The Prophet's sermon at the Kaaba and general amnesty

The Prophet stood at the door of the Ka'ba after its cleansing, while the people of Mecca filled the mosque in rows awaiting his judgment over them; he addressed them in a comprehensive sermon that struck down the Jahiliyya's glories and blood-feuds, recited the verse of human equality, and proclaimed the general pardon in his famous words: "go — you are free" ¹.

The Prophet praised God, then said: "there is no god but God alone without partner; He has kept His promise, aided His servant and routed the Confederates alone. Behold — every glory, blood or property claimed is beneath these two feet of mine, except the keeping of the House and the watering of the pilgrims" ².

Then he set out the ruling on quasi-deliberate killing: "the slain by mistaken quasi-deliberate act — by whip and staff — has a blood-money made heavy: a hundred camels, forty of them with young in their bellies" ².

Then he said: "O company of Quraysh, God has taken from you the Jahiliyya's pride and its exulting in ancestors; mankind is from Adam, and Adam is from dust," and recited His word: "O mankind, We created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another; the noblest of you with God is the most God-fearing of you" ¹.

Then he said: "O company of Quraysh, what do you think I will do with you?" They said: good — a noble brother and a noble brother's son. He said: "go — you are free" ³. Then he called Uthman ibn Talha and returned the Ka'ba's key to him, saying: "here is your key, Uthman — today is a day of loyalty and fidelity" ³.