This sermon was delivered on the Ninth
Day of Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah Year 632 A.C (10 A.H.) in the
‘Uranah valley of Mount Arafat’ in Mecca.
After praising and thanking God (Allah) the Prophet (peace be upon him) 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 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, 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 [the 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 Harithibn.
“O People, the unbelievers indulge in
tampering with the calender in order to make permissible that which
Allah forbade, and to forbid that 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 the month of Ramadhan, and give your wealth in Zakat.
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 a black
nor a black has any superiority over a 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 stray 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 my words which I convey to you. I leave behind me
two things, the Qur’an and my Sunnah 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.”
(Read the biography of the Prophet Muhammad here.)
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