If you had one speech to give to humanity do you know what you’d say? Would you be able to capture all aspects of life and dignity into that one speech? The Prophet (PBUH) achieved this in his last sermon. A speech which was originally delivered to hundreds of worshipers is now delivered to hundreds of millions across the world.
Every so often there are waves of consciousness as to what should change in the world. These movements tackle inequality and injustice and if successful get translated into law. These laws vary and differ into what they mean country by country.
Past movements have included the abolition of slavery in the 19th century, the women’s rights movement in the 1960s, to more recent examples such as tackling the greed of financial institutions’ in 2008, climate change in 2011 and tackling racism in 2020. All of these movements varied depending on where you were as well as the changes that were adopted in each country.
The last sermon delivered at Mt Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah 10AH covered all of these points and more. Importantly its message was delivered to be enacted for all of mankind irrespective of their, race, culture or gender.
This last sermon truly is a timeless message that is apt as much as it was then as it is now. To explain its meaning we have broken it down into 11 parts with the full sermon at the end.
1 – Change now rather than later
2 – Love and friendship for the Muslim ummah
3 – Cause no pain to others
4 – Prohibition of interest
5 – Be careful of the small sins
6 – Women’s rights
7 – The five pillars
8 – Equality amongst races
9 – Be just
10 – The last Prophet
11 – Spread the word
12 – Full Sermon
Change Now Rather Than Later
“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today”
The Prophet stood on Mt. Arafat and gathered the worshipers during their Hajj to take heed of his impending words. He wanted their full attention so that He could show and explain what Islam means. Islam was growing at a staggering pace with the year of the sermon already seeing large swathes of tribes accept Islam.
Importantly, he also showed that nobody knows how long they have left in this world. The fact that this is how he started the sermon is a poignant reminder for all.
During our lives we all make the best intentions to increase our commitment to God. From performing additional prayers, increasing our Quran recitations during Ramadan or to how we want to be as Muslims in the future.
With the best of intentions we can achieve these however nobody knows how long they have left in this world. We should plan and take the first steps to implement these intentions sooner rather than later. The Prophet passed away only three months after giving this sermon.
Love And Friendship For The Muslim Ummah
“O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners“
The month was Dhul Hijjah, the sacred month of Hajj. Muslims around the world are aware that this is the month where you perform one of your five pillars of Islam – the Hajj. Even for those not taking part there are days during this month where it is highly encouraged to fast to gain additional rewards.
Just as important as this month is so to is the life and property of every Muslim. Here the Prophet explains the sanctity of protecting fellow Muslims and respecting their property and lives. If you are ever given the responsibility of someone else’s possessions then treat it like your own, look after it like your own and return it just as you would have liked your possessions to be returned.
If you see injustice taking place to fellow Muslims then act as if the same injustice is happening to you. Be there for them how you’d want others to be there for you, provide them with what you would want provided if the roles were reversed and stand up for them like how you would want others to stand up for you.
The Muslim ummah is one where we help each other and defend each when needed. This bond within the ummah of love and family is as sacred as the month of Dhul Hijjah.
Cause No Pain To Others
“Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds“
Pre Islam society was built on revenge and power with feuds spanning decades. The tribes which had won power focused their energies on cementing their power by constant attacks on other tribes. On the other hand tribes which had previously lost wars focused their energy on regaining power and how best to do it.
These cycle of events consumed and destroyed societies. One group would be looking around to see who was trying to usurp their power whilst the other would be plotting and planning to take power back. The Prophet laid an end to blood vengeance. No longer could you enact revenge for something that happened years ago.
Hurting people these days is not about wars but comes in many different forms. There are physical ways to hurt people but just as powerful are the emotional and psychological ways which are prevalent now.
Sharing videos of people who have done something embarrassing or commenting on people behind their backs on social media – these are the new ways of hurting people but with the same effects as the old.
The words used by the Prophet was ‘hurt no one so that no one may hurt you’. This is a simple concept which can get lost. We see it in online group chats where we see people talking badly about someone outside of the group or we post a hurtful message online where the back and forth can go on and on. All this does is perpetuate the cycle of hurt and ultimately comes back to hurt you.
This energy should be focused on being thankful to God and performing worship to show the gratitude for all that He has given. When the time comes to meet our Lord we will be asked what did we focus our energy on? Was it something that took us away from focusing on God or was it something that brought us closer?
Prohibition Of Interest
“Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived”
Whilst there is a lot about Islamic finance which can get confusing most people are aware of the basic Islam principles when it comes to finance – and if not have a read of our easy to understand article here. Riba or interest is the key idea that most people are aware of when it comes to what is not allowed in Islam.
The concept of interest may seem like an innocent component of every day finance but it needs to be looked at through a wider lense. TML aims to not only show Islam but also explain Islam – and we feel this innocent every day concept needs to be looked at in greater detail as to why it is prohibited.
Interest does not serve society in any productive way. Islam wants money and assets to be used for the good of society and not just sitting idly.
The Prophet is making clear that any wealth that has been achieved through interest is null and void. He even showed us by starting from His own family as an example. Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib was the Prophet’s uncle and a very wealthy merchant in Mecca. He naturally dealt with many people across the Arabian peninsula and a lot of transactions involved the loaning of money with interest applied. The Prophet declared that all of these interest payments would no longer have to be paid.
The sermon also shows the character that Muslims should have. How many times do we see brothers and sisters telling others what is wrong but not adhering to those rules themselves or even worse become aggressive or hurtful when they get called out?
There are no special rules whether you are a leader of society or a family member. Everybody in society has to conform to the same standards Having consistency between Muslims fosters the love and friendship within the ummah.
The Prophet had no hesitations in applying the principles of Islam within His own family even if there was a monetary cost. Forgoing interest, giving zakat or other forms of charity may seem like your wealth is decreasing however Islam explains that ultimately all wealth belongs to God. If you were looking after someone else’s wealth, would you go against the rules that they had stipulated?
The prohibition of interest is a not a new concept. Previous religions all spoke about its ills and consequently banned their use. Nevertheless, pre-Islam it was part of every day life. The poor would often be the borrowers whilst the rich would be the lenders and charge extortionate rates on the loans.
The poor often turn to these loans because of their need to survive. This widens society’s inequality with the poor becoming poorer and the rich becoming richer. The modern day has seen the rise of short term loans or ‘payday loans’. These provide the necessary money for people to survive and carry on into the next month. The costs of this are astronomical interest rates all for the privilege of trying to keep them and their families safe and secure. At times governments have stepped in to review these but the system still remains in place.
Governments themselves rely on this system to sustain what they do. One of the key components of wars (or other forms of control) is successful funding. These finances are often raised through various types of loans issued by the government e.g. war bonds, which promise to pay the buyer set interest rates in return for their funding contribution.
Whilst the quarrel may be with the government of a country, wars ultimately affect civilians the most. When a country loses a war there are often reparations to pay which will be funded by interest. This robs the citizens of their wealth and the ability to rebuild their lives after a war they were not responsible for.
History has shown this to be the case from the beginning of time. However, in some instances a country successfully defeats an oppressive government – but the privilege to become independent is to pay compensation with interest to the former oppressor.
The island of Haiti had history’s only successful slave led revolution before gaining independence from France. The war was brutal with the French having a far superior army in strength and funding. Nevertheless, the war was won by Haiti’s slaves and they established an independent nation in 1804.
The nation however was destroyed with little or no resources left to rebuild the country. France (and other nations) were worried that this successful war could inspire other slaves to gain their freedom.
As a result, France only accepted Haiti’s independence on the condition that they pay reparations with interest – which totaled $21bn. The interest payments were the most crippling aspect due to it compounding every year. The final interest payments were completed over 100 years later in 1947. To put this amount into perspective; it was always a tiny number in France’s total national budget but a crippling amount for the newly created country of Haiti.
From its birth Haiti was never allowed to flourish and create something for itself. The shadow of France’s powerful threat of force had harboured over the nation for over 100 years keeping the nation poor – compelling them to carry on paying the reparations. Haiti is currently the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.
This is just one example of how powerful nations stay powerful and keep the poor confined in their present state.
Whether we are talking about interest in the context of individuals or governments both instances are a form of oppression. The powerful are cementing their position and disproportionately affecting the poor and vulnerable.
We see interest in all forms of life. At times we consider it a necessity to live. Interest though has been forbidden in Islam, to pay or to receive. We should always pray for God to show alternatives and keep us on the right path of Islam.
There is a growing demand by Muslims to move away from banking with interest. This demand has seen the rise of new fintech companies created by Muslims for Muslims. Recently we reviewed these Islamic fintechs which we hope can be credible alternatives for Muslims to use.
Be Careful Of The Small Sins
“Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things“
This part of the speech is directly related to the previous. Satan has made us believe doing certain forbidden actions is a necessity to live in the modern life.
Satan accepts that the majority of Muslims will not partake in major sins such as drinking alcohol or eating pork. He knows it will be difficult to convince people to do so – so he focuses his energy on smaller everyday actions.
The Prophet is warning his people to stay away from the small sins. These are the sins you will often not consider ‘that big of a deal’ or not hurting anyone. But these can lead to a lack of self-control and spill into other actions purely because they may be enjoyable or easy.
Whether it’s gaining a few pennies of interest in your bank account or whether it’s arguing with your parents and causing them hurt. These are the areas that Satan knows he can win.
It is also the act of idleness that Satan can win you over with. We often believe doing the bare minimum is what makes us fulfill our deen. We say praying for a total of 1/24hrs of the day is enough, fasting 1/12th of the year is enough or giving 2.5/100 in charity (zakat) is enough. There is no doubt doing these actions has great rewards and fulfills God’s request but how do we use the remaining time as productively as possible?
Satan will remind us to only pray the fard prayers so we can carry on watching our favourite shows. He will convince us our health will suffer if we fast any of the days it is highly recommended to outside of Ramadan. He will make us feel poorer if we donate additional amounts of our wealth to charity.
Muslims know what is promised in the Afterlife and Islam is a test for that. There will be loss, there will be fear and there will certainly be sadness that we will all have to face. This is the test.
Satan will forever focus his energies leading you astray – which you often won’t realize at the time. But with seeking knowledge and having an interest in what Islam is, the path to righteousness will be opened for Muslims.
Women’s Rights
“O People, it is true that you have certain 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. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste”
Islam established what many now consider are basic rights for women. Pre-Islam society was built on a highly patriarchal structure and with Islam came a seismic shift in cultural and legal norms. There were no previous rights provided to women with women effectively akin to property. Islam for one established the financial share that they are required upon inheritance which was unheard of in society as well as including the rights for education and life.
The Prophet is making it clear that he expects men to treat women with the utmost respect and they should expect nothing less from their husbands. Women will stand by their husbands but husbands should acknowledge the help and support that they provide. The relationship that will be loved by God is only one which is a two-way process.
This means husbands showing respect for their wife in front of his friends and families, showing gratitude for what she does to make life comfortable and understanding of the effort she puts in to raise children.
The Prophet also explained whilst it is the duty of the husband to provide for the wife it by no means should result in a lowering of status for women. The wife has the right to request for whatever she desires and the husband should provide it and make sure she feels safety and comfort with him.
Only when a relationship is built upon these rights and obligations will it be looked upon favourably by God.
The Five Pillars
“O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to”
The Prophet is listing the five pillars that are the basis for every Muslim. These are the actions that all Muslims should be performing as part of their daily lives and remembering their purpose when performed.
There’s nothing more to say here apart from make sure these are performed by you and to remind your fellow brothers and sisters!
Equality Amongst Races
“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood”
Islam has no division based on race, skin colour or position. Everyone is as equal as the next brother or sister and all follow the same rules. This is best observed during Hajj with everyone covered in a uniform ihram where it is impossible to tell who is rich or who is poor.
The struggle for race equality was as strong then as it is now. While some governments enacted equality into law, others did not. Islam and equality have always been a core tenant for Muslims.
Racism perpetuates the uneven spread of power based on the colour of your skin. It subjugates people to the lower class as soon as they are born, forced to live in that manner till death. Islam has no levels of superiority. The only superiority is by the devotion you have with God – and only God knows the measure of devotion in a Muslim’s heart.
The last sermon should be looked at as a whole just as importantly as its individual sections. It should be clear by now that the theme across the whole sermon is for equality amongst humankind to be the norm. Whether that be between races or genders – the love and friendship of the ummah should always be there.
Be Just
“Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone“
Equality comes with being just and Islam has a legal system that ensures justice is achieved. There are rulings which cover all aspects of life and so we are never left in ambiguous territory when it comes to Islam. Islam also brought about rules to ensure that those who were previously marginalised are looked after.
Rights for women, people with disabilities, workers and the rights of orphans (with the Prophet notably being an orphan) are all included in Islam. Every voice has a right to be heard and every person should hear these rights.
What is the right of a Muslim is to be given down to them without questions. If a person decides to go against what has been prescribed by God then they will have to answer to God.
Justice espoused by the Prophet however should not be thought of only for Muslims. The Prophet wanted justice for all oppressed people, “I do not reject the supplications of the oppressed, even if it be from one who rejects faith”. It is a duty for Muslims to protect all that are oppressed in society.
The Last Prophet
“O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example, the sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray”
The Prophet also made clear that the religion is now completed. No other prophet will be sent down to guide people and no new rules will be made.
Instances can arise where we have questions about life and are not sure of their answers. At times we may just defer to what our own opinions are. We can become a part of culture that we surround ourselves in or our parents have instilled in us. These may or may not align with Islam.
The answers to questions are in the Quran with further calcification observed via the sunnah of the Prophet. Islam is a way of life and the Prophet embodied Islam in every manner of life. He has told us that to follow Islam correctly follow what the Quran says and follow his sunnah as an example.
Humans are curious creatures always questioning, and rightly so. However how many people read the translation of the Quran to understand it? How many people have delved into the books of the hadith which explain the Sunnah? Muslims have been told the answers to their questions are already with them and so whenever we have questions we should look at the texts.
Spread The Word
“All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people”
The sermon ends with how it started, telling the believers to spread the word to those who were not there.
We have seen that Islam is a proactive religion and where you see injustice you need to make sure justice is ensured. Injustice (in all its previously described forms) might be rooted in the incumbent infrastructure and institutions but it is up to Muslims to demand a change. We have been told what is required for us and it is up to us to make sure we do them.
Remember to share this article so you too can spread the words of the last sermon!
The Last Sermon
“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today. O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds.
Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived.Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things. O People, it is true that you have certain 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. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste. O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.
All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves. Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example, the sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray. All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people.”
The Last Sermon
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