The farewell sermon and the legacy

The farewell pilgrimage (10 AH). The Prophet ﷺ performed his only pilgrimage (ḥajj) with a huge crowd of companions. He taught them the rites, saying: "Take your rites from me" (Muslim 1297). At 'Arafa he gave a sermon; here are some of its key principles, reported in particular by Jabir (Muslim 1218) and Ibn 'Abbas (Bukhari 1739): • "Your blood and your property are sacred to you", as this day and this place are sacred: no one may touch another person's life or property. • "Fear Allah concerning women": he asked that wives be treated well and recalled their rights. • He abolished the blood feuds of the time before Islam, and usury. • "I am leaving among you something which, if you hold to it, will keep you from going astray: the Book of Allah." (Muslim 1218) Another version also reports: "An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab, nor a white person over a black person, nor a black person over a white person, except through piety." (Musnad Aḥmad 23489 [À VÉRIFIER]) Then he asked: "Have I conveyed the message?" The crowd replied: "Yes." He raised his finger towards the sky: "O Allah, be my witness."

The religion completed. It was at 'Arafa, on that day, that Allah revealed: "Today I have perfected your religion for you" (meaning of part of verse 5:3; Bukhari 45, Muslim 3017).

The death of the Prophet ﷺ (11 AH). A few months later, he fell ill in Medina and died in 'Aisha's room, around 632 CE. He was sixty-three years old (Bukhari 3902). The companions were shaken. Abu Bakr told them: "Whoever worshipped Muhammad, let him know that Muhammad has died; whoever worships Allah, let him know that Allah is alive and does not die", then recited verse 3:144 (Bukhari 1241-1242).

What he left us: • The Qur'an, and his sunna: his way of life, reported by his companions. • A model: لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ "You have in the Messenger of Allah a fine example" (meaning of part of verse 33:21). • A character: when 'Aisha was asked about his character, she replied: "His character was the Qur'an." (Muslim 746) • A mercy: وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ "And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds" (meaning of verse 21:107).

The Prophet ﷺ died, but his example stays alive every time a Muslim tells the truth, forgives, helps the weak or prays sincerely.

And you? Of everything you discovered in this course, which trait of the Prophet ﷺ do you want to imitate first? Write it somewhere you will see it.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation The farewell sermon reads like a summary of what Islam protects: life, property, people's honour, the rights of women, the equality of human beings before Allah. Before an immense crowd, the Prophet ﷺ did not speak about himself: he spoke about the rights of others.

His question "Have I conveyed?" shows he knew his mission was coming to its end. And he handed what came next to those present: "Let the one who is present convey it to the one who is absent." (Bukhari 1739). Since that day, every generation of Muslims has received this responsibility.

Abu Bakr's words at the Prophet's ﷺ death are a lesson of faith: we love the Prophet ﷺ deeply, but we worship Allah alone, who is living and does not die. The Prophet ﷺ is gone, but his message continues.

His legacy is neither a fortune nor a palace: it is the Qur'an, his sunnah, and a character everyone can imitate.

Lessons to draw from it • Respecting other people's lives, property and honour is at the heart of the religion. • No one is superior to another by colour or origin: only piety counts, and Allah alone knows it. • What we have learned, we are responsible for passing on, with wisdom. • We love the Prophet ﷺ by following his example, and we worship Allah alone.

Key points to remember • The farewell pilgrimage (10 AH) and the sermon at 'Arafah. • "Today I have perfected your religion for you" (meaning of part of 5:3). • The Prophet ﷺ died in Medina in 11 AH, at the age of sixty-three.

The main message The Prophet ﷺ left us the Qur'an, his sunnah and his example: it is up to us to live them and pass them on.