Farewell Hajj and the Historic Farewell Sermon of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ

Farewell Hajj (Hajja-tul-Wada)

The most important incident of the 10th year of the migration is the Farewell Hajj. It was the last Hajj of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. People witnessed him performing the complete Hajj. In Zul Qa'dah, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم announced that he would set out for Hajj. During this Hajj, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم delivered his famous farewell sermon.

As the Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم announced that he would perform Hajj, approximately 124,000 of his devotees gathered around him. He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also indicated towards his apparent veiling from this world during this Hajj when, near the Jamarat, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: “Learn the rulings of Hajj from me! Perhaps after this, I will not perform another Hajj.”

He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم set out from Madinah on the last Thursday of Zul-Qa'dah and reached Zul-Hulayfah, which is the Meeqat of the people of Madinah, where he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم donned the Ihram, and then entered Makkah on 4th of Zul-Hijjah.

He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed Tawaf, offered Nafl at Maqaam Ibrahim and performed Sa'i of Safa and Marwah. Then, on the 8th of Zul-Hijjah, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went to Mina and on the 9th, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went to 'Arafat, where he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stayed in a tent. When the sun passed the meridian, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم mounted his she-camel, 'Qaswa', and delivered the sermon.

In this sermon, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم announced many necessary commandments and also announced the abrogation of all the evils and taboo customs of the era of ignorance.

Farewell Sermon

Below are a few points from the last sermon:

·        Your Lord is One and undoubtedly your father (Sayyiduna Adam عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام) is one. No Arab has any superiority over any non-Arab and no non-Arab has any superiority over any Arab; no white has any superiority over any black and no black has any superiority over any white, but by piety.

·        All humans are the offspring of Adam, and Adam was made from clay. Now, all the claims of excellence and superiority, all the demands of blood and money, and all revenges are under my feet.

·        People! Every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim and all the Muslims are brothers of one another.

·        It is not permissible for anyone that he takes anything from his brother, except for the thing for which his brother agrees and gives happily. O people! Do not inflict cruelty on yourselves and on others.

·        Your life and your wealth are as Haraam for each other until the Judgement Day as this day, this month, and this city of yours is sacred for you.

·        People! Treat women well!

·        The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then said: “When Allah Almighty will ask you about me, what will you say?” Blessed companions humbly said: “You have conveyed the message of Allah and fulfilled the right of Prophethood.” The Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم raised his blessed finger towards the sky and said three times: “O Allah! Be my witness.”

After this, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was given the confirmation of the completion of the religion through Divine revelation and then he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم completed his Hajj.

Phenomenal Impact of the Farewell Sermon

The Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم delivered this sermon approximately fourteen and a half centuries ago. It is astonishing that while he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was delivering this sermon, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was sitting on the saddle of a she-camel. It was the glory of his excellent simplicity.

This sermon is a golden and bright chapter in human history. This sermon contains unprecedented guidance about human rights, especially the rights of women, the rights of slaves, protection of life, possessions and honour, economic reforms, rulings on inheritance, commandments on debt and debtors, as well as guidance on politics and religion. This sermon is the essence of all Islamic teachings and an international manifesto of rights and duties. This sermon is regarded as a constitution and an evergreen message even today for Muslims. This sermon is as important today as it was fourteen and a half centuries ago. This sermon contains the guidance which humanity needs and the lessons which, if implemented by people, will lead mankind to great heights.

Distribution of BLESSED HAIR

As well as in Arafat, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also delivered a sermon in Mina, in which, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم mentioned many rulings and commandments like he did in the sermon of Arafat. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then went to the slaughterhouse, where out of one hundred camels, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم slaughtered some camels with his blessed hands, and then ordered Sayyiduna Ali رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ to slaughter the remaining ones. After the animal sacrifice, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had his blessed head shaved. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then gave some of this hair to Sayyiduna Abu Talhah Ansari رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ and ordered him to distribute the remaining hair amongst the Muslims. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then went to the Zamzam Well and drank Zamzam, and then after performing the farewell Tawaf, returned to Madinah with Muhajireen and Ansar.