Life of the Prophet

sending their representatives in the form of delegations to Makkah in order that they might enter the fold of Islam, and thus, by entering into a new covenant with the Prophet of Islam, regularize their relations with the Islamic state. That year, delegations of this nature came in such large numbers that it became known as the year of delegations. In this way, one after another, all the tribes of Arabia, including the Taif, entered the fold of Islam. After having consolidated the power of Islam in Arabia, the Prophet decided to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. This is known in the history of Islam as Hajj at al-Wida, the final pilgrimage. In the last year of his life the Prophet left Madinah for Makkah, accompanied by the Madinan Muslims. When the news spread that the Prophet was going to perform the pilgrimage, various tribes living in Arabia also began thronging Makkah. Therefore, when the Prophet of Islam performed his first as well as his last pilgrimage, he was joined in this historic act of worship by 125,000 Muslims. The teachings he imparted to the people present on the occasion are preserved in the form of his sermon known as the sermon of Hajjatul-Wida – an eternal manifesto of Islam. It is as follows: Truly, your lives, your properties and your honour are sacred to you like the sacredness of this day of yours in this month of yours and in this city of yours. Behold! Everything of the Days of Ignorance has been destroyed under my feet and the blood claims of the Days of Ignorance (the pre-Islamic period) have been remitted. The first shedding of blood for which I forbid vengeance to be taken is the murder of Ibn-Rabiyah, son of Haris, and, indeed, all usury of the Days of Ignorance is forbidden, and the first of our usuries that was forbidden was that of Abbas, son of Abdul Muttalib, and that is entirely forbidden. Fear God concerning women, because you have taken them with the trust of God and made their private parts lawful with the word of God. They have got a right over you and you shall clothe them and feed them in a just manner. And I have left among you a thing, which, if you adhere to it, you will never be misguided after me, that is, the Book of God. O people, listen to my words and understand them. Nothing of his brother is lawful for a Muslim except what he himself allows. Listen, do not be disbelievers after I have left you, and start killing one another. Listen, Satan has now little hope of misleading his followers to worship something other than. God. But he may still achieve his goal by stirring you up against one another. Fear God as regards women, for they depend upon you. They have a right over you, and you have a right over them. If anyone has anything placed in trust with him, he should return it to its owner.” Saying this, the Prophet stretched out both his hands and asked his companions. “Have I conveyed the message?” And again he asked, “Have I conveyed the message?” Then he said, “Those who are present should convey my message to those who are absent, for many of them might be better recipients. (Seerah ibn Kathir, Vol. 4, pp. 387-388) The Prophet of Islam died on 12 Rabiul Awwal 10 A.H, after an illness lasting about two weeks.