The Farewell Sermon (Arabic: خطبة الوداع, Khutbatul-Wadāʿ)
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) delivered his last sermon (Khutbah) on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah (12th and last month of the Islamic year), 10 years after Hijrah (migration from Makkah to Madinah) in the Uranah Valley of mount Arafat. This historical event also marked the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)’s farewell pilgrimage to Mecca – it was the first and last Hajj performed by the Prophet, with Hajj being the fifth pillar of Islam. The Prophets words were clear and concise, touching upon the basic religious and ethical ideals of Islam with some of the most important rights Allah Almighty has over humanity, and humanity has over each other.
It was during this period that this verse was revealed:
ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمَ دِينًۭا…
“…Today I have perfected for you your religion, and completed My blessing upon you, and approved for you Islam as religion”
Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:3
In this final sermon of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), we find the following eternal values that every Muslim should adhere to: the of sacredness of life and property, honour and respect of the rights of women, upholding the 5 Pillars and the teachings of Islam, conform to racial equality and social justice.
After praising, and thanking Allah he said:
“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.
O people, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn Abd Al-Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived…
Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O people, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.
O people, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.
All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except bypiety (taqwa) and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.
Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
O people, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born.
Reason well, therefore, O people, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qu’ran and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people”.
(Reference: See Al-Bukhari, Hadith 1623, 1626, 6361) Sahih of Imam Muslim also refers to this sermon in Hadith number 98. Imam al-Tirmidhi has mentioned this sermon in Hadith nos. 1628, 2046, 2085. Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal has given us the longest and perhaps the most complete version of this sermon in his Masnud, Hadith no. 19774.)
ايها الناس اسمعوا مني ابين لكم فأني لا ادري لعلي لا القاكم بعد عامي هذا في موقفي هذ
ايها الناس ان دماءكم واموالكم حرام عليكم الى ان تلقوا ربكم كحرمة يومكم هذا في شهركم هذا في بلدكم هذا الا هل بلغت
اللهم فاشهد فمن كانت عنده امانه فليؤدها الى من ائتمنه عليها. ان ربا الجاهليه موضوع. وان اول ربا ابدا به ربا عمي العباس بن عبد المطلب، وان دماء الجاهليه موضوعه، واول دم أبدأ به دم عامر بن ربيعه بن الحارث، وان مأثر الجاهليه موضوعه غير السدانه والسقايه والعمد قود وشبه العمد ما قتل بالعصا والحجر وفيه مائة بعير، فمن زاد فهومن اهل الجاهليه
ايها الناس ان الشيطان قد يئس أن يعبد في ارضكم هذه،ولكنه قد رضي أن يطاع فيما سوى ذلك مما تحقرون من اعمالكم.
ايها الناس ان النسيئ زياده في الكفر يضل به الذين كفروا يحلونه عاما ويحرمونه عاما ليواطئوا عدة ما حرم الله وان الزمان قد استدار كهيئته يوم خلق الله السموات والارض، وان عدة الشهور عند الله اثنا عشر شهرا في كتاب الله يوم خلق الله السموات والارض، منها اربعة حرم ثلاث متواليات وواحد فرد: ذو القعده، ذو الحجه، محرم، ورجب الذي بين جمادي وشعبان. الا هل بلغتّ؟
اللهم اشهد أيها الناس ان لنسائكم عليكم حقا ولكم عليهن حق. الا يوطئن فرشكم غيركم، ولا يدخلن احدا تكرهونه بيوتكم الا بأذنكم ولا يأتين بفاحشه، فأن فعلن فان الله أذن لكم أن تعضلوهن وتهجروهن في المضا جع وتضربوهن ضربا غير مبرح، فان انتهين وأطعنكم فعليكم رزقهن وكسوتهن بالمعروف، وانما النساء عندكم عوان و لايملكن لانفسهن شيئا، أخدتموهن بأمانة الله واستحللتم فروجهن بكلمة الله فاتقوا الله في النساء واستوصوا بهن خيرا الا هل بلغت؟
اللهم اشهد ايها الناس انما المؤمنون اخوه ولا يحل لامرئ مال اخيه الا عن طيب نفس منه الا هل بلغت؟
اللهم اشهد فلا ترجعن بعدي كفارا يضرب بعضكم رقاب بعض، فاني قد تركت فيكم ما ان اخذتم به لم تضلوا بعده: كتاب الله الا هل بلغت؟
اللهم اشهد ايها الناس ان ربكم واحد وان اباكم واحد كلكم لآدم وادم من تراب اكرمكم عند الله اتقاكم، ليس لعربي فضل على عجمي الا بالتقوى. الا هل بلغت؟
ايها الناس ان الله قد قسم لكل وارث نصييبه من الميراث ولا تجوز لوارث وصيه، ولا تجوز وصيه في اكثرمن الثلث والولد للفراش وللعاهر الحجر، من ادعى الى غير ابيه او تولى غير مواليه فعليه لعنة الله والملائكه والناس اجمعين لا يقبل منه صرف ولاعدل والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وفي هذا اليوم امتن الله على المؤمنين
“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.
O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every *Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. God has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. God has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn ‘Abd’al Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived…
Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under God’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship God, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.
All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.
Remember, one day you will appear before God and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.”
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O God, that I have conveyed your message to your people”.
This sermon was found in a collection of Muhammad’s sermons, “Sermons of the Prophet,” translated by S. H. Faizi in 2001. Faizi acknowledges that the authenticity of the texts thereof is still doubted by ulema [Muslim scholars].
Most likely, this is merely a compilation of different hadith attributed to Muhammad. The actual, more authentic “Farewell Sermon” is presented in Al Tabari’s “History,” Vol. IX, page 112. It is also contained virtually word-for-word in Ishaq’s “The Life of Muhammad,” page 651.
Here are the major differences:
1) the authentic sermon prescribes wife-beating which is not mentioned in the fake sermon; 2) authentic sermon describes women “like domestic animals” whereas the fake sermon describes them as “partners and committed helpers;” 5) equality of mankind is not mentioned in the authentic sermon, but rather the brotherhood of Muslims only is described; 4) The Islamic Pillars of five daily prayers, fasting, zakat, and the hajj are not mentioned in the authentic sermon; 5) the edict that no prophet or new faith will follow Islam is not in the authentic sermon; 6) there is nothing in the authentic sermon about passing his words on to others who will understand better than those who heard Muhammad directly; and 7) the authentic sermon ordains the Islamic calendar which is 11 days short of a full year, but this is not mentioned in the fake sermon. (See Surah 9:37)
Note also that even the language was not consistent with 7th Century terminology:
(1) Negros were called “slaves (abd),” not “blacks”;
(2) Arabs in the 7th Century did not use “white” to describe a race;
(3) “committed” was never used in the Quran as an adjective.
Clearly, this fake version of Muhammad’s final sermon was concocted to whitewash some of his primitive commands, to falsely promote modern humanitarian values, and to highlight Islam’s Five Pillars which were overlooked in the original Quran. Do not be fooled by Muhammad’s fake “Final Sermon.”
Yes I’m starting to think this sermon is made up
If you want to claim such things, bring a solid authentic proof. Or else it’s called SLANDERING.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. It’s important to clarify a few key points regarding the Farewell Sermon (Khutbatul Wadaʿ) of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
First, it’s essential to understand that the exact wording of the Farewell Sermon varies across authentic Islamic sources. It was delivered in front of over 120,000 Companions during Hajj, many of whom narrated different portions according to what they personally heard or remembered. These reports are recorded in reliable compilations like Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood, and major historical works like those of Al-Tabari and Ibn Ishaq. However, there is no single agreed-upon verbatim transcript. Instead, scholars of hadith and seerah have carefully collected these narrations, comparing chains of transmission and text to establish authenticity.
The version shared in our post is a composite of authentic narrations from various sources. This is a well-known and scholarly accepted method, provided it is done with integrity and reliance on authentic texts. It helps readers access the core messages delivered by the Prophet ﷺ during his final sermon in an accessible and comprehensive manner.
On Your Points:
The Prophet ﷺ did not prescribe wife-beating in the Farewell Sermon. What is authentically narrated is his command to treat women well, warning men about their responsibilities towards them, and reminding them that women are a trust from Allah. This is consistent across sound narrations.
Women described as “domestic animals”—this is a misrepresentation. Some weak or fabricated narrations have been misquoted or mistranslated to portray such ideas, but these are not from authentic sources. No reputable scholar of hadith has authenticated such language as coming from the Prophet ﷺ in his Farewell Sermon.
The Prophet ﷺ explicitly affirmed the equality of all people, as narrated authentically: “O people! Your Lord is one, and your father is one. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for a white over a black, nor for a black over a white, except by piety.” This is found in authentic hadith sources such as Musnad Ahmad (23489) and others.
The Five Pillars of Islam are mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ in various contexts, including sermons like this one. The emphasis on prayer, fasting, zakat, and Hajj is integral to his final messages. Even if a specific version of the sermon does not list them all, these were undeniably part of his farewell teachings.
The statement that no prophet will come after him ﷺ is not fabricated. The Prophet ﷺ clarified the finality of his Prophethood in multiple authentic narrations. In Sahih Muslim (2286), he said: “There is no prophet after me.” Repeating this fact in his Farewell Sermon aligns perfectly with his lifelong mission.
The instruction to convey his message to those not present is a recurring theme in his speeches and commands. For example, “Let those present inform those who are absent.” This is an authentic hadith found in Sahih al-Bukhari (67) and Sahih Muslim (1679).
Regarding the Islamic calendar, the prohibition of Nasi’ (adjusting the months) was indeed mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ in his Farewell Hajj. “Time has completed its cycle and assumed the form of the day Allah created the heavens and the earth…” (Sahih al-Bukhari 4403, Sahih Muslim 1679).
On Language and Terminology:
Islamic teachings are primarily conveyed in Arabic, and translations into English inevitably involve selecting contemporary words to convey their meanings. Phrases like “black” and “white” are translations of terms such as aswad and abyad, and the meaning remains the same. As for terms like “committed,” translators often use language that resonates with modern readers without distorting the message.
A Word of Caution:
It’s crucial to recognise the difference between genuine scholarly research and casual or biased readings. Islam has a long tradition of rigorous scholarship, with scholars dedicating their entire lives to mastering Arabic, hadith sciences, jurisprudence, and historical verification. It is not appropriate for those without grounding in these sciences to dismiss centuries of scholarship based on selective or superficial readings.
We should approach sacred texts and historical reports with humility and respect, relying on recognised scholars and authentic sources. Misrepresenting or cherry-picking quotes without context leads to confusion and false conclusions.
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“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except bypiety (taqwa) and good action.”
Above is the text posted in this site.
In Arabic text of Masnad of Imam Ahmad I found only Taqwa is mentioned but not والعمل الصالح.
Is there any reference where good deed (والعمل الصالح) is mentioned ? Any information would be appreciated.
Beautiful response
Hajjatul wida sermon on 9 zilhijja
I am leaving behind two heavy things one is Quran and other is my itrat my ahl e bayt if you hold them fast you will never go astray tirmidhi hadees no 3786,87,88,89 sahih Muslim hadees no 6225,26,27,28
The writer has not included this part of kutba therefore either he is himself a munafiq or a shagird of munafiq
Surah nisa ayat no 65 by your lord that cannot be a believer unless they make you a judge between their disputes and then whatever you decide they accept it with happiness