Table of Contents
Context of the Farewell Sermon
In the final year of his life, during the tenth year after the Hijrah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ performed his only Hajj after migration. This Hajj is known as Ḥajjat al-Wadāʿ, the Farewell Pilgrimage, because during it he delivered a sermon that summarized the core principles of Islam and indicated that his earthly mission was nearing completion.
He addressed an enormous crowd of Muslims who had gathered from all over Arabia. Many of them were seeing him for the first and last time. The sermon was delivered at ʿArafah and on other days of that Hajj, and multiple narrations combine to give us its main themes. The Prophet ﷺ emphasized that his message had been conveyed and that the religion was perfected.
On that day, a verse was revealed that Muslim scholars connect directly to this occasion:
“This day I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favor upon you, and have approved for you Islam as religion.”
Qur’an 5:3
This verse signals that the essential guidance for humanity was now complete and that no new religion or law would come after Islam.
Sanctity of Life, Property, and Honor
One of the clearest themes in the Farewell Sermon is the inviolability of human life, property, and honor among Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ drew a direct comparison with the most sacred times and places in Islam to make the point unforgettable. In an authentic narration, he said:
“Your blood, your property, and your honor are sacred to you, like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this land of yours.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
He spoke these words in the sacred month of Dhul-Ḥijjah, on the day of ʿArafah, in the sacred land of Makkah. This comparison teaches that it is a grave sin to shed Muslim blood unjustly, to steal or consume wealth unlawfully, or to attack a person’s reputation with slander or abuse.
The Qur’an confirms the seriousness of murder and injustice:
“And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.”
Qur’an 4:93
Respect for life, property, and honor is not optional courtesy, it is a central pillar of the social order that Islam establishes.
In the Farewell Sermon the Prophet ﷺ made it clear that the life, wealth, and honor of every Muslim are inviolable and must never be violated without right.
Ending Pre‑Islamic Injustice and Tribal Pride
The Prophet ﷺ announced in his sermon that all forms of oppression and unjust practices rooted in the pre‑Islamic era of ignorance, called Jāhiliyyah, were to be abolished. This included unjust blood feuds and the system of retaliations and interest that families and tribes had built up over generations.
In one narration he said:
“All matters of the Days of Ignorance are under my foot, completely abolished. The blood feuds of the Days of Ignorance are abolished, and the first blood I abolish is that of Rabīʿah ibn al-Ḥārith... And the usury of the Days of Ignorance is abolished, and the first usury I abolish is the usury of al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
By canceling the claims of his own family first, the Prophet ﷺ showed that justice in Islam is universal and not biased toward relatives or powerful clans. No one is above the law of Allah.
The sermon also attacked the arrogance of tribal pride and lineage as a basis for superiority. The Prophet ﷺ declared:
“O people, indeed your Lord is one and your father is one. All of you are from Adam, and Adam is from dust. There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor of a non-Arab over an Arab, nor of a white over a black, nor of a black over a white, except by taqwā (piety).”
Musnad Aḥmad
This principle flows from the Qur’an:
“O mankind, indeed We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Aware.”
Qur’an 49:13
The Farewell Sermon thus marks a clear break with racial, tribal, and class-based arrogance and replaces it with a single standard, the awareness and fear of Allah called taqwā.
The Farewell Sermon abolished all unjust customs of Jāhiliyyah, including blood feuds, usury, and racial or tribal superiority. In Islam, true nobility is only by taqwā.
Absolute Prohibition of Usury (Ribā)
While details of financial dealings appear in Islamic law elsewhere, the Farewell Sermon singled out usury, ribā, for emphatic abolition. The Prophet ﷺ declared that all existing ribā from the pre‑Islamic period was canceled.
The Qur’an had already warned of the severity of this sin:
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of usury, if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal, [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.”
Qur’an 2:278–279
By announcing in such a public setting that the usurious claims of his own uncle, al-ʿAbbās, were now void, the Prophet ﷺ taught that economic justice is not a marginal issue. It is a central moral instruction of Islam, necessary for a fair and compassionate society.
Restoring Women’s Rights and Mutual Responsibilities in Marriage
The Farewell Sermon gave special attention to the rights of women and the responsibilities of men. This is significant because women had often been oppressed and treated as property in the pre‑Islamic era. The Prophet ﷺ addressed the large crowd and said, in an authentic narration:
“Fear Allah regarding women, for you have taken them as a trust from Allah, and you have made their private parts lawful by the word of Allah.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
He explained that wives have rights over husbands, and husbands have rights over wives, and that Allah will ask each person about how they fulfilled the trust of marriage. The Qur’an supports this with the principle of mutuality:
“And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable, but the men have a degree over them. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
Qur’an 2:228
The Prophet ﷺ commanded good treatment of women and warned against injustice towards them:
“Treat women well, for they are your partners and helpers.”
Reported with similar wording in Sunan al-Tirmidhī
The Farewell Sermon does not go into every detail of family law, but it establishes the foundational attitude, that marriage is a trust, women are to be honored and protected, and family life must be guided by taqwā and mutual consideration, not by oppression or selfishness.
In the Farewell Sermon, the Prophet ﷺ commanded the believers to fear Allah regarding women and to recognize marriage as a sacred trust from Allah.
Brotherhood of the Ummah and Equality of All Muslims
A strong theme in the Farewell Sermon is the unity of the Muslim community and the obligation to see one another as brothers and sisters in faith. The Prophet ﷺ described the relationships among Muslims in terms of brotherhood and prohibited any action that would destroy this bond.
He said:
“The believer is the brother of the believer, so it is not lawful for a Muslim to take from his brother anything except with his willing consent.”
Part of the Farewell Sermon, reported in Sunan Ibn Mājah
In other narrations of the sermon, he removed the distinctions of lineage as a basis for status, as already mentioned, and tied everyone together under the single banner of Islam. This brotherhood is rooted in the Qur’anic principle:
“The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.”
Qur’an 49:10
In the Farewell Sermon, this idea is not presented in abstract terms only. It is connected to practical obligations, such as not transgressing against the wealth, life, or honor of one’s brother, and ensuring that no one is exploited or humiliated. Each believer is responsible before Allah for how he or she treats others.
Returning Trusts and Avoiding Oppression
The Prophet ﷺ in his sermon reemphasized one of the major moral teachings of Islam, the obligation to return trusts and to avoid any form of oppression. He said:
“So return the trusts to those who entrusted them to you, and do not wrong one another, for indeed your blood and your wealth are sacred...”
Part of the Farewell Sermon, reported in Sunan al-Tirmidhī and others
Trust, amānah, is a broad concept in Islam. It includes entrusted property, responsibilities, positions of authority, and even the knowledge and guidance that one carries. The Farewell Sermon called every Muslim to be conscious that Allah will ask about these trusts.
The Qur’an affirms this principle:
“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice.”
Qur’an 4:58
The sermon therefore reminded the audience that building a just society begins with personal integrity and honesty, not only with large public rules.
Returning trusts and avoiding all forms of oppression are non‑negotiable duties in Islam, and the Farewell Sermon renewed this command in front of the entire Ummah.
Holding Fast to the Qur’an and Sunnah
Toward the end of his sermon, the Prophet ﷺ told the people what would protect them from going astray after his death. He directed the community to cling firmly to the revelation of Allah and his own prophetic example. In an authentic narration, he said:
“I have left among you something which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray, the Book of Allah.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
In other narrations that explain the wider context of his advice to the Ummah, the Sunnah is also mentioned together with the Qur’an. The essential idea in the farewell message is that guidance is now complete and the community will only remain guided if it follows the revealed sources faithfully.
The Qur’an confirms the role of the Prophet ﷺ and his Sunnah as guidance:
“And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.”
Qur’an 59:7
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.”
Qur’an 33:21
The Farewell Sermon did not invite people to follow their desires after his passing, but rather to remain attached to revelation and the prophetic model in belief, worship, and character.
The Prophet ﷺ declared in his Farewell Sermon that clinging firmly to the Book of Allah, and to his Sunnah as explained in other authentic reports, is the protection from misguidance after him.
Bearing Witness That the Message Was Conveyed
Near the end of the sermon, the Prophet ﷺ emphasized that he had conveyed the message entrusted to him by Allah. He then asked the enormous crowd to bear witness to this fact.
In a well known narration he said:
“You will be asked about me, so what will you say?” They said, “We bear witness that you have conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, and given sincere advice.” So he raised his finger to the sky and then pointed it at the people and said, “O Allah, bear witness. O Allah, bear witness. O Allah, bear witness.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
By saying this, the Prophet ﷺ closed his mission among the people. The meaning is that no one can claim that guidance was incomplete or unclear. The responsibility now rests on the Ummah to preserve, learn, and convey what he brought, and on each individual to respond to this guidance with faith and obedience.
The Qur’an had already indicated that the role of the Messenger ﷺ is to convey clearly:
“O Messenger, convey that which has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people...”
Qur’an 5:67
And also:
“And We have not sent you except as a bringer of good tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most of the people do not know.”
Qur’an 34:28
The Farewell Sermon, therefore, stands as one of the final public affirmations that this task of tablīgh, clear conveyance, had been fully completed.
Warning Against Returning to Disbelief and Division
Another essential element of the sermon is a strong warning about what might happen after the death of the Prophet ﷺ. He cautioned the Muslims not to turn back to patterns of disbelief and violence. In one narration he said:
“Do not turn back after me as disbelievers, striking the necks of one another.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
The word “disbelievers” here, as explained by scholars, emphasizes that killing one another unjustly and abandoning the moral limits of Islam resembles the ways of disbelief and can lead a person to destruction.
The sermon, therefore, was not only a celebration of the completion of the religion, it was also a serious warning. The Muslims were told that unity, justice, and peace are fragile if believers ignore the commands of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ and fall into envy, hatred, and warfare.
The Qur’an similarly warns against division after guidance has come:
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not be divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you, when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it...”
Qur’an 3:103
The Farewell Sermon placed the responsibility for maintaining unity and avoiding bloodshed squarely on each generation of Muslims that would come afterward.
The Farewell Nature of the Sermon
The companions understood that this sermon was not like other sermons. It had a farewell tone, and its content showed that the mission was reaching completion. Shortly after the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet ﷺ would pass away, as will be discussed in the relevant chapter.
The Prophet ﷺ indicated that he might not meet the people again in such a gathering. According to narrations about the sermon he said:
“Perhaps I will not meet you again after this year in this place of mine.”
Reported in Sunan Abī Dāwūd and others
For the listeners, these words carried deep emotional weight. They knew that they were hearing a summary of the essential teachings of Islam from the very tongue of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ, perhaps for the last time.
This also matches the verse of completion revealed that day:
“This day I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favor upon you, and have approved for you Islam as religion.”
Qur’an 5:3
The farewell nature of the sermon teaches Muslims that they now live in the period after the completion of revelation. No new prophet will come, no new scripture will be sent, and no new fundamental law will be revealed. The task is now preservation, understanding, and practice.
The Farewell Sermon summarized the core principles of Islam at the end of the Prophet’s life, confirmed that the religion had been perfected, and signaled that no new revelation or prophet would come after him.
The Lasting Legacy of the Farewell Sermon
For absolute beginners learning about Islam, the Farewell Sermon is a concise mirror of the religion’s main social and moral teachings at the completion of revelation. It highlighted the following central themes without going into every legal detail:
The sacredness of life, wealth, and honor among Muslims.
The abolition of pre‑Islamic injustices, including blood feuds and usury.
The equality of human beings, rejecting racial and tribal superiority.
The rights of women and the mutual responsibilities of spouses.
The sanctity of trusts and the prohibition of all forms of oppression.
The unity and brotherhood of the Muslim community under taqwā.
The duty to cling to the Qur’an and the prophetic Sunnah.
The confirmation that the message had been fully conveyed.
The warning against returning to disbelief, injustice, and internal killing.
These themes rest on revelation, and they are not based on passing cultural values. They are rooted in the Qur’an and in the lived practice and speech of the final Messenger ﷺ. Later chapters will expand on specific areas such as law, worship, and character, but the Farewell Sermon remains a unique, final public summary of what Islam came to establish among people.
By studying this sermon, a person can see not only what Islam commands, but also the deep concern of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for justice, mercy, and guidance for all humanity as his mission came to its earthly conclusion.