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'''The Farewell Sermon''' (خطبة الوداع, Khuṭbatu l-Wadā') is purported to be the Prophet [[Muhammad|Muhammad's]] final [[Farewell Sermon|sermon]] to his followers before [[Muhammad's Death|his death]] in 632 CE. However like most elements of the Islamic tradition our sources for this are late, with the earliest mention coming from Ibn Ishaq who was born 70 years after the death | '''The Farewell Sermon''' (خطبة الوداع, Khuṭbatu l-Wadā') is purported to be the Prophet [[Muhammad|Muhammad's]] final [[Farewell Sermon|sermon]] to his followers before [[Muhammad's Death|his death]] in 632 CE. However like most elements of the Islamic tradition our sources for this are late, with the earliest mention coming from Ibn Ishaq who was born 70 years after the death of the prophet. The entirety of the supposed speech shows up in Ibn Ishaq while Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari report shorter versions. Other sources in Hadith repeat isolated fragments of the speech, one of which reminds men to treat their wives well given that they are prisoners to their husbands. It also echoes [[Qur'an]] 4:34 in commanding beating in the case of disobedience. It should be noted that [[List_of_Fabricated_Hadith#Muhammad.27s_Farewell_Sermon|a more recent retelling of the speech]] which omits this injunction is a recent fabrication and not part of the attested classical tradition. | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
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==Text of the Farewell Sermon== | ==Text of the Farewell Sermon== | ||
'''<big>Ibn Ishaq's version which is the earliest report of the sermon:</big>'''{{Quote|The History of al-Tabari, Volume 9 The Last Years of the Prophet (Translated by Ismail K. Poonawala), pp. 112-113|O people, listen to my words. I do not know whether I shall ever meet you again in this place after this year. O people, your blood and your property are sacrosanct until you meet your Lord, just as this day and this month of yours are sacred. Surely you will meet your Lord and He will question you about your deeds. I have [already] made this known. Let he who has a pledge return it to the one who entrusted him with it; all usury is abolished, but your capital belongs to you. Wrong not and you shall not be wronged. Allah has decreed that there will be no usury, and the usury of Abbas b. Abd al-Muttalib is abolished, all of it. All blood shed in the pre-Islamic days is to be left unavenged. The first such claim I revoke is that of Ibn Rabiah b. al-Harith b. Abd al-Muttalib, who was nursed among the Banu Layth and was slain by the Banu Hudhayl. His is the first blood shed in the pre-Islamic days with which I shall set an example. O people, indeed Satan despairs of ever being worshipped in this land of yours. He will be pleased, however, if he is obeyed in a thing other than that, in matters you minimize. So beware of him in your religion, O people, intercalculating a month is an increase in unbelief whereby the unbelievers go astray; one year they make it profane, and hallow it another [in order] to agree with the number that Allah has hallowed, and so profane what Allah has hallowed, and hallow what Allah has made profane. Time has completed its cycle [and is] as it was on the day that Allah created the heavens and the earth. The number of the months with Allah is twelve; [they were] in the Book of Allah on the day He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred, the three consecutive [months] and the Rajab [which is the month of] Mudar, which is between Jumada and Sha’ban.<BR><BR>Now then, O people, you have a right over your wives and they have a right over you. You have [the right] that they should not cause anyone of whom you dislike to tread on your beds; and that they should not commit any open indecency. If they do, then Allah permits you to shut them in separate rooms and to beat them, but not severely. If they abstain from [evil], they have the right to their food and clothing in accordance with the custom. Treat women well, for they are [like] domestic animals with you and do not possess anything for themselves. You have taken them only as a trust from Allah, and you have made the enjoyment of their persons lawful by the word of Allah, so understand and listen to my words, O people. I have conveyed the Message, and have left you with something which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray; that is, the Book of Allah and the sunnah of his Prophet. Listen to my words, O people, for I have conveyed the Message and understand [it]. Know for certain that every Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, and that all Muslims are brethren. It is not lawful for a person [to take] from his brother except that which he has given him willingly, so do not wrong yourselves. O Allah, have I not conveyed the message?}} | |||
'''Sahih Bukhari's verion:'''{{Quote| Sahih al-Bukhari » Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi) - كتاب المغازى » Hadith 4406 | '''<big>Sahih Bukhari's verion:</big>'''{{Quote| Sahih al-Bukhari » Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi) - كتاب المغازى » Hadith 4406 | ||
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4406|The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Time has taken its original shape which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is of twelve months, four of which are sacred, and out of these (four) three are in succession, i.e. Dhul-Qa'da, Dhul-Hijja and Al-Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab which is named after the Mudar tribe, between (the month of) Jumaida (ath-thania) and Sha'ban." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "Which is this month?" We said, "Allah and His Apostle know better." On that the Prophet (ﷺ) kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijja?" We replied, "Yes." Then he said, "Which town is this?" "We replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." On that he kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then he said, "Isn't it the town of Mecca?" We replied, "Yes, " Then he said, "Which day is today?" We replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then he said, "Isn't it the day of An- Nahr (i.e. sacrifice)?" We replied, "Yes." He said, "So your blood, your properties, (The sub-narrator Muhammad said, 'I think the Prophet (ﷺ) also said: And your honor..) are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this city of yours, in this month of yours; and surely, you will meet your Lord, and He will ask you about your deeds. Beware! Do not become infidels after me, cutting the throats of one another. It is incumbent on those who are present to convey this message (of mine) to those who are absent. May be that some of those to whom it will be conveyed will understand it better than those who have actually heard it." (The sub-narrator, Muhammad, on remembering that narration, used to say, "Muhammad spoke the truth!") He (i.e. Prophet) then added twice, "No doubt! Haven't I conveyed (Allah's Message) to you?"}} | https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4406|The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Time has taken its original shape which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is of twelve months, four of which are sacred, and out of these (four) three are in succession, i.e. Dhul-Qa'da, Dhul-Hijja and Al-Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab which is named after the Mudar tribe, between (the month of) Jumaida (ath-thania) and Sha'ban." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "Which is this month?" We said, "Allah and His Apostle know better." On that the Prophet (ﷺ) kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijja?" We replied, "Yes." Then he said, "Which town is this?" "We replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." On that he kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then he said, "Isn't it the town of Mecca?" We replied, "Yes, " Then he said, "Which day is today?" We replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then he said, "Isn't it the day of An- Nahr (i.e. sacrifice)?" We replied, "Yes." He said, "So your blood, your properties, (The sub-narrator Muhammad said, 'I think the Prophet (ﷺ) also said: And your honor..) are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this city of yours, in this month of yours; and surely, you will meet your Lord, and He will ask you about your deeds. Beware! Do not become infidels after me, cutting the throats of one another. It is incumbent on those who are present to convey this message (of mine) to those who are absent. May be that some of those to whom it will be conveyed will understand it better than those who have actually heard it." (The sub-narrator, Muhammad, on remembering that narration, used to say, "Muhammad spoke the truth!") He (i.e. Prophet) then added twice, "No doubt! Haven't I conveyed (Allah's Message) to you?"}} | ||
'''<big>Shahih Muslim's version:</big>'''{{Quote| Sahih Muslim. The Book of Pilgrimage - كتاب الحج . Hadith 1218 | |||
https://sunnah.com/muslim:1218a|Verily your blood, your property are as sacred and inviolable as the sacredness of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this town of yours. Behold! Everything pertaining to the Days of Ignorance is under my feet completely abolished. Abolished are also the blood-revenges of the Days of Ignorance. The first claim of ours on blood-revenge which I abolish is that of the son of Rabi'a b. al-Harith, who was nursed among the tribe of Sa'd and killed by Hudhail. And the usury of she pre-Islamic period is abolished, and the first of our usury I abolish is that of 'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib, for it is all abolished. Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have right over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. Their rights upon you are that you should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner. I have left among you the Book of Allah, and if you hold fast to it, you would never go astray. And you would be asked about me (on the Day of Resurrection), (now tell me) what would you say? They (the audience) said: We will bear witness that you have conveyed (the message), discharged (the ministry of Prophethood) and given wise (sincere) counsel. He (the narrator) said: He (the Holy Prophet) then raised his forefinger towards the sky and pointing it at the people (said):" O Allah, be witness. 0 Allah, be witness," saying it thrice.}} | |||
== Importance of the Sermon == | |||
The Hadith corpus mentions many sermons by Muhammad but they are very short and usually each sermon includes a single main point. The farewell sermon is the only reported sermon that’s long and includes many different points making it the only one that resembles a full sermon. This sermon has its significance to Muslims since that Muhammad, in front of thousands of followers, bid farewell to his nation by saying he might not be here ever again then he died three months later. He preached important points in this farewell sermon: The sacredness of Muslims’ blood and properties, the abolishing of everything pertaining to the pre-Islamic era, how women should be treated by their husbands and finally stating that Muslims will never go astray if they hold fast to the book of Allah. | |||
The sermon has impacted practiced Islam in the following ways: | |||
1-Following the footsteps of Muhammad, delivering a public sermon by an Imam became a ritual part of the Hajj. It’s called the sermon of Arafah and it’s delivered in Arafah. In modern times this sermon is delivered by a prominent Imam chosen by the Saudi government. The grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Abdul Aziz Al-Shikh used to be chosen to deliver the sermon every year for over 3 decades until 2015 when he fell ill<ref>بعد ذلك تم تكليف الشيخ عبدالعزيز بن عبدالله آل الشيخ، حفيد أول خطيب لجامع نمرة (في الدولة السعودية الثالثة)، بالخطابة، واستمر الشيخ عبدالعزيز في الخطابة في منبر مسجد نمرة أطول فترة؛ إذ خطب منذ موسم حج عام 1402هـ حتى موسم حج عام 1436هـ. | |||
بعدها اعتذر المفتي عن عدم الخطابة لظروفه الصحية، | |||
[https://web.archive.org/web/20231005044425/https://sabq.org/saudia/8dwtlle5zt صحيفة سبق الألكترونية، مقالة بقلم فلاح الجوفان بعنوان: 14 في 100 عام عنقود خطباء عرفة]</ref>. | |||
2-The sermon clarified that the beating mentioned in the Quran as a punishment for wives with ill-conduct shouldn’t be severe. No other Hadith clarified this. | |||
3-The sermon in Sahih Muslim’s is part of a long report by Jabir where he detailed the events of Muhammad's pilgrimage. This detailed report became an important source for how the Hajj should be conducted. | |||
4-Muhammad ended the sermon by saying “Haven't I conveyed to you? O Allah bear witness”. This expression is sometimes used by religious and public speakers at the end of an important speech. | |||
Although the Hadith corpus is full of reports that are considered misogynistic in modern standards, the farewell sermon is the only Hadith that describes wives as prisoners with their husbands. This description is mentioned in the version by Ibn Ishaq, Al-Waqidi and several other sources such as Ibn Majah and Al-Tirmidhi. But it isn’t mentioned in Sahih Muslim’s version. The version of Sahih Bukhari drops the women part from the sermon altogether. | |||
== Authenticity of the Sermon == | |||
Traditional Sunni Islam takes the sermon as authentic especially that large parts of it are reported in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim which are deemed by Sunni Muslims as the most authentic collections of Hadith. | |||
Away from traditional Islamic standards for Hadith authenticity, it’s apparent that the sermon includes two fabrications: | |||
1-In many versions of the sermon, including the earliest version by Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad says “O people! listen to my words. I do not know whether I shall ever meet you again in this place after this year.” The fact that Muhammad died 3 months later turns what he said into a prophecy, which means it was a fabrication as it’s the habit of historians to deem accounts of miracles and prophecies in any tradition as ahistorical. In the sermon's versions reported in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, there’s no mention of this prophecy. | |||
2-The sermon as reported by Ibn Ishaq, Al-Waqidi, Sahih Muslim and some other sources includes the following line: | |||
“I have left you with something which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray; that is, the Book of Allah.“ | |||
Ibn Ishaq’s version adds to it: “and the sunnah of his Prophet.” | |||
The mention of "the Sunnah of the prophet" is clearly apocryphal, as Patricia Crone has shown in ''God's Caliph'', since such a concept did not exist in actual khalifal/Islamic jurisprudence until well into the Abbassid period. Other renditions such as that of Sahih Muslim don’t mention the Sunnah of the prophet. | |||
== The correct translation of ʿawān == | |||
The sermon as reported by Ibn Ishaq and many other sources includes the following part: | The sermon as reported by Ibn Ishaq and many other sources includes the following part: | ||
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Note that while translations of the following hadiths of the farewell sermon differ, the same Arabic text occurs in the line about beating without severity. In Arabic, 'beat them, but not severely' is ''fa-idribuhunna darban ghayra mubarrihin'' (فَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ضَرْبًا غَيْرَ مُبَرِّحٍ), which literally translates to mean 'beat them, a beating without violence/severity/sharpness/vehemence<ref>[http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume1/00000219.pdf Lane's Lexicon] Book I page 182</ref>'.{{Quote|{{Abu Dawud||1900|Hasan}}|[...] Fear Allaah regarding women for you have got them under Allah’s security and have the right to intercourse with them by Allaah’s word. It is a duty from you on them not to allow anyone whom you dislike to lie on your beds but if they do beat them, but not severely. [...]}}The version of the farewell sermon in Sunan Abu Dawud was collected also in Sahih Muslim. | Note that while translations of the following hadiths of the farewell sermon differ, the same Arabic text occurs in the line about beating without severity. In Arabic, 'beat them, but not severely' is ''fa-idribuhunna darban ghayra mubarrihin'' (فَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ضَرْبًا غَيْرَ مُبَرِّحٍ), which literally translates to mean 'beat them, a beating without violence/severity/sharpness/vehemence<ref>[http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume1/00000219.pdf Lane's Lexicon] Book I page 182</ref>'.{{Quote|{{Abu Dawud||1900|Hasan}}|[...] Fear Allaah regarding women for you have got them under Allah’s security and have the right to intercourse with them by Allaah’s word. It is a duty from you on them not to allow anyone whom you dislike to lie on your beds but if they do beat them, but not severely. [...]}}The version of the farewell sermon in Sunan Abu Dawud was collected also in Sahih Muslim. | ||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|7|2803}}|[...] Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have right over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. [...]}} | {{Quote|{{Muslim|7|2803}}|[...] Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have right over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. [...]}} | ||