Events Near the Noble Passing

The tenth year of Hijrah witnessed one of the most significant events in Islamic history: The Farewell Hajj. This was the final Hajj performed by the Beloved Prophet ﷺ.

The Beloved Prophet ﷺ announced his intention to perform Hajj in the month of Dhul Qada. Word of his Hajj spread rapidly, and an estimated 124,000 gathered to accompany him.

He ﷺ also indicated towards his apparent veiling from this world during this Hajj when, near the Jamarat, he ﷺ said: “Learn the rulings of Hajj from me! Perhaps after this, I will not perform another Hajj.”

The Beloved Prophet ﷺ set out from Madinah on the last Thursday of Dhul Qada and reached Dhul Hulayfah, which is the Meeqat of the people of Madinah, where he ﷺ donned the Ihram, and then entered Makkah on 4th of Dhul Hijjah. He ﷺ performed Tawaf, Sa'i of Safa and Marwah. Then on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah, he ﷺ went to Mina and on the 9th, he ﷺ went to ‘Arafat, where he ﷺ stayed in a tent. When the sun passed the meridian, he ﷺ mounted on his she-camel, ‘Qaswa’, and delivered the sermon. In this sermon, he ﷺ announced many necessary commandments and also announced the abrogation of all the evils and taboo customs of the era of ignorance.

The Farewell Sermon

Some of the points from his sermon are:

• Your Lord is One and undoubtedly your father (Sayyiduna Adam عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is one. No Arab has any superiority over any non-Arab and no non-Arab has any superiority over any Arab; no white has any superiority over any black and no black has any superiority over any white, but by piety.
• All humans are the offspring of Adam, and Adam was made from clay. Now, all the claims of excellence and superiority, all the demands of blood and money, and all the revenges are under my feet.
• O people! Every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim and all the Muslims are brothers of one another.
• It is not permissible for anyone that he takes anything from his brother, except for the thing for which his brother agrees and gives happily. O people! Do not inflict cruelty on yourselves and on others.
• Your life and your wealth are as Haraam for each other until the Judgement Day as this day, this month, and this city of yours is sacred for you.
• O people! Treat women well!
• The Beloved Prophet ﷺ then said: “When Allah Almighty will ask you about me, what will you say?” Blessed companions humbly said: “You have conveyed the message of Allah and fulfilled the right of Prophethood.” The Final Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised his blessed finger towards the sky and said three times: “O Allah! Be my witness.”

After this, he ﷺ was given the confirmation of the completion of the religion through Divine revelation and then he ﷺ completed his Hajj.

The Impact of the Farewell Sermon

The Final Messenger of Allah ﷺ delivered this sermon approximately fourteen hundred years ago. Remarkably, he ﷺ delivered it while seated on the saddle of a camel, demonstrating the glory of his utmost simplicity. This sermon marks a golden chapter in human history. It addresses a wide range of issues, including human rights, especially women's rights, the rights of slaves, the protection of life, property, and honor, economic reforms, inheritance, debt, and governance. It provides guidance on matters of both religion and politics that is unparalleled in human history. This sermon is the essence all Islamic teachings and serves as an international manifesto of rights and duties. This sermon is regarded as a constitution and an evergreen message even today for Muslims. Its relevance today is as profound as it was fourteen hundred years ago. This sermon is a beacon of light that humanity needs. Its teachings, if followed, can elevate humanity to great heights..

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضی اللہ عنہ reported that we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at the house of Sayyiduna Abu Saif رضی اللہ عنہ when Sayyiduna Ibrahim رضی اللہ عنہ was at the point of passing. Upon seeing this, the tears of the Final Messenger of Allah ﷺ flowed. At that time, Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Auf رضی اللہ عنہ asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, do you also weep?" He ﷺ replied, "O son of Auf! These are the tears of compassion." Then, when tears from his blessed eyes started flowing again, these words flowed from his blessed tongue: إِنَّ الْعَيْنَ تَدْمَعُ وَ الْقَلْبَ يَحْزَنُ وَلَا نَقُولُ إِلَّا مَا يَرْضَى رَبُّنَا وَإِنَّا بِفِرَاقِكَ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ لَمَحْزُونُونَ "Verily, the eye weeps and the heart grieves, but we do not say except that which pleases our Lord. And indeed, we are greatly saddened by your departure, O Ibrahim."

On the day that Sayyiduna Ibrahim رضی اللہ عنہ passed away, a solar eclipse occurred. The Arabs had a pre-Islamic belief that eclipses of the moon and sun were caused by the passing of great people. Therefore, some people thought that this solar eclipse was due to the passing away of Sayyiduna Ibrahim رضی اللہ عنہ. The Holy Prophet ﷺ delivered a sermon on this occasion, refuting this pre-Islamic belief. He ﷺ said, إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ أَيَتَانِ مِنْ " أَيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَا يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلَا لِحَيَاتِهِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهَا فَادْعُو اللَّهَ وَ صَلُّوا حَتَّى يَنْجَلِي "Indeed, the sun and the moon are two signs of Allah. They are not eclipsed due to the death or life of anyone. So when you see them, invoke Allah and offer Salat al-Kusuf until it clears." The Beloved Prophet ﷺ also said, "My son Ibrahim did not complete his nursing period and left this world. Therefore, Allah Almighty has appointed a nursing mother for him in Paradise who will nurse him for the nursing tenure."

According to Madarij an-Nubuwwah, Volume 2, page 254, it is narrated that the Beloved Prophet ﷺ buried Sayyiduna Ibrahim رضی اللہ عنہ in Jannatul Baqi near the grave of Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz'un رضی اللہ عنہ and sprinkled water on his grave with his blessed hand. At the time of his passing, Sayyiduna Ibrahim رضی اللہ عنہ was 17 or 18 months old.