PROPHET MOHAMMAD's FINAL SERMON

The Final Sermon:
After praising, and thanking
God, the Prophet, may God send
His praises upon him said:
“O People, lend me an
attentive ear, for I know not
whether after this year, I shall
ever be amongst you again.
Therefore, listen to what I am
saying to you very carefully and
take these words to those who
could not be present here today.
O People, just as you regard
this month, this day, this city as
Sacred, so regard the life and
property of every Muslim as 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. God has
forbidden you to take usury
(interest), therefore all interest
obligation shall henceforth be
waived. Your capital, however, is
yours to keep. You will neither
inflict nor suffer any inequity.
God has Judged that there shall
be no interest, and that all the
interest due to Abbas ibn Abd’al
Muttalib shall henceforth be
waived...
Beware of Satan, for the
safety of your religion. He has
lost all hope that he will ever be
able to lead you astray in big
things, so beware of following
him in small things.
O People, it is true that you
have certain rights with regard to
your women, but they also have
rights over you. Remember that
you have taken them as your
wives only under a trust from
God 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 as never to be
unchaste.
O People, listen to me in
earnest, worship God, perform
your five daily prayers, fast
during the month of Ramadan,
and offer Zakat. Perform Hajj if
you have the means.
All mankind is from Adam
and Eve. An Arab has no
superiority over a non-Arab, nor
does a non-Arab have any
superiority over an Arab; white
has no superiority over black,
nor does a black have any
superiority over white; [none
have superiority over another]
except by piety and good action.
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 was given freely and
willingly. Do not, therefore, do
injustice to yourselves.
Remember, one day you will
appear before God and answer
for your deeds. So beware, do
not stray from the path of
righteousness after I am gone.
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
which I convey to you. I leave
behind me two things, the Quran
and my example, the Sunnah,
and if you follow these you will
never go astray.
All those who listen to me
shall pass on my words to others
and those to others again; and it
may be that the last ones
understand my words better
than those who listen to me
directly. Be my witness, O God,
that I have conveyed your
message to your people.”
Thus the beloved Prophet
completed his Final Sermon, and
upon it, near the summit of
Arafat, the revelation came
down:
“…This day have I perfected
your religion for you,
completed My Grace upon
you, and have chosen Islam
for you as your
religion…” (Quran 5:3)
Even today the Last Sermon
of Prophet Muhammad is passed
to every Muslim in every corner
of the word through all possible
means of communication.
Muslims are reminded about it in
mosques and in lectures. Indeed
the meanings found in this
sermon are indeed astounding,
touching upon some of the most
important rights God has over
humanity, and humanity has
over each other. Though the
Prophet’s soul has left this world,
his words are still living in our