The Farewell Sermon (Khutbatul Wada’) of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is one of the most pivotal declarations in Islamic history. Delivered during his final pilgrimage in 10 AH (632 CE) on the Mount of Mercy (Jabal ar-Rahmah) in the plain of Arafat, this historic address summarized the core principles of Islam, establishing foundational human rights, social equity, economic justice, and spiritual guidance for all of humanity.
Addressing over one hundred thousand companions, the Prophet ﷺ established a universal declaration of human rights that preceded modern charters by over fourteen centuries.
Historical Context of the Farewell Pilgrimage
In the tenth year after the Migration (Hijrah), Prophet Muhammad ﷺ announced his intention to perform the pilgrimage (Hajj). Muslims from across the entire Arabian Peninsula gathered in Madinah to accompany him. This pilgrimage is known by several names:
Hajjat al-Wada’ (The Farewell Pilgrimage): Because the Prophet ﷺ bade farewell to his followers.
Hajjat al-Islam (The Pilgrimage of Islam): As it demonstrated the complete rituals of Hajj as ordained by Allah.
Hajjat al-Balagh (The Pilgrimage of Conveyance): Because the Prophet ﷺ fulfilled his mission of conveying the final divine message to humanity.
During his address at Arafat on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah, the Prophet ﷺ instructed those present to convey his words to those who were absent, ensuring its message would echo through generations.
Key Themes of the Farewell Sermon
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│ THE FAREWELL SERMON │
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│ Sanctity of │ │ Equality & │ │ Rights of │ │ Financial │
│ Life & Prop │ │ Anti-Racism │ │ Women │ │ Justice │
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The sermon covers several vital pillars that form the bedrock of a just society:
Sanctity of Human Life and Property: Absolute protection of a person’s life, wealth, and honor.
Abolition of Racial Superiority: Equality of all human beings regardless of race, color, or origin.
Economic Fairness: The absolute prohibition of usury (Riba) and financial exploitation.
Ending Blood Feuds: The termination of tribal revenge and pre-Islamic vendettas.
Women’s Rights: Mandatory kindness, dignity, and fulfillment of rights toward wives.
Universal Islamic Brotherhood: The prohibition of harming or transgressing against fellow believers.
Adherence to Divine Guidance: Remaining steadfast upon the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Major Passages of the Sermon (Arabic, Transliteration & Translation)
Below are the primary passages of the Farewell Sermon recorded across classical Hadith and Seerah collections (such as Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi Dawud, Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Hisham).
1. Introduction and Praise of Allah
Arabic:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ. وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي أُوصِيكُمْ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ، وَأَحُثُّكُمْ عَلَى طَاعَتِهِ. أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، اسْمَعُوا مِنِّي أُبَيِّنْ لَكُمْ، فَإِنِّي لَا أَدْرِي لَعَلِّي لَا أَلْقَاكُمْ بَعْدَ عَامِي هَذَا فِي هَذَا الْمَوْقِفِ أَبَدًا.
Transliteration:
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi naḥmaduhu wa nasta‘īnuhu wa nastaghfiruhu wa natūbu ilayh, wa na‘ūdhu billāhi min shurūri anfusinā wa min sayyi’āti a‘mālinā, man yahdihillāhu falā muḍilla lah, wa man yuḍlil falā hādiya lah. Wa ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh.
Ammā ba‘d, fa-innī ūṣīkum ‘ibādallāhi bi-taqwallāh, wa aḥuḍḍukum ‘alā ṭā‘atih. Ayyuhan-nās, isma‘ū minnī ubayyin lakum, fa-innī lā adrī la‘allī lā alqākum ba‘da ‘āmī hādhā fī hādhāl-mawqifi abadā.
Translation:
“All praise is due to Allah; we praise Him, seek His help, ask His forgiveness, and repent to Him. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of ourselves and from our bad deeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whomever He leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
To proceed: O servants of Allah, I advise you to fear Allah and urge you to obey Him. O people, listen to me while I clarify for you, for I do not know whether I will meet you again in this place after this year.”
2. Sanctity of Life, Wealth, and Honor
Arabic:
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ وَأَعْرَاضَكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ حَرَامٌ إِلَى أَنْ تَلْقَوْا رَبَّكُمْ، كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا، فِي شَهْرِكُمْ هَذَا، فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا. أَلَا هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ؟ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ.
Transliteration:
Ayyuhan-nās, inna dimā’akum wa amwālakum wa a‘rāḍakum ‘alaykum ḥarāmun ilā an talqaw rabbakum, ka-ḥurmati yawmikum hādhā, fī shahrikum hādhā, fī baladikum hādhā. Alā hal ballaght? Allāhumma ash-had.
Translation:
“O people! Verily your blood, your property, and your honor are sacred to you until you meet your Lord, just as the sacredness of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this city of yours. Have I conveyed the message? O Allah, bear witness!”
3. Abolition of Interest (Riba) and Pre-Islamic Vendettas
Arabic:
أَلَا إِنَّ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ تَحْتَ قَدَمَيَّ مَوْضُوعٌ، وَدِمَاءُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مَوْضُوعَةٌ، وَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ دَمٍ أَضَعُ مِنْ دِمَائِنَا دَمُ ابْنِ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ. وَرِبَا الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مَوْضُوعٌ، وَأَوَّلُ رِبًا أَضَعُ رِبَانَا: رِبَا عَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ، فَإِنَّهُ مَوْضُوعٌ كُلُّهُ.
Transliteration:
Alā inna kulla shay’in min amril-jāhiliyyati taḥta qadamayya mawḍū‘, wa dimā’ul-jāhiliyyati mawḍū‘ah, wa inna awwala damin aḍa‘u min dimā’inā damub-ni Rabī‘atab-nil-Ḥārith. Wa ribāl-jāhiliyyati mawḍū‘, wa awwalu riban aḍa‘u ribānā: ribā ‘Abbāsib-ni ‘Abdilmuṭṭalib, fa-innahu mawḍū‘un kulluh.
Translation:
“Behold! Everything pertaining to the Days of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah) is placed under my feet. The blood-revenges of the Days of Ignorance are abolished, and the first claim of blood I abolish is that of the son of Rabi’ah ibn al-Harith. The interest (Riba) of the Days of Ignorance is abolished, and the first interest I abolish is our own: that of ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib; it is entirely abolished.”
4. Human Equality and Anti-Racism
Arabic:
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، أَلَا إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ وَاحِدٌ، وَإِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ وَاحِدٌ، أَلَا لَا فَضْلَ لِعَرَبِيٍّ عَلَى أَعْجَمِيٍّ، وَلَا لِعَجَمِيٍّ عَلَى عَرَبِيٍّ، وَلَا لِأَحْمَرَ عَلَى أَسْوَدَ، وَلَا أَسْوَدَ عَلَى أَحْمَرَ إِلَّا بِالتَّقْوَى. {إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ}؛ أَلَا هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ؟ قَالُوا: بَلَّغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ.
Transliteration:
Ayyuhan-nās, alā inna rabbakum wāḥid, wa inna abākum wāḥid. Alā lā faḍla li-‘arabiyyin ‘alā ‘a‘jamiyy, wa lā li-‘ajamiyyin ‘alā ‘arabiyy, wa lā li-aḥmara ‘alā aswad, wa lā aswada ‘alā aḥmara illā bit-taqwā. {Inna akramakum ‘indallāhi atqākum}; Alā hal ballaght? Qālū: Ballagha rasūlullāh.
Translation:
“O people! Beware, your Lord is One, and your father (Adam) is one. Indeed, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor has a non-Arab any superiority over an Arab; nor does a white person have superiority over a black person, nor a black person over a white person—except by God-consciousness (Taqwa). Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most God-conscious. Have I conveyed the message? They replied: The Messenger of Allah has conveyed it.”
5. Rights of Women and Treatment of Spouses
Arabic:
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ فِي النِّسَاءِ، فَإِنَّكُمْ أَخَذْتُمُوهُنَّ بِأَمَانَةِ اللَّهِ، وَاسْتَحْلَلْتُمْ فُرُوجَهُنَّ بِكَلِمَةِ اللَّهِ، وَلَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَنْ لَا يُوَطِئْنَ فُرُشَكُمْ أَحَدًا تَكْرَهُونَهُ، فَإِنْ فَعَلْنَا ذَلِكَ فَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ضَرْبًا غَيْرَ مُبَرِّحٍ، وَلَهُنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ.
Transliteration:
Fattaqullāha fin-nisā’, fa-innakum akhadhtumūhunna bi-amānatillāh, wastahlaltum furūjahunna bi-kalimatillāh. Wa lakum ‘alayhinna an lā yūṭi’na furushakum aḥadan takrahūnah… Wa lahunna ‘alaykum rizquhunna wa kiswatuhunna bil-ma‘rūf.
Translation:
“Fear Allah concerning women, for you have taken them as a trust from Allah, and intimacy with them has been made lawful to you by the word of Allah. They have rights over you, and you have rights over them… It is their right upon you that you provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner.”
6. Holding Fast to the Qur’an and Sunnah
Arabic:
وَقَدْ تَرَكْتُ فِيكُمْ مَا لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدَهُ إِنِ اعْتَصَمْتُمْ بِهِ: كِتَابَ اللَّهِ، وَسُنَّتِي.
Transliteration:
Wa qad taraktu fīkum mā lan taḍillū ba‘dahu inic-taṣamtum bih: Kitāballāhi, wa Sunnatī.
Translation:
“I have left among you that which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray after me: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”
7. The Final Testimony and Completion of the Message
Towards the conclusion of his address, the Prophet ﷺ asked the crowd:
Arabic:
«وَأَنْتُمْ تُسْأَلُونَ عَنِّي، فَمَا أَنْتُمْ قَائِلُونَ؟» قَالُوا: نَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ بَلَّغْتَ وَأَدَّيْتَ وَنَصَحْتَ. فَقَالَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ السَّبَّابَةِ يَرْفَعُهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَيَنْتُبُهَا إِلَى النَّاسِ: «اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ، اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ، اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ».
Transliteration:
“Wa antum tus’alūna ‘annī, famā antum qā’ilūn?” Qālū: Nash-hadu annaka qad ballaghta wa addayta wa naṣaḥt. Faqāla bi-iṣba‘ihis-sabbābati yarfa‘uhā ilas-samā’i wa yanbubuhā ilan-nās: “Allāhumma ash-had, Allāhumma ash-had, Allāhumma ash-had.”
Translation:
“And you will be asked about me, so what will you say?” They replied: “We bear witness that you have conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, and advised the nation sincerely.” The Prophet ﷺ raised his index finger to the sky and then pointed it at the people, saying: “O Allah, bear witness! O Allah, bear witness! O Allah, bear witness!”
Shortly after this historic day, divine revelation was sent down confirming the completion of Islam:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion.”
— Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:3)
Summary of Core Principles
Core Principle & FocusKey Directive / Meaning
Sanctity of Life & Wealth
(Basic Human Rights)
Blood, property, and honor are strictly inviolable.
Racial Equality
(Anti-Racism & Social Inclusion)
Superiority is based solely on Taqwa (God-consciousness).
Economic Freedom
(Economic Justice)
Complete ban on usury (Riba) and predatory finance.
Rights of Women
(Gender Equality & Family Ethics)
Wives are a trust (Amanah) from Allah; command for kind treatment.
Abolition of Vendettas
(Rule of Law & Peace)
Pre-Islamic blood feuds are voided permanently.
Divine Guidance
(Spiritual Preservation)
Adherence to the Qur’an and Sunnah guarantees true guidance.
Practical Lessons for Modern Times
Uphold Justice over Tribalism: Reject nationalistic or ethnic bias in personal and professional dealings.
Fair Financial Conduct: Avoid interest-based exploitation and ensure transparent transactions.
Honor Household Rights: Treat family members with dignity, mercy, and fairness.
Convey the Truth: Continuously pass on authentic knowledge and good advice to others.