Bidding His Ummah Farewell - His Final Recommendations - I

Bidding His Ummah Farewell - His Final Recommendations - I

1- Proclaiming Hajj to the people

After the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), had conveyed the message perfectly, discharged his trust faithfully, advised the Ummah (Muslim nation) and done his utmost in Jihaad, he announced and proclaimed to the people that he would set out for Hajj in the tenth year. The Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), did so after spending nine years in Madeenah which were full of Jihaad, Dawah (propagation) and teaching. By this proclamation he intended to inform people about the obligation of Hajj so that they would learn the rituals from him, and witness his words, deeds and instructions. He advised those who were present to inform those who are absent so that the Da‘wah of Islam would be spread and reach all people, whether near or far. Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
The Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) stayed in Madeenah for nine years without performing Hajj, then he made a public announcement in the tenth year that he was about to perform Hajj. A large number of people came to Madeenah and were all anxious to follow the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) and do whatever he would do. When his she-camel stood erect with him on its back at Al-Baydaa’, I looked as far as I could see in front of me and saw nothing but people riding and walking, and also on his right and on his left and behind him were like this. The Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was among us and he was receiving the [revelation of the] Quran and he knew its true interpretation. Whatever he did, we also did the same…until he reached ‘Arafah. There he found a tent that was pitched for him at Namirah, so he stayed therein.
2- His farewell and his final instructions to his Ummah on the Day of ‘Arafaat
Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
There he got down until the sun was about to set; he commanded that Al-Qaswaa’ [his camel] should be brought and saddled for him. Then, he came to the bottom of the valley, and addressed the people saying:“Indeed, your blood and your property are as sacred and inviolable as the sacredness of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this land of yours. Behold! Everything pertaining to Jaahiliyyah [pre-Islamic ignorance] is under my feet, completely abolished. Abolished are also the blood-revenges of Jaahiliyyah. The first claim of ours on blood-revenge which I abolish is that of Ibn Rabee‘ah ibn Al-Haarith, who was nursed among the tribe of the Sa‘d and killed by the Huthayl. The Riba [usury, interest] of Jaahiliyyah is also abolished, and the first of our Riba that I abolish is that of ‘Abbaas ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib, for it is all abolished. Fear Allah concerning women! Indeed, you took them on the security of Allah and had intercourse with them that has been made lawful to you by the words of Allah. You too have rights over them that they should not allow anyone whom you dislike to enter your home. If they do that, you may strike them, but not severely. Their rights over you are that you should provide them with food and clothing according to what is acceptable. I have left for you the Book of Allah, and if you hold fast to it, you would never go astray. You will be asked about me [on the Day of Resurrection], [now tell me] what will you say?”People said, “We will bear witness that you have conveyed [the message], fulfilled [the mission of prophethood] and given wise [sincere] counsel.” He [the narrator] said, “He [the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention )] then raised his forefinger towards the sky and pointing it at the people [said],‘O Allah, bear witness. O Allah, bear witness.’He said it thrice.”[Muslim]
This speech was attended by an innumerable amount of people. It was said that they were one hundred and thirty thousand.
On the day of ‘Arafah, which was on a Friday, the verse (what means): {This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion}[Quran 5:3] was revealed to the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ). [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The perfection of the religion is one of the greatest favors of Allah upon this Ummah for they will never need any other religion or any prophet other than theirs. Hence, Allah The Almighty made him the final Prophet and sent him to the jinn and mankind. There is nothing lawful or unlawful other than what he stated. There is no other true religion other than what he legislated. Everything that he said is true and indisputable. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice.}[Quran 6:115] This means true in terms of news and just in terms of orders and prohibitions. When Allah The Almighty perfected the religion for them, His favor upon them was completed.
It was mentioned that ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, cried when this verse was revealed on the day of ‘Arafah. When he was asked about the reason for his tears, he said, “I cried because our religion was in increase. If it is perfected, then, nothing is perfected unless it becomes subjected to decrease.” It seems from his words that he was expecting the imminent departure of the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), from this worldly life.
3 - His farewell and final instructions to his Ummah at the places of casting pebbles Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I saw the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) on the day of An-Nahr riding his camel and saying: Learn your rituals from me, for I do not know whether I will perform [another] Hajj after this one.’ [Muslim]
In a Hadeeth on the authority of Umm Al-Husayn, may Allah be pleased with her, she said: “I performed Hajj along with the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) and I saw him when he threw the pebbles at Jamrat al-'Aqabah and returned while he was riding his camel, and Bilaal and Usaamah were with him. The Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said many things, and I heard him saying:If a black slave who has some of his limbs missing is appointed to govern you according to the Book of Allah The Exalted, listen to him and obey him.’ [Muslim]
4 - His final instructions and farewell to his Ummah on the Day of An-Nahr (slaughtering sacrifice)
In a Hadeeth on the authority of Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him, he said,
The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) sat on his camel and someone held the camel’s rein. Then, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) delivered a sermon to us, saying:Do you know which day this is?”We said, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” He remained silent until we thought that he would give that day another name. He said: “Is it not the Day of An-Nahr?”We said, “It is, O Messenger of Allah.” He then asked:“Do you know which month this is?” We said, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” He remained silent until we thought that he would give it another name. He then said:Is it not the month of Thul-Hijjah?” We replied, “Yes it is, O Messenger of Allah.” He then asked:Do you know what land this is?” We replied, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” He remained silent until we thought that he would give it another name. He then said:“Is it not the Sacred land [of Makkah]?”We said,“Yes it is, O Messenger of Allah.”He said:“Indeed, your blood, your properties, your honor and your skin are sacred and inviolable like the sacredness of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this land of yours. You will meet your Lord and He will ask you about your deeds. So do not be disbelievers after me by striking the necks [cutting the throats] of one another. Let those who are present convey it [this information] to those who are absent [perhaps the one to whom the information is conveyed understands it better than the one who heard it]. Have I not conveyed the [message]?”Then, he sacrificed two black and white rams. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “By the One in whose Hand my soul is; it is his advice [instructions] to his Ummah. Let the present convey it to the absent.” [Al-Bukhari]
His silence after each question was meant to capture their attention and make them feel the significance of the words that he was about to utter.
In a Hadeeth on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, he said, “The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) stood on the Day of An-Nahr between the places for casting pebbles and said: This is the day of the great Hajj’ and he began saying: ‘O Allah, Bear witness.’ He then bade people farewell. They said, ‘This is the farewell Hajj.’” [Al-Bukhari]
Allah The Almighty enabled all the pilgrims to hear this Khutbah (sermon) of the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), at Mina on the Day of An-Nahr. This was one of his miracles - that Allah The Almighty blessed the hearing of these people such that all of them, the far and the near, heard it - even those at their homes heard it. In a Hadeeth on the authority of ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Mu‘aath At-Taymi, may Allah be pleased with him, he said, “The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) addressed us at Mina and we were granted excellent hearing to the extent that we could hear what he was saying while we were in our homes.” [Abu Daawood, Al-Albaani - Saheeh]

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) Bidding his Ummah Farewell and his Final Recommendations-II

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