The Farewell Sermon

The Farewell Sermon the Prophet delivered at Arafat on 9 Dhu al-Hijja 10 AH, repeating its sentences on the Day of Sacrifice at Mina; it is the fullest text attributed to him in the field of rights and rites ¹.

The Prophet opened it: "O people, hear my words, for I do not know — perhaps I shall not meet you after this year of mine at this station ever again" ². In it came: "Your blood and your wealth are inviolable to you as the inviolability of this day of yours in this month of yours in this town of yours" ³. In it he laid down every matter of the Jahiliyya — its blood-wrongs and its usury — beginning with the blood of Ibn Rabi'a ibn al-Harith and the usury of al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib ³. He commended women: "Fear God regarding women, for you have taken them by God's trust" ⁴. He announced he had left among them that which, if they held to it — God's Book — they would never stray; and that there is no prophet after him and no umma after them ⁵. He closed with the people's testimony to the delivery, raising his forefinger to heaven: "O God, bear witness" — thrice ⁵. He repeated on the Day of Sacrifice at Mina, in a second sermon on a grey mule: "Time has turned full circle to its form the day God created the heavens and the earth"; the inviolability of blood, wealth and honour; and that a wrongdoer wrongs only himself ⁶.