O people, lend me an attentive ear,
for I know not whether, after this year, I will ever be among you
again. Therefore, listen to what I am saying to you very carefully
and take these words to those who could not be present 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 interest; therefore, all interest obligations shall henceforth
be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither
inflict nor suffer inequity. Allah has judged that there shall be no
interest and that all interest due to al-`Abbas ibn `Abdul-Muttalib
shall henceforth be waived.
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 Rabi`ah ibn Al-Harith [a
relative of the Prophet]. O mankind, the unbelievers indulge in
tampering with the calendar in order to make permissible that which
Allah forbade, and to forbid that which Allah has made permissible.
With Allah the months are twelve; four of them are holy; three of
these (holy months) are successive and one occurs singly between the
months of Jumadah and Sha`ban.
O people, 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. If they
abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and
clothed in kindness. 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 commit adultery.
O people, listen to me in earnest.
Worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of
Ramadan, and give the share of Zakah in your wealth. Perform Hajj if
you can afford to. All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no
superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any
superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a
black, nor does a black have 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 righteousness after I am gone.
O people, no prophet or messenger
will come after me, and no new faith will be born. Reason well,
therefore, O people, and understand my words that 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.
