The Farewell pilgrimage

The mission of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was nearing completion. He was soon to bid farewell to his loving Sahabah. Allah finally permitted him to take them on pilgrimage and to witness the fruits of his twenty years of effort.

When the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam decided to go for the pilgrimage he made a public announcement and people started making preparations for the journey. Large numbers of Muslims came to Madinah as the news spread and more people joined the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam on the way.

Before performing the afternoon prayer the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam took a bath and Aishah Radhi Allahu Anha applied perfume on his body. The thick layer of perfume could be seen on parts of his hair and beard. He dressed in the Ihraam and performed a shortened afternoon prayer of two Rakaats. He then mounted his she-camel, Al-Qaswa, and began to move off. He set out from Madinah on 25th Zul Qa'dah after Zuhr. He recited the Talbiyah along the way with his Sahabah doing likewise in spiritual excitement. He rode with Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu on the same conveyance.

He proceeded till he approached Makkah. He spent the night at Dhi Tuwa and entered Makkah after performing the dawn prayer. He had a bath on Sunday morning, the fourth of Dhul-Hijjah. He had spent eight days on the way, which was normal at that time. As soon as he entered Masjid al-Haraam he performed the circuits around the Ka'bah and walked between As-Safa and Al-Marwah. He then took the sacrificial animals in order to slaughter them.

Those of his companions, who had no animals with them to sacrifice were ordered to remove themselves from Ihram after completing the ritual walk between Al-Safa and Al-Marwa. They, however, showed reluctance to do what they had been told. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam then said to them : "Had I known beforehand what I know now, I would not have brought the sacrificial animals and I would then have removed the Ihram." On hearing these words his companions obeyed his orders.

On the 8th he left for Mina where he performed the five congregational prayers till the next morning. When the sun rose he proceeded to Arafah and remained in the tent pitched at Namira. Later that day he went out and delivered a sermon to the people in which he explained the fundamentals of Islam :

"Your blood and your property are inviolable like the sacredness of this day in this month in this city of yours. Everything pertaining to the days of paganism is wrong and claims of blood vengeance belonging to the pre-Islamic period have been abolished. The first claim on blood I remit is that of Ibn Rabi'a Ibn al-Harith who was suckled among the Banu S'ad and killed by Hudhayl. The usury of the days of ignorance is abolished and the first of our usury I abolish is that of my own uncle, Abbas Ibn Abdul Muttalib.

Fear Allah concerning women. You have taken them under Allah's security and have made them lawful unto you by Allah's word. It is incumbent upon them that they must not bring into your houses anyone whom you dislike. But, if they do that then you have the authority to chastise them but not severely. You are responsible for providing them with their food and clothing in a kind manner.

I have left among you something, by which, if you hold to it, you will never go astray. What is that? It is the book of Allah. And you would be asked by Allah about me so what would you say?"

The Sahabah replied in a single voice : "We testify that you have conveyed the message and fulfilled your mission."

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam then raised his forefinger towards the sky and said thrice : "O Allah, be witness." (1)

He performed the two congregational prayers, Zuhr and Asr. After sunset he proceeded to Muzdalifah and performed Maghrib and Esha together. Then he lay down till it was Fajr. After Fajr he made his way to Mina. As they passed the valley of Muhassar the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam hastened his pace, as it was the place where Allah's punishment had descended on the army of Abraha. At Mina he pelted the big Jamarah with seven pebbles saying 'Allah is the Greatest' each time.

Then he set off to sacrifice his animals. He sacrificed sixty-three camels with his own hands, and asked Ali Radhi Allahu Anhu to slaughter the remainder. He then had his hair shaved and distributed his hair to the people. He mounted his she-camel and returned to Makkah where he again performed the circuits around the Ka'bah and drank from the Zam Zam well. He performed the ritual walk between Al-Safa and Al-Marwa and returned to Mina the very same day. For the next three days he pelted the Jamarahs at Mina. He then returned to Makkah and made a final circuit of the Ka'bah. After completing the rituals of the pilgrimage he moved back to Madinah quickly to resume his missionary work. (2)