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| When the Prophet arrived at Mount Arafat he delivered what is known as his 'Final Sermon.' The text of this famous teaching can be found in mosques all over the world: | |||||||||
| " O people, listen carefully to what I say, for I do not know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Listen carefully, and report my words to those who cannot be here today. Regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust... Hurt no one, so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will reckon your deeds... You will neither inflict nor suffer injustice... Remember that you have rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with his permission... Treat them well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers... Worship Allah, say your five daily prayers; fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in zakah. Perform hajj, if you can afford to... An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab; a white man has no superiority over a black, nor a black over a white, except by piety and good deeds. Every Muslim is a brother to every other Muslim... No prophet or apostle will come after me, and no new faith will be born... I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and the Sunnah; if you follow these, you will never go astray." |
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| At the end he received his final revelation: | |||||||||
| "Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you; and I have approved Islam as your religion." [Surah 5:5] |
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| There was a silence, and then the voice of Bilal rose over the hushed enormous crowd, calling them to prayer. THE DEATH OF THE PROPHET When he returned to Madinah, the Prophet began making preparations for an expedition to the Syrian border, but he was already ill with a fever. He continued to attend and lead the prayers in the mosque as far as he was able, supported by Ali, and eventually requested that Abu Bakr take his place. He did not recover, and eventually collapsed. his wives realised that he wished to be with Aisha, and moved him to her room, where he died in her arms on the 8th June 632 [ in the Muslim calendar this is 12 Rabi'ul Awwal, 11 AH]. He was sixty-three years old. His last words were said to have been " I have chosen the most exalted companions, in Paradise," His followers found it hard to believe that their Prophet could have died like a mortal man, but Abu Bakr reminded them of the revelation after Uhud: 'Muhammad is but a messenger, and messengers have passed away before him. If he dies, or is slain, will you then turn back?' [Surah 3:144] The Prophet Muhammad was buried in Aisha's room, which is now a shrine and part of the modern mosque complex at Madinah. |
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| Inside the Mosque of the Prophet at Madinah | |||||||||
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