Understanding The Last Sermon Of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

In the name of God, The Beneficent, The Merciful. May the peace and blessings of God be upon the noble Prophet, Muhammad, and upon his household and companions in general.

As for what follows;

The purpose of this write-up is to interpret the text of the Last sermon (Also called Farewell Address) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and to also address the issues that has been mentioned by the Prophet and regarded highly by all Muslims. In his address, the Prophet addressed several issues:

Freedom to all

Sanctity of life, wealth and property

Equality of all races

Justice in front of the law and in front of God

Women’s rights and obligations

Exploitation and Monopoly

Rights of others.

After about 14 centuries from delivering the Last Sermon of the Prophet, are the issues at the statement of the problem still relevant to human society in the modern times? Or, were they just related to the Prophet’s time and place only?
Without doubt, the message of the Prophet was not intended for his local people. It was for all people everywhere and for all generations to come. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used the terminology “O people”. He did not use “O Muslims” or “O Believers”. He asked the attended people to deliver his words to others and the others to others.

The last sermon of the Prophet has been known, repeated, produced, reproduced, printed, reprinted and will stay forever in the world since it was delivered by the Prophet 14 centuries ago.
At least, two million Muslims from around the world every year stand at the same mountain of Arafat in Makkah and they remember the Prophet’s last sermon and its universal values.

Significance of the Write-up

The religion of Islam is greatly misunderstood all over the world. The Muslims images, especially in the west, are stereotyped with terrorism and backwardness. Interpreting, analyzing and understanding the last sermon of the Prophet will correct the misunderstanding and introduce the religion of Islam with its valuable values and principles to the Non-Muslims. The values mentioned in the last sermon of the prophet, if applied, would be a public and private policy. A way of life, everyone would enjoy and live in peace with each other regardless their different backgrounds, colors or ethnicities.

Universality of the Speech

The Prophet directs his speech to all humankind. He used the terminology “O Men’’ ones. In the farewell address, the Prophet’s intention was to address all people regardless their religions, colors or times. His message was and still is to every person everywhere in the world.
The Qur’an says, what can be translated as: “We have not sent you but as a universal (Messenger) to mankind, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most understand not.” (Q34:28).

After praising and thanking God, the Prophet began with the words:

“O People! Lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen carefully to what I am saying and take these words to those who could not be present here today.”

At the beginning of the sermon, the Prophet asked the people to pay close attention to what he was about to say. He demanded that his message to be delivered to all mankind, to be transformed and transported from place to place and from generation to generation. The task of doing that was laid upon the shoulder of those who were listening to him to deliver his message to all mankind.
One of the main businesses of the people at the time of the Prophet was commerce and trade. As they traveled from land to land, they delivered the message of Islam as they were dealing with people everywhere they’ve been to.

The Prophet continued:

“O people! Just as you regard this month, this day, this city as sacred, so regard the life and property of all 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.”

The Prophet gave examples with matters that the people at the gathering knew very well. Everyone knew how sacred “this month” Zul Hijja, this day “day of Arafa, “this city” city of Makkah is. Therefore, the life and property of people are sacred too. Sanctity of life has been declared by God in the Quran. People are to be protected and their lives are to be preserved. People have to be dignified, respected and honored. Their properties are to be protected and saved. The sanctity of life is to remain well preserved until the Day of Judgment.

The Prophet continued:

“God has forbidden you to take usury; therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequality. God has judged that there shall be no interest and that all interest due to Abbass Ibn ‘Al-Muttalib be waived.”

The concept of economic exploitation is totally prohibited in Islam. Since usury is a form of economic monopoly and exploitation in a capitalistic system, the rich will undoubtedly become richer, while the poor will automatically become poorer. The Prophet in his final and last sermon abolished all types of economic exploitation. Usury was declared to be prohibited and people are not to deal with it even if they have had agreement or contract with someone. Nobody is above the law. The uncle of the Prophet, Abbass Ibn ‘Aal-Muttalib, was to waive the usury that he was to receive like anybody else. There was no difference between relatives and non-relatives.

The Prophet continued:

“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-Harithiah”.

At the above statement, the Prophet declared the termination of Pagan Society laws. The laws ruled by the Pagan society were over, and they were terminated, abolished and replaced by the divine rules of God. Again, there was no exception, even when it was one of his relative.

The Prophet continued:

“O men! The unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calendar in order to make permissible that which God forbade, and to prohibit what God has made permissible. With God, the months are twelve in number. Four of them are holy, there are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumada and Sha’ban.”

The number of the months in the book of God is twelve since He created the universe. These months are solar or lunar. Both of which are of great importance to humans.
In surah Al-Tawbah, God says what can be translated as: “The number of months in the sight of God is twelve, So ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth….” (9:35).
God decided that there are four months in the year that are sacred. These months are Zul-Qidah, Zul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. Muslims are to observe their sacredness; no one has the right to change them or to temper with the calendar.

The Prophet continued:

“Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things”

The prophet instructed the humankind to worship the one true God, to obey Him and to follow His rules and regulations. He informed them that Satan has lost hope in making people to worship him, but he did not lose hope in diverting them from practicing the teachings of Islam. He will create animosity among people, and he will be able to divert their attention from the straight path. The prophet warned humankind from falling into the path of Satan.

The Prophet continued:

“O people, it is true that you have certain rights with regards to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under God’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 any one of whom you do not approve, as well never to be unchaste.”

The best declaration for women’s rights is spelled out in the farewell speech of the prophet. He demanded that husbands should treat their wives with kindness and gentleness. Men are to know that their women are not slaves, but friends and partners. Islam recognizes the duties and responsibilities of both partners, and hence, emphasizes that man is the head of the family. Both are needed and both are complementary to one another.

The Prophet continued:

“O people! Listen to me in earnest, worship God, observe your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford it.”

Here, the Prophet asked the people to listen to him in a very serious mental state. He talked to them about the five pillars of Islam:

1. Witnessing that there is no deity worthy of worship except the One true God. And Muhammad is God’s Messenger.
2. Performing the five daily prayers.
3. Fasting the month of Ramadan.
4. Giving Zakkat (0.025 of one’s real wealth) to the poor ones a year.
5. Performing Hajj to Makkah, at least once in a lifetime if it can be afforded.

The Prophet continued:

“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 deeds. 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 is given freely and willingly.”

The message the Prophet delivered included a very important concept, i.e, equality of mankind. People are equal in the sight of God and in front of the law. No one is better than other because of race or skin colour. The concept of equality is based on justice.
The only thing that makes one person better than another is piety and good deeds. However, no one can claim that he is more pious or even more righteous than the other, only God know this.

The Prophet continued:

“Do not therefore do injustice to yourselves. Remember that you will one day meet God and account for your deeds. So beware, do not go astray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.”

Islam prohibited transgression at all levels. Justice is the name of the game. The penalty will fall upon whoever commits injustice and transgresses his limits. God does not like those who commit injustice, and those who are transgressors. The Prophet asked people to stick to the right path at all times.

The Prophet continued:

“O People! No prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore O people, and understand words that I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and if you follow these you will never go astray.”

The prophet declared that neither a new religion nor a prophet from the one true God would come after him. Muslims are to be united only if they take the Qur’an of God and the Sunnah (Sayings, Deeds, actions) of the Prophet as their standards for their life activities. They will be guided by God; they will stay on the straight path. God demanded from the Muslims to obey Him and to obey His Prophet. In surah al-Imran, God says what can be translated as: “And obey God and the Apostle; that you may obtain mercy.”

The Prophet continued:

“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 listened to me directly.”

The Prophet made the attended people responsible for transmitting his words to others, place to place, generation to generation. The Prophet acknowledge that whoever would receive his words in a later time, might be more knowledgeable and understanding of the meaning of his words more than those that listened to him directly.

The Prophet continued:

“O God, be my witness, that I have conveyed your message to your people.”

As part of this sermon, the prophet recited to them a revelation from God, which he had just received, and which completed the Qur’an, for it was the last passage to be revealed:

“This day have I perfected for you your religion and fulfilled my favor unto you, and it hath been my good pleasure to choose Islam for you as your religion.”

The sermon was repeated sentence by sentence by Safwan’s brother Rabiah (RA), who had a powerful voice, at the request of the Prophet and he faithfully proclaimed to over 10,000 gathered on the occasion.

Towards the end of the sermon, the prophet asked:

“O people! Have I faithfully delivered unto you my message?”

A powerful murmur assents “O God! Yes!” arose from thousands of pilgrims and the vibrant words “Allahumma Na’am” rolled like thunder throughout the valley.

The Prophet then raised his forefinger and said:

“O God, bear witness that I have conveyed your message to your people.”


Reference:
1. Sakr 1998
2. Ali Zohery 2012