The Farewell Sermon (Khutbat al-Wada')
خطبة الوداع
Summary
On the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, 10 AH, the Prophet delivered his Farewell Sermon at Arafat before an assembly of over 100,000 pilgrims during his only Hajj. This monumental address summarised the core principles of Islam and laid down a comprehensive charter of human rights, social justice, and moral conduct. It was both a culmination of the prophetic mission and a final exhortation to the Muslim Ummah.
Details
The Prophet set out from Madinah on the 25th of Dhul-Qi'dah, 10 AH, with a vast multitude of Muslims for what would be his only Hajj, known as Hajjat al-Wada' (the Farewell Pilgrimage). On the Day of Arafah, mounted upon his camel al-Qaswa', he addressed the assembled pilgrims in a sermon that Rabi'ah ibn Umayyah ibn Khalaf repeated in a loud voice so that those at a distance could hear. The Prophet began by praising Allah and bearing witness to His oneness, then declared: 'O people, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I shall ever be among you again.' He then articulated the following foundational principles: **The sanctity of life and property:** 'Your blood, your property, and your honour are as sacred as this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this city of yours.' All blood feuds and financial claims from the pre-Islamic period were abolished, beginning with those of his own family. **The abolition of usury (riba):** 'All interest obligations from the pre-Islamic period are henceforth waived. The first usury I abolish is that of my uncle al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib.' **The rights of women:** 'Fear Allah concerning women. You have taken them as a trust from Allah. Treat them well and with kindness. They have rights over you and you have rights over them.' **Equality among people:** 'O people, your Lord is one and your father is one. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; a white person has no superiority over a black person, nor a black person over a white person — except by taqwa (God-consciousness).' **Adherence to the Quran and Sunnah:** 'I have left among you that which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah.' **The bond of brotherhood:** 'All mankind is from Adam and Hawwa'. Every Muslim is a brother to every other Muslim, and all Muslims constitute one brotherhood.' **The prohibition of injustice:** 'Do not wrong others and you shall not be wronged. Nothing belonging to another is lawful to a Muslim unless given freely and willingly.' The Prophet then asked: 'O people, have I conveyed the message?' The congregation responded: 'Yes, you have.' He said: 'O Allah, be witness. Let those who are present convey this to those who are absent, for perhaps those to whom it is conveyed may understand it better than those who have heard it directly.' It was during or shortly after this sermon that the final verse of the Quran regarding legislation was revealed: 'This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion' (5:3). Umar ibn al-Khattab wept upon hearing this verse, sensing that perfection of the religion signalled the approaching end of the Prophet's life. The Farewell Sermon remains one of the most consequential declarations of human rights and moral principles in recorded history.