Episode 83: The Farewell Hajj
Announcement of Hajj:
By the tenth year of Hijrah, most of the Arabian Peninsula had accepted Islam, but many of them never had the opportunity to see the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The Prophet announced that he would be making Hajj in the tenth year of Hijrah and a large amount of Muslims from all over the Arabian Peninsula set out to accompany the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to Makkah.
The Prophet ﷺ left for Hajj in the month of Dhul-Qadah and stayed in the city for a few days before the Hajj season started.
Journey to Mina and Arafat:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went to Mina on the eighth of Dhul Hijjah along with his companions. There were over one hundred thousand Muslims who accompanied him.
The Prophet ﷺ went to the valley of Uranah (Wadi Uranah) to give his famous last Khutbah, which was an opportunity for him to reach out to all the Muslims.
This was the first time that so many Muslims had gathered in one place at the same time and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave his farewell Khutbah here.
The Farewell Sermon:
In the farewell speech, after praising Allah SWT, the Prophet ﷺ addressed his people and said: O people, listen to my words. I do not know whether I shall meet you again in this place after this year. This may be my last time where I am able to address a gathering in this place. Surely your blood, property and honour is sacred as the sacredness of this day of yours (Day of Arafat), just like this month of yours is sacred and just like this city of yours is sacred. Just like Makkah is sacred, and Dhul Hijjah is sacred and the day of Arafat is sacred, your blood is sacred. Do not spill the blood of each other. Your property is sacred, do not steal from each other. Your honour is sacred, do not slander one another.
The Prophet ﷺ continued: behold everything pertaining to the days of Jahiliyyah, they are under my feet (the blood revenges are abolished). The first claim on blood revenge which I abolish is that of Amr ibn Rabiah ibn al Harith ibn Al Muttalib (a member from his own family).
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then said: the usury and the days of Ribah from the times of Jahiliyyah were abolished and the first of the usury that I abolish is the usury of Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib.’ (the Prophet’s uncle)
The Prophet ﷺ continued: fear Allah concerning the women, verily you have taken them by the security of Allah SWT. And with them your relationship has been made halal by the words of Allah. You have a right over the women, that they should not allow anyone to enter your homes that you do not like. If they disobey you regarding this, you can chastise them. But the women also have rights upon the men. Their rights upon you is that you should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner.’
The Prophet ﷺ said: O people, surely the believers are brothers so it is not permissible to take the property or wealth of your brother unless he willingly gives it to you. Have I conveyed the Message? O Allah be my witness.’
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ continued: Do not go back to disbelief after me (after I pass away), striking the necks of one another (killing one another and spilling the blood of one another). Surely, I have left with you two things, and if you hold on to these two things, you will never go astray. The Quran and my Sunnah.
Upon concluding, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: have I conveyed the message? O Allah be my witness that I have conveyed the message. O people, your Lord is One and your father is one. All of you are from Adam and Adam is from dust. The most honourable amongst you is the man who has the most piety and taqwa. There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab except in taqwa.’ Have I conveyed the message? O Allah be my witness that I have conveyed the message.’
The people in the gathering replied: Yes, you have conveyed the message.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: let those who are present convey what I have said to those who are not here today.
After this speech, on the day of Arafat, Allah SWT revealed the verses: ‘On this day, I have perfected your religion for you and I have completed My favour unto you. I am pleased to give you Islam as your religion’. (Quran, 5:4)
On the day of Arafat in the tenth year of Hijrah, the religion of Islam was completed and this was an amazing day in the history of Islam.
An Incident That Occurred During the Caliph of Umar:
Years later, a Jewish man came to Umar ibn al-Khattab and said: you Muslims have a verse in your Book and if this verse was revealed to us, we would have made it as a Day of Eid (celebration).
Umar asked: what verse are you talking about?
The Jewish man replied with the verse from the Quran: ‘On this day, I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My favour unto you and I am pleased to give you Islam as your religion.’
When Umar ibn al-Khattab heard this, he laughed and told the Jew: I know exactly when this verse was revealed and exactly where this verse was revealed. It was revealed in Arafat, on the Day of Arafat, and the Day of Arafat is a holy and sacred day for us.
Return to Madinah:
After completing this Hajj, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ returned to Madinah.
Preparations of the Muslim Army:
In the month of Saffar in the eleventh year of Hijrah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ordered an army to be prepared under the leadership of Usamah ibn Zayd.
This army was to go to Al-Balqa in Palestine, where the Muslim army would confront the Christians from the tribe of Ghassanid.
Usamah ibn Zayd’s father, Zayd ibn Al-Haritha was martyred at the Battle of Mu’tah, and this was painful for the Prophet ﷺ as he was very beloved to him.
The Prophet sent the son of Zayd, to confront the Ghassanid and Usamah was only eighteen years old at the time.
This army consisted of some of the major companions (including Abu Bakr and Umar) but the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ still placed Usamah ibn Zayd in charge.
Visit to Baqi Graveyard:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said to one of his servants, Abu Muayhiba: I have been ordered to make Istighfar and ask Allah SWT for forgiveness for the people of Baqi.
When the Prophet ﷺ reached the graveyard of Baqi, he made Dua for the people who were buried there and asked Allah SWT to forgive them.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then said: now a lot of trials and tribulations are going to come to this Ummah one after another.
The Prophet ﷺ said regarding the people in their graves: Allah has favoured them and given them a blessing that they are buried instead of having to witness the trials and tribulations that are going to come.
The Choices Given to the Prophet:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told Abu Muayhiba: I have been given the keys of the treasures of this Dunya, and staying in this Dunya, living and not dying and then entering Jannah, or meeting my Lord, leaving this Dunya and meeting Allah and then entering Jannah. I have been given this choice.
Abu Muayhiba replied: May my father and my mother be sacrificed for you, choose the keys of the treasures of this Dunya and you will go to Jannah anyways, but stay with us.
The Prophet’s Choice:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied: No, Abu Muayhiba, Wallahi, I have already chosen to meet my Lord and go to Jannah and I have chosen to leave this Dunya.
Abu Muayhiba was saddened when he heard this.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was ready to leave this Dunya as he had completed his mission and conveyed the message of Islam.
The Beginning of the Final Illness:
Shortly after making this choice, he developed a severe headache after returning from the graveyard of Baqi.
The following morning, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ became ill and this illness would lead to his eventual death.