In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
In time, the whole of Arabia became the land of Islam. The Prophet ( PBUH ) intended to perform the Hajj. He announced his intention to the muslims of Madinah and the surrounding areas and asked them to join him. This was in fact the only Hajj performed by him during his lifetime. On this ocassion, he taught those who were present with him and the whole world about the Hajj rites and the divine message that Allah had entrusted him with to all mankind.
At the last gathering with the ummah during the Hajj season, the Hajj of wada, a sermon was delivered by our beloved prophet Muhammad ( PBUH ) at the valley of Araafat about 81 or 82 days before his death. It contained the very fundamentals of Islam. Seated on his camel, he spoke with a clear tone and asked who heared his speech to convey it to those who were not present there. Among other things he 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 to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today."
" O' people, just as you regard this month, this day, the 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, therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived."
" Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hopes 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 right over you. If they abide by your right, then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in mildness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. Ant it is your right that they do not make friends with anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never commit adultery."
" O' people, listen to me earnestly, worship Allah offer your five daily prayers, fast the month of Ramadan, give your wealth in Zakah and perform Hajj if you can afford it. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over the other except by piety and good deeds."
" Remember , one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not go astray from the path of righteousness after my death."
" O' people, no prophet or messenger will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore."
" O' people, understand my words, which i convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and my example, the Sunnah, and if you follow these, you will never go astray."
" All those who listen to me shall pass my words on to the 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 slaves."
The importance of this sermon can be seen from the prophet's ( PBUH ) perception that this occasion may be the last one during his lifetime. He felt that this was the right time to summarize the principles of Islam to his fellow brothers and sisters.
By the perfection of this religion, it means that there is no need for humanity, and for Muslims in particular, to look for an alternative way of life. As long as one holds fast to the two things left behind by the Prophet ( PBUH ), the Qur'an and the Sunnah, one will never go astray.
About two months after returning from Makkah. It was on Monday, 12th Rabi al Awwal, the year 11 A.H., when he passed away at the age of sixty three.
Many people did not believe that he had passed away and thought he would live forever. Abu Bakr said to the congregation that if they worshipped Prophet Muhammad ( PBUH ), he had died, and if they worshipped Allah, He lives forever. Then he recited from the Qur'an:
" Muhammad is naught but a messenger like the messengers who had surely passed away before him; will you, then, if he dies or be slain, turn round on your heels?...".
(Qur'an 3: 144)
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
In time, the whole of Arabia became the land of Islam. The Prophet ( PBUH ) intended to perform the Hajj. He announced his intention to the muslims of Madinah and the surrounding areas and asked them to join him. This was in fact the only Hajj performed by him during his lifetime. On this ocassion, he taught those who were present with him and the whole world about the Hajj rites and the divine message that Allah had entrusted him with to all mankind.
At the last gathering with the ummah during the Hajj season, the Hajj of wada, a sermon was delivered by our beloved prophet Muhammad ( PBUH ) at the valley of Araafat about 81 or 82 days before his death. It contained the very fundamentals of Islam. Seated on his camel, he spoke with a clear tone and asked who heared his speech to convey it to those who were not present there. Among other things he 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 to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today."
" O' people, just as you regard this month, this day, the 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, therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived."
" Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hopes 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 right over you. If they abide by your right, then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in mildness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. Ant it is your right that they do not make friends with anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never commit adultery."
" O' people, listen to me earnestly, worship Allah offer your five daily prayers, fast the month of Ramadan, give your wealth in Zakah and perform Hajj if you can afford it. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over the other except by piety and good deeds."
" Remember , one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not go astray from the path of righteousness after my death."
" O' people, no prophet or messenger will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore."
" O' people, understand my words, which i convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and my example, the Sunnah, and if you follow these, you will never go astray."
" All those who listen to me shall pass my words on to the 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 slaves."
The importance of this sermon can be seen from the prophet's ( PBUH ) perception that this occasion may be the last one during his lifetime. He felt that this was the right time to summarize the principles of Islam to his fellow brothers and sisters.
By the perfection of this religion, it means that there is no need for humanity, and for Muslims in particular, to look for an alternative way of life. As long as one holds fast to the two things left behind by the Prophet ( PBUH ), the Qur'an and the Sunnah, one will never go astray.
About two months after returning from Makkah. It was on Monday, 12th Rabi al Awwal, the year 11 A.H., when he passed away at the age of sixty three.
Many people did not believe that he had passed away and thought he would live forever. Abu Bakr said to the congregation that if they worshipped Prophet Muhammad ( PBUH ), he had died, and if they worshipped Allah, He lives forever. Then he recited from the Qur'an:
" Muhammad is naught but a messenger like the messengers who had surely passed away before him; will you, then, if he dies or be slain, turn round on your heels?...".
(Qur'an 3: 144)
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.