Farewell sermon

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Sadia Dehlvi [1]

Prophet Mohammed was born on a Monday, the night of 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal in the year 571 AD. The occasion is celebrated as “Eid Milad un Nabi” by remembering his life and teachings. The messenger is believed to have passed on to the other world on the same day.

The farewell Haj pilgrimage of the Prophet may be called the culminating point in his prophetic career. At the age of 63, Mohammed delivered his farewell sermon on the ninth day of the Haj pilgrimage at the Mount of Arafat in 631 AD. After praising and thanking God, he addressed thousands saying, “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.”
The sermon contains the essence of the Prophet’s teachings. He said that the right to life, property and honour are sacrosanct and to remember that each one will be answerable to God for their deeds. He warned humanity from falling on the path of Satan and to remain mindful of God in every deed. He asked followers not to go astray from the path of righteousness after he was gone. He reminded Muslims to worship the One God, offer the prescribed prayers, observe the fasts and pay zakat, which is a portion of one’s wealth given to the poor.
He further told men to watch over the rights of women and to fear God in this respect: “Remember that you have taken them as wives only under God’s trust and with his permission. Just as you have rights over them, they have rights over you… Oh people, be mindful of those who work under you. Feed and clothe them as you feed and clothe yourselves… Your Lord is one, and your father is one, all of you are from Adam, and Adam was of the soil… An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, except by piety and good action… Return the things kept with you as amanah, trust, to their rightful owners. Treat others justly so that no one would be unjust to you… Oh people, reflect on my words. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example and if you follow these, you will not fail.”
Remarkably eloquent, the farewell sermon is a universal message that focuses on human rights to create a social order free from oppression and injustice.

Sadia Dehlvi is a Delhi-based writer and author of Sufism: The Heart of Islam.