| After praising and thanking 
                                  Allah the Prophet (saws) 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 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 
                                    obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital 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 [the Prophet's uncle] be waived.  Every right arising out of homicide in pre-islamic days 
                                    is henceforth waived and the first such right that i waive 
                                    is that arising from the murder of Rabiah ibn al Harithibn.  O People, the unbelievers indulge in tampering with the 
                                    calender in order to make permissible that which Allah 
                                    forbade, and to forbid that which Allah has made 
                                    permissible. With Allah the months are twelve in number. 
                                    Four of them are holy, three of these are successive and one 
                                    occurs singly between the months of Jumada and Shaban.  Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has 
                                    lost all hope of that he will 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 anyone 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, fast during the month of Ramadhan, 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 
                                    a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute 
                                    one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim 
                                    which belogs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely 
                                    and willingly. Do not therefore do injustice to yourselves. 
                                    Remember one day you will meet 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 my words which I convey to you. I leave 
                                    behind me two things, the Qur'an 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 Allah, that I have conveyed Your 
                                    message to Your people."  |