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 RIBA (Usury-Interest), therefore, all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital however, is your to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer inequity. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all RIBA due to Abbas bin Abdul Muttalab (the Prophet’s uncle who had died earlier) shall henceforth be waived.
Behold, all practices of paganism and ignorance are now under my feet (discarded). Every right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived and the first such right I waive is that arising from the murder of Rabiyah bin Al-Harith (relative of the Prophet). O men, the unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calendar in order to make permissible that which Allah forbade, and to forbid that which Allah had made permissible. With Allah the months are twelve four of them are holy; three of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumadah and Shaaban. (for performing Hajj and Umrah).
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 wives, but they also have rights over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your wives 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. It is incumbent upon them not to commit acts of impropriety, which if they do you have authority to chastise them but not severely. Behold; Lay injunctions upon women but kindly.
He who attributes his ancestory to other than his father, curse of Allah be upon him.
And feed your slaves with such food as you yourselves eat and clothe them with the stuff that you wear. Treat them well and be compassionate towards them. And if they commit a fault, which you are not inclined to forgive, then part with them for they are the servants of Allah and are not to be chastised.
O People. Listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramdhan, 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 a black nor a black has any superiority over a white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim and that Muslims constitute one brotherhood.
Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim that 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 for your deeds. So beware do not stray from the path of righteous-ness after I am gone.
Allah has ordained that every man shall have his share of inheritance, and a will or testament prejudicial to the rightfull heirs is unlawful.
O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words, which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an 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”.
It was at this time that the following verse regarding the completion of religion was revealed to him;
“ This day I have perfected for you your faith. And completed my favour upon you. And I am well pleased with al-Islam as your religion.” (5-3). |
