The Reestablishment of Islam (610 AD – Death of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

IX. The Farewell Pilgrimage (632 AD)

A Prophet’s Last Journey, A Nation’s Moral Blueprint

A. Background: The Final Chapter Begins

By the 10th year after the Hijrah (632 CE), Islam had spread across nearly the entire Arabian Peninsula. Former adversaries had either embraced Islam or entered into peaceful coexistence under Muslim governance. The Conquest of Mecca (8 AH), the Battle of Hunayn, and the subsequent delegations of Arab tribes in the “Year of the Delegations” (ʿĀm al-Wufūd) had cemented the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as not only a religious guide but the central political and moral leader of Arabia.

At this pivotal moment in history, the Prophet ﷺ announced his intention to perform Hajj. This would be the only full pilgrimage he would perform after the reestablishment of Islam, and it would become known as Ḥijjat al-Wadāʿ—the Farewell Pilgrimage. Word spread rapidly, and over 100,000 companions from every corner of Arabia flocked to join him, many seeing him for the first and only time.

This pilgrimage was more than a journey of worship; it was a moment of unity, pedagogy, and prophetic finality.

B. The Pilgrimage Rites: Teaching Through Action

The Prophet ﷺ set out from Madinah on the 25th of Dhul-Qaʿdah and entered iḥrām (the sacred state of pilgrimage) at Dhu al-Ḥulayfah—today known as Abyār ʿAlī. Riding his camel Qaswā’, he led a vast procession of believers, modeling every aspect of the pilgrimage.

He declared to the crowd:

“Take your rituals from me, for I do not know whether I will perform Hajj again after this year.”
(Sahih Muslim, Kitāb al-Ḥajj)

Throughout the journey, he was meticulous in performing the manāsik (rites of Hajj):

  • Ṭawāf al-Qudūm (arrival circumambulation) at the Kaʿbah

  • Saʿy between Ṣafā and Marwah, commemorating Hājar’s devotion

  • Wuquf at ʿArafah, the central rite of Hajj

  • Muzdalifah, Mina, the Stoning of the Jamarāt, and the sacrifice (Qurbānī)

Each act was not only ritual but also profound instruction. The Hajj became a living classroom:

  • Ṭawāf expressed complete submission and centering of life around Allah.

  • Saʿy evoked the legacy of Hājar, honoring female faith and perseverance.

  • ʿArafah symbolized human equality before God, stripping away all social distinctions.

The Prophet ﷺ ensured that each act of worship was performed with clarity and purpose, and he answered questions and corrected errors as they arose, ensuring the rites of Hajj would be preserved in their original form for generations to come.

C. The Farewell Sermon (Khuṭbat al-Wadāʿ): A Universal Declaration

On the 9th of Dhul-Ḥijjah, while standing in the plain of ʿArafah near Jabal al-Raḥmah (Mount of Mercy), the Prophet ﷺ addressed the vast congregation in what would become known as the Farewell Sermon. His voice carried across the valley as he proclaimed a final message to humanity—a summation of divine guidance.

“O people, listen to me carefully, for I do not know whether I shall ever meet you here again after this year.”
(Ibn Hishām, Sīrah; Musnad Aḥmad)

Key Messages from the Sermon:

1. Sanctity of Life and Property:

“Indeed, your blood, your property, and your honor are sacred to you, like the sanctity of this day, in this month, in this city.”

2. Abolition of Pre-Islamic Practices:

“All matters of the Jāhiliyyah are beneath my feet and abolished forever. The first usury I abolish is that of al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib.”

3. Racial and Human Equality:

“O people! Your Lord is One and your father (Adam) is one. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab, nor a white over a black, nor a black over a white—except by taqwā (piety).”

4. Women’s Rights and Marital Trust:

“Fear Allah regarding women. You have taken them as a trust from Allah. Treat them with kindness, for they are your partners and helpers.”

5. Scriptural Authority and Future Guidance:

“I leave behind me two things: the Qur’an and my Sunnah. If you hold fast to them, you will never go astray.”

He then asked:

“Have I conveyed the message?”
And the multitude replied:
“Yes, O Messenger of Allah!”
He raised his finger to the sky and said:
“O Allah, bear witness. O Allah, bear witness.”
(اللهم اشهد)

This sermon, concise yet comprehensive, remains a cornerstone of Islamic ethics—asserting moral universalism, the abolition of social hierarchies, and the finality of divine legislation.

D. The Revelation at ʿArafah: Completion of the Message

During the events at ʿArafah, a monumental verse was revealed:

“This day I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favor upon you, and have approved for you Islam as your religion.”
(Surah al-Mā’idah 5:3)

Many Companions recognized this as a signal that the Prophet’s ﷺ mission was reaching its end. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb is reported to have wept upon hearing it, sensing that the finality of revelation marked the impending departure of the Messenger ﷺ.

This verse is considered by Muslim scholars as one of the last revealed, sealing the prophetic mandate.

E. Return to Madinah and Final Illness

Upon completion of the pilgrimage, the Prophet ﷺ returned to Madinah. Over the next few weeks, he began to suffer from recurring fevers and weakness. Yet even in illness, he remained committed to his mission:

  • He continued to admonish and advise his Companions.

  • He emphasized prayer and justice in his final words.

  • He instructed: “Do not make my grave a place of worship.”

  • He appointed Abu Bakr al-Ṣiddīq to lead the prayer in his place—a sign many understood as the Prophet’s chosen successor.

On the 12th of Rabiʿ al-Awwal, 11 AH (June 632 CE), the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed away in the apartment of his wife ʿĀ’ishah, his head resting between her chest and neck.

His death was a moment of profound grief for the Muslim community, but also the transition from revelation to implementation.

F. Legacy of the Farewell Pilgrimage

The Farewell Pilgrimage was not merely a personal act of worship—it was a divinely guided culmination of the Prophet’s mission. Its enduring legacies include:

  • Standardization of Hajj rituals according to prophetic precedent.

  • Universal moral and social ethics outlined in the Farewell Sermon.

  • Affirmation of gender, racial, and economic justice in the final public message.

  • Completion of revelation with the verse at ʿArafah.

  • Public affirmation of Muhammad ﷺ having fulfilled his divine trust.

He began his mission alone in the solitude of Ḥirā’, calling a skeptical people to monotheism. Twenty-three years later, he stood before a unified ummah of over 100,000 believers—having delivered the final message of God to humanity.

Conclusion: A Timeless Testament

The Farewell Pilgrimage stands as a sacred historical moment and a living covenant. It was the Prophet’s ﷺ final gift to his followers—a moral map, a legal foundation, and a spiritual compass. For every generation thereafter, it remains a call:

  • To center life around the Qur’an and Sunnah.

  • To uphold justice regardless of race, tribe, or status.

  • To live Islam not just as belief, but as practice infused with mercy and purpose.

“Those who witnessed it carried it with their hearts and tongues. Those who hear it after them must inherit its truth.”

The Prophet’s ﷺ voice at ʿArafah still echoes through time—reminding the world that Islam is complete, and the responsibility to live it continues.

📜 Note to Readers

If you believe that any aspect of this post does not faithfully represent Islam’s teachings or its core beliefs, we invite you to share your insights. Please cite specific Islamic sources—whether from the Qur’an, authentic Hadith collections, or recognized scholarly interpretations—so we can ensure an accurate and respectful understanding. Your contribution helps us foster informed dialogue rooted in evidence and sincerity.

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