The Life of The Prophet Muhammad

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

by Leila Azzam and Aisha Gouverneur

From the mountain he led the people in prayer and then spoke to them as they stood assembled on the vast plain below. What the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said is known as the ‘Farewell Sermon’, because it was the last speech the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) made before he died. He said, ‘Surely you will meet your Lord and He will question you about your works. ‘ He asked the Muslims to take their guidance from the Koran and from his own example. This, he said, was the best way to live. He ordered them to cease living in the way they had before Islam. Revenge, one of the oldest traditions in Arabia, was ended forever; usury was prohibited; property was to be respected. Things which previously were forbidden during the four sacred months of the year were now forbidden at all times. He then commanded, ‘Know that every Muslim is a Muslim ’s brother’, which was a completely new idea to the tribes who had so often quarreled in the past. He also said, ‘Allah has given everyone his due–exactly what each one deserves.’ After each point the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) asked, ‘Have I explained it well? Is it perfectly clear?’

Everyone answered, ‘Yes. ‘ For these were the people who would have to pass on the Prophet’s message and instructions to those who were unable to be present that day and to future generations. The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said, ‘I have left you two things. If you hold on to them you will be saved. They are Allah’s Book and the words of your Prophet (p.b.u.h.)’ He then asked, ‘Have I not conveyed the message?’

The multitude shouted out, ‘By Allah, yes!’ The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) ended, ‘0 Allah! Bear witness to that.’

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

. . . This day those who disbelieve are in despair of (ever harming) your religion; so do not fear them, but fear Me! This day I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My favor unto you, and have chosen for you as a religion AL-ISLAM . . . (Koran v.3)

Many Muslims started to shed tears, knowing that if the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) had completed his message, his life must be near its end.

After spending the rest of the ‘Day of ‘Arafah’ in prayer and contemplation, the Muslims began to complete the pilgrimage by returning to Mecca with the talbiyah prayer still on their lips. The first night of the return journey was spent at Muzdalifah. Here they gathered pebbles, which they carried with them the next day to Mina. There they stood before a huge rock and stoned it in remembrance of Abraham ’s meeting with the Devil in that very place. When Abraham received the order from Allah to sacrifice his son Ishmael as a test of his faith, the Devil had tried to convince him not to do it. He came to Abraham at Mina, as he was on his way to carry out Allah’s command, but Abraham took some stones and hurled them at the Devil to drive him away. Since the casting of stones at Mina on the Prophet’s ‘Farewell Pilgrimage’, this has become another ritual which Muslims perform on the annual pilgrimage to remind them that they, too, must continue to drive the Devil away when he tries to prevent them from being obedient to Allah.

After throwing the stones, the pilgrims sacrificed sheep and camels and gave the meat to the poor. In this way the great faith of Abraham was remembered, for when he had been ready to sacrifice Ishmael, Allah had sent a sheep in his place. The Muslims then completed the pilgrimage by again circling the Ka’bah seven times. They then cut their hair and nails and changed out of their white clothes to show they had returned to their daily lives. Before returning to Medina, the Muslims spent three nights in the valley at Mina, where the final preparations were made for the journey home.

Arab News…    to be continued

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