with good deeds; in such situation I shall not be of any help to you.’

‘O people! I have accomplished my mission of preaching Islam. I am leaving amongst you such a thing if you hold it fast you will never go astray and it is the Book of Allah (the Holy Quran). ‘Behold! you refrain from exaggeration in the religious matters because the nations in the past have perished only on account of it.’

‘O people! worship Allah, offer prayers five times a day, keep fasts during the month of Ramazan, pay Zakat willingly and perform pilgrimage to the Sacred House of Allah, then you will be able to enter the Paradise.’

‘Now criminal himself will be responsible for his crimes; neither the son would be answerable for the crimes of his father nor the father would be held responsible for the crime committed by his son.’

‘Behold! those who are present here should convey it to those who are not here. Anyone of those who are not here may be better to understand it and remember it.’

‘O people! if you were asked about me, what would you reply?’ The people with one voice said, “we bear witness that you have conveyed the message, you discharged your ministry of Prophethood and looked the welfare of the people.”

At the conclusion of the sermon, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) raised his forefinger towards the sky and thereafter pointing towards the people said thrice: ‘O Allah! I beseech: bear Thou witness unto it.’

No sooner than Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) concluded his inspiring sermon the following Quranic verse was revealed:

“This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”

The farewell sermon, on the whole, is a message of piety, equity and fraternity for the entire world.