The Farewell Sermon & Death of the Prophet ﷺ
حجة الوداع ووفاة النبي ﷺ
In his only Hajj, the Prophet ﷺ delivered the Farewell Sermon on Mount Arafat — a comprehensive charter of human rights and Islamic principles. Three months later, he passed away in Madinah. A whole religion had been completed.
The Account
The Only Hajj of the Prophet ﷺ
In the 10th year after Hijra, the Prophet ﷺ performed Hajj for the only time in his life as a prophet. He announced his intention to perform Hajj, and Muslims poured in from across Arabia — an estimated 100,000–124,000 companions performed Hajj with him.
This journey is called Hajjat al-Wada' — the Farewell Pilgrimage.
The Farewell Sermon — 9 Dhul Hijjah, 10 AH
On the plains of Arafat, the Prophet ﷺ delivered the most important address of his prophethood. Key points included:
On human dignity and rights: > "Your blood, your property, and your honour are as sacred as this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this city of yours."
On the abolition of pre-Islamic practices: > "Every claim of blood from the Days of Ignorance is cancelled... The first blood I cancel is that of Ibn Rabi'ah ibn al-Harith."
On women's rights: > "Fear Allah concerning women. You have taken them as a trust from Allah and made their bodies lawful through the word of Allah. You have rights over them, and they have rights over you."
On racial equality: > "O people — your Lord is one and your father is one. An Arab is not superior to a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab to an Arab. A red person is not superior to a black person, nor a black to a red person — except through taqwa (righteousness)."
On holding to the Quran and Sunnah: > "I leave among you two things. If you hold to them, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet."
The Final Revelation and Completion of Deen:
On this day, Allah revealed:
*"This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you and have approved Islam as your religion."* (Al-Ma'idah: 5:3)
The Prophet ﷺ asked the assembled companions: "Have I delivered the message?" They said: "Yes." He raised his finger to the sky and said: "O Allah, bear witness. O Allah, bear witness. O Allah, bear witness."
The Illness and Final Days
Shortly after returning to Madinah, in Safar 11 AH, the Prophet ﷺ began experiencing headaches and fever — signs of the illness that would lead to his death.
He requested to be nursed in Aisha's RA room during his illness. Despite his weakness, he continued leading prayers as long as he could. When he became too weak, he appointed Abu Bakr al-Siddiq RA to lead the prayers.
On his final days, he distributed his remaining possessions as sadaqah, manumitted his slaves, and advised his companions.
His final advice from the minbar: "Let no one die except that he is thinking well of Allah."
His Death — 12 Rabi' al-Awwal, 11 AH
On Monday, 12 Rabi' al-Awwal, 11 AH (8 June 632 CE), while resting with his head in Aisha's RA lap, the Prophet ﷺ looked at the congregants praying and smiled. Then he raised his gaze upward and said three times:
"Al-Rafiq al-A'la" — "The Highest Companion"
And passed away.
Umar ibn al-Khattab RA initially refused to believe it, threatening anyone who said the Prophet had died. Abu Bakr RA entered, uncovered the Prophet's ﷺ face, kissed his forehead, and said:
"You were noble in life and noble in death."
Then he addressed the crowd:
"Whoever worshipped Muhammad — Muhammad has died. Whoever worships Allah — Allah is Ever-Living and does not die."
He recited:
*"And Muhammad is no more than a messenger; the messengers before him have already died; if then he dies or is killed will you turn back upon your heels?"* (Al 'Imran: 144)
The Legacy
The Prophet ﷺ passed away at 63 years of age. He left behind: - The Quran — preserved to this day without a single letter changed - The Sunnah — transmitted through tens of thousands of companions - A community of believers that would carry his message to every corner of the earth - A complete way of life that addresses every domain of human existence
Hadith References
تَرَكْتُ فِيكُمْ أَمْرَيْنِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوا مَا تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِمَا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَسُنَّةَ نَبِيِّهِ
"The Prophet ﷺ said in the Farewell Sermon: "I have left among you two things; you will never go astray as long as you hold to them: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet.""
Relevance: The final testament of the Prophet ﷺ to his community — the two anchors of Islam
"Aisha RA narrated: The Prophet ﷺ died on my chest. I do not wrong anyone in that. He died in the turn it was my day, between my chest and my chin."
Relevance: The authentic account of the circumstances of his death
"The last words of the Prophet ﷺ that could be heard were: "No — with the Highest Companion... with the Highest Companion.""
Relevance: His final words — choosing the next life over this one
Scholar Views
"His death was consistent with his life — in the simplest of conditions, with nothing but the deen he had delivered complete. The words "Al-Rafiq al-A'la" tell us everything: he was given the choice between this world and the next, and he chose the next without hesitation."
Zad al-Ma'ad, Vol. 1, Chapter on His Death
"The verse Abu Bakr RA recited — Al 'Imran: 144 — had been revealed years earlier but its full weight was only felt when needed. This is a lesson in how the Quran is a living cure for the heart at every moment of need."
Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya, Vol. 5
"The Farewell Sermon is the most comprehensive statement of Islamic ethics ever delivered. It addresses blood, property, honour, race, gender, governance — in a single address on a single day. No political philosopher before or after has achieved its scope."
Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum, Final Chapter
Key Lessons
- ◆The Farewell Sermon declared principles 1,400 years ago that humanity is still struggling to implement
- ◆The completion of religion means Islam needs no addition or reform — it is complete as delivered
- ◆Abu Bakr RA's composure at the Prophet's ﷺ death, and his reminder about worshipping Allah alone, saved the community from fragmentation
- ◆The Prophet ﷺ spent his final days concerned for his community, not himself — a model of selfless leadership
- ◆His death is itself a lesson: the greatest human who ever lived, lying in a humble room, with no worldly possessions — completely fulfilled
Sources
- •Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum — Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri
- •Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya — Ibn Kathir
- •Zad al-Ma'ad — Ibn al-Qayyim
- •Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Maghazi
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