The Farewell Sermon
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The The Farewell Sermon (Arabic: خطبة الوداع, Khuṭbatu l-Wadā'), also known as the Prophet's final sermon, is a famous sermon by Muhammad delivered before his death, on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, 10 A.H. (632 CE), at the end of his first and final pilgrimage.[citation needed]
The Farewell Sermon is mentioned in almost all books of Hadith. Sahih Al-Bukhari refers to the sermon and quotes part of it. Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal has given the longest and perhaps the most complete version of this sermon in his Musnad.
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[edit] Precursor to Sermon
The Prophet led the Pilgrims from Makkah through the Valley of Mina and up to the Mountain of Arafat and then stopped them in the Valley of Uranah. They stood in front of him silently as he sat on his camel; he delivered a sermon which was later to be known as the Farewell Sermon just as the pilgrimage itself was called the Farewell Pilgrimage. Although it was his first Pilgrimage, it was also his last and therefore his only pilgrimage. With such a large crowd, his voice could not reach out to all those who were present. He therefore asked Rab'ah Ibn Umayya Ibn Khalaf, who was known to have a loud voice, to repeat the sermon after him, sentence by sentence so that everyone could hear.
[edit] The Last Sermon
The sermon was delivered on the Ninth day of Dhul al Hijjah 10 A.H. in the 'Uranah valley of Mount Arafat.
As part of this sermon, Muhammad recited them a Revelation from Allah which he had just received:
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Toward the end of his sermon, Muhammad asked "O people, have I faithfully delivered unto you my message?" A powerful murmur of assent "O Allah, yes!", arose from thousands of pilgrims and the vibrant words "Allahumma na’m" rolled like thunder throughout the valley. Muhammad raised his forefinger and said: "Be my witness O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people."
[edit] Differences
Hadiths report at least three different versions of the same sermon. The most notable difference is near the end of the sermon, where Muhammad states that he leaves behind two things. One version, for instance, has the statement: "I leave with you Qur'an and Sunnah." The other version has the statement: "I leave with you Qur'an and Ahl al-bayt" (the family of Muhammad). The third version has the statement: "I leave for you the Qur'an, you shall uphold it."
These differences have theological significance for Sunni and Shi'a Muslims. Sunnis hold themselves as the followers of the sunnah or practice of Muhammad as related by his companions, the Sahaba. Sunnis also maintain that the Islamic community, or ummah, as a whole will always be guided. The Shi'ites hold the second version of the sermon as the correct one. According to Shi'a belief, the only legitimate leadership rested in the lineage of Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib. The Shi'ites believe that the rest of the Muslim community committed a grave error by electing Abu Bakr and his two successors as leaders. Those who reject the entire hadith as guidance and advocate the Qur'an alone point out the inconsistencies in Hadith by referring to these differences.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 1623, 1626, 6361
- Sahih of Imam Muslim also refers to this sermon in Hadith number 98.
- Hadith nos. 1628, 2046, 2085 - Imam al-Tirmidhi.
- Hadith no. 19774, Masnud of Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal.
