The Life of the Prophet Muhammad

The Farewell Pilgrimage

The Prophet (pbuh) had become the most powerful leader in the whole ofArabia. After the idols in the Ka'bah had been smashed and Quraysh hadbecome Muslim, most of the other tribes of Arabia came to declare theirIslam. The year in which they came was later to be called the Year ofDeputations. As each tribe joined Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)sent his men to teach them about their new religion. Many people alsocame to Medinah to question the Prophet (pbuh) himself. One tribe sent aman called Dimam, who was large and strong. On arriving in Medinah,he went straight to the mosque, where the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) wassitting with some of his companions, and stood over the Prophet (pbuh).In a loud, rough voice he asked, 'Which of you is the son of 'Abd alMuttalib?' When the Prophet (pbuh) answered him Dimam went on, 'I amgoing to ask you a hard question, so do not misunderstand me. I ask youto swear by Allah, your Allah, the Allah of those before you and theAllah of those who will come after you, has He sent you to us as amessenger?' 'Yes, He has', replied the Prophet (pbuh). 'Has Allahinstructed you to order us to serve Him; to pray these five prayers; to payalms; to fast; to make the pilgrimage and to follow the other laws ofIslam)?' continued Dimam. When the Prophet (pbuh) answered that Allahhad indeed instructed him in this way, Dimam became a Muslim and, ashe left, added, 'Then I will do the things we are told to do and avoid thethings we are forbidden-no more and no less.' As Dimam mounted hiscamel to leave, the Prophet(pbuh) told the people around him, 'If this manis sincere, he will go to Paradise.' When Dimam reached his people theyall thought he had gone mad but by nightfall, after he had finishedspeaking, there was not among them that had not accepted Islam. 

When the time came for the yearly pilgrimage, it was proclaimed thatthe prophet (pbuh) would be going to Mecca. The Muslims flocked toMedinah from all over Arabia to join him on his journey to the Ka‟bah.As the tribes arrived they camped around the city until they finallynumbered more than thirty thousand. 

The Prophet (pbuh) went out with his family and friends topilgrimage, but before setting off, he led all the Muslims in prayer. Afterthe prayers, the Prophet (pbuh) got on his camel and headed towardsMecca followed by the pilgrims, all of whom, for the first time incenturies, worshipped Allah, the One God. The Prophet (pbuh) and hiscompanions were deeply moved by the sight of the huge number ofMuslims accompanying them to Mecca, carrying no arms, and fearing noone. They could not help but remember their original flight from Meccawhen they had been so few in number and were forced to leave in order to avoid the anger of Quraysh. Throughout the journey, the Muslimsrepeated a prayer taught to them by the Prophet (pbuh) which he, in turn, had received from the Archangel Gabriel. This prayer, the talbiyah, hasbeen part of the Hajj ritual ever since. It is in answer to the call Abrahamwas commanded to make when he and Ishmael finished building theKa'bah. 

Labaik Allahumma labaik, labaik la sharika laka labaik in alhamd wa al-ni'amatu laka wal-mulk, la sharika laka. Here I am, OAllah, at Thy service. Here I am, Thou art without a partner, here I am. AllPraise and blessings are thine, and Dominion! Thou art without a partner! 

After ten days the pilgrims marched at sunset through the same passby which they had entered on the Day of Conquest of Mecca. When theyreached the Ka'bah, the Prophet (pbuh) stood before it in prayer, then heand all the Muslims walked around it seven times saying their prayeraloud. Next, just as Abraham had done, they went towards the Mount ofMercy at 'Arafah, which the Prophet (pbuh) ascended on a camel. Fromthe mountain, he led the people in prayer and then spoke to them as theystood assembled on the vast plain below. 

What the Prophet (pbuh) said is known as the Farewell Sermon‟,because it was the last speech the Prophet (pbuh) made before he died. Hesaid, 'surely you will meet your Lord and He will question you about yourworks.' He asked the Muslims to take their guidance from the Qur'an andfrom his own example. This, he said, was the best way to live. He orderedthem 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 whichpreviously were forbidden during the four sacred months of the year werenow forbidden at all times. He then commanded, 'Know that everyMuslim is a Muslim's brother', which was a completely new idea to thetribes who had so often quarreled in the past. He also said, 'Allah hasgiven everyone his due-exactly what each one deserves. After each pointthe Prophet (pbuh) asked, 'Have I explained it well? Is it perfectly clear?'Everyone answered, 'Yes.' For these were the people who would have topass on the Prophet's message and instructions to those who were unableto be present that day and to future generations. The Prophet (pbuh) 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.' He then asked,'Have I not conveyed the message?' The multitude shouted out, 'By Allah,yes!' The Prophet (pbuh) ended, '0 Allah! Bear witness to that.' 

"... 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 perfectedyour religion, for you, and I have completed My favor unto you, and havechosen for you as a religion AL-ISLAM". (Qur'an 5.3) Many Muslimsstarted to shed tears, knowing that if the Prophet (pbuh) had completedhis message, his life must be near its end. 

After spending the rest of the day of Arafah in prayer andcontemplation, the Muslims began to complete the pilgrimage byreturning to Mecca with the talbiyah prayer still on their lips. The firstnight of the return journey was spent at Muzdalifah. Here they gatheredpebbles, which they carried with them the next day to Mina. There theystood before a huge rock and stoned it in remembrance of Abraham'smeeting with the Devil in that very place. When Abraham received theorder from Allah to sacrifice his son Ishmael as a test of his faith, theDevil had tried to convince him not to do it. He came to Abraham atMina, as he was on his way to carry out Allah's command, but Abrahamtook some stones and hurled them at the Devil to drive him away sincethe casting of stones at Mina on the Prophet's 'Farewell Pilgrimage', thishas become another ritual which Muslims perform on the annualpilgrimage to remind them that they, too, must continue to drive the Devilaway when he tries to prevent them from being obedient to Allah. Afterthrowing the stones, the pilgrims sacrificed sheep and camels and gavethe meat to the poor. In this way the great faith of Abraham wasremembered, for when he had been ready to sacrifice Ishmael, Allah hadsent a sheep in his place. The Muslims then completed the pilgrimage byagain circling the Ka'bah seven times. They then cut their hair and nailsand changed out of their white clothes to show they had returned to theirdaily lives. Before returning to Medinah, the Muslims spent three nightsin the valley at Medinah where the final preparations were made for thejourney home. 

As for the Prophet (pbuh), he made one final visit before leavingMecca. This was to the grave of his devoted wife, Khadijah, who hadbeen the first person to believe in Allah's Revelation through him. TheProphet (pbuh) knew that this would be the last time he would see thegrave, or Mecca, because during the pilgrimage he had received thechapter of the Qur'an called 'Help', form which he knew that his deathwas not far away

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful 

"When Allah's help and triumph comes And thou seest, mankindentering the religion of Allah in troops, Then hymn the praises of thyLord, and seek forgiveness of Him. Lo! He is ever ready to show mercy".(Qur'an 110.1-3)