- Farewell Hajj
- Farewell Speech
- The contents of speech
- The last expedition
In the tenth year Hijra, the Prophet ﷺ wanted to perform Haj with his followers. He proceeded to Makah in the last week of Dhul Qa’ada. He arrived at the Dhul Hulaifah[1] before the afternoon prayer and performed Ihram from there. It took eight days to reach Makah. Once he arrived at Makah he performed Umrah and kept on Ihram status until the Haj pilgrimage because he intended to perform both Umrah and Haj in one intention. He had brought the slaughter animal. As for those who didn’t bring the animal he asked them to break the status of Ihram.
On the eighth day of Dhul Haj, he started performing the haj rituals. During these days, he delivered speech several times. His speech in Arafah[2] and on the day of Eid (10th Dhul Haj) is reported in several hadith books. This speech is called Farewell Speech.
Farewell speech:
He indicated to his death in his speech:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ! اسْمَعُوا مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ ، فَإِنِّي لا أَدْرِي لَعَلِّي لا أَلْقَاكُمْ بَعْدَ عَامِي هَذَا فِي هَذَا الْمَوْقِفِِ [3]
O, people! Listen to what I say. I do not know whether I will ever meet you at this place once again after this current year.
He advised to give due respect to women:
اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ فِي النِّسَاءِ فَإِنَّكُمْ أَخَذْتُمُوهُنَّ بِأَمَانَةِ اللَّهِ وَاسْتَحْلَلْتُمْ فُرُوجَهُنَّ بِكَلِمَةِ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَنْ لاَ يُوطِئْنَ فُرُشَكُمْ أَحَدًا تَكْرَهُونَهُ فَإِنْ فَعَلْنَ فَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ضَرْبًا غَيْرَ مُبَرِّحٍ وَلَهُنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِِ[4]
O people! Fear Allâh concerning women. Verily you have taken them on the security of Allâh and have made their persons lawful unto you by Words of Allâh! It is obligatory upon them to honour their marital rights and, not to commit acts of impropriety which, if they do, you have authority to chastise them, yet not severely. You are responsible for providing them with food and clothing in a fitting manner..”
He ordered his people to adhere to the Quran:
[1] Dhul Hulaifah (ذو الحليفة) is about 8 K.M away from Madeenah.
[2] Arafat(عرفة) is large ground 20 km southeast of Makah.
[3] Baihaqi, Dalaail An Nubuwah 2192
[4] Abu Dawood 1905
This is excerpts from the book A Student’s Book to Study the Biography of The Prophet Muhammad by Abdu Shaheed Azhary. To download the full chapter click the below link. Buy the digital copy of the book from Amazon or the printed edition from Here