WEEK 5

FAREWELL PLIGRIMAGE AND THE LAST SERMON (10AH):

In the tenth year of Hijrah, the Prophet declared his intension to go for pilgrimage. When this news spread outside Medina, people flocked to the city wanting to accompany him. Throngs of people also joined him on the way. Its reported 111400 followers accompanied him in the farewell pilgrimage. The Prophet left Medina on the 25th of Zul-Qa’dah after offering his Zuhur prayers.
The party reached Makkah on the 4th of Dhul Hajj after a journey of 19 days. He went straight to Masjid al-Haram and performed Tawaaf of the Kabah and sa’ey between Safa and Marwa. He stayed in Makkah for 4 days and then on the 8h of Dhul Hajj went to Mina with his companions. He offered the Zuhur and Asr prayer there and spent the night. At sunrise on the 9th he left Mina for Arafat followed by all the pilgrims. It was a Friday. Down in the valley he delivered a great sermon to the people while sitting on his camel. The Prophet said: ‘’ O people! Listen to my words. I don’t know whether after this year I shall be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take these words those who could not be present here today.’’
Protection of life, property and honour: ‘’O people! Just as you regard this month, this day and 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.”
Usury prohibited: ‘’Allah has forbidden you to take usury therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived (ignored)....’’
Beware of Satan: ‘’ He (Satan) 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.’’
Rights of women: ‘’O people! It is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have a right over you. 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 your 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 commit adultery.’’
Pillars of Islam: O people! Listen to me in earnest. Worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.’’
Brotherhood and equality: ‘’ You know that every Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. You are all equal nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action.’’
Rights of slaves: ‘’ See that you feed your slaves such food as you eat and clothe them with what you wear; if they commit a fault which you are not inclined to forgive then part from them and do not treat them harshly.’’
Day of Judgement: ‘’Remember one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not astray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.’’
Finality of the Prophet: ‘’ O people! No prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born.’’
Adherence to Qur’an and Sunnah: ‘’I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and my example, the Sunnah; and if you follow these, you will never go astray.’’
Message to be conveyed: ‘’ 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 them”
When the sermon was over, the Prophet said his Zuhur and Asr prayers combined. At this time the last revelation came ‘’....This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my blessing upon you and chosen as your religion, Islam (total devotion to God)....’’ (5:3). After sunset he left Arafat for Muzdalifah. At Muzdalifah he offered the Maghrib and Isha prayers combined and then slept until morning. At dawn he offered Fajr prayer and then rode until he came to Mash’ar al-Haram the sacred site at Muzdalifah. He faced the Qiblah and began to make supplications. He left Muzdalifah before sunrise and travelled quickly to the Jamrat-ul-Aqabah at Mina where he threw pebbles at the symbol of Satan. Then he went to the place of sacrifice where he sacrificed 63 camels, one for each year of his life. After this he shaved his head. Then he rode to Makkah and performed Tawaf-al-Ifadah. He came back the same day and spent 3 days at Mina to perform the ritual stoning of Satan. After the completion of the pilgrimage he went back to Medina.
On his return to Medina, he organised the provinces and tribal communities. He appointed officers to collect Zakah from the newly converted tribes and people of the peninsula. Meanwhile many more deputations arrived at Medina to accept Islam.

This farewell Pilgrimage of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) may rightly be called the culminating point in his prophetic career. The Holy Prophet's mission, had, by this time, been completed to all intents and purposes. To a people steeped in ignorance, he gave light and inspired them with belief in Allah, the sole Creator, Master and Sustainer of the Universe. In short Muhammad had delivered to the human race the final truth with all its necessary implications. The completion of his prophetic mission implied his departure from his earthy home to his heavenly abode. The Holy Prophet had clearly visualized it. He therefore decided to give the finishing touch to his massive work and to imprint its salient points on the minds of his devoted followers so that they might always keep before them the system of life given by Islam.
The sermon of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is not only remarkable for its eloquence, but it contains a sublime (inspiring) message for the whole of the human race. The world has not been able to lay down better principles of ethics and morality than those expressed. Every word of it breathes a spirit of magnanimity (generosity) and aims at establishing righteousness and fair dealing among people on a workable basis. It establishes brotherhood among Muslim irrespective of the divergences of their geographical, racial and colour background and provides an outline of a social order, perfectly free from oppression and injustice. The address of the Prophet encompasses all the requisite ingredients of an Apostle's perfect message meant for the Muslim as well as the rest of mankind. It is remarkable for its length, lucidity (simplicity) and enthusiasm. He declared the inviolability (holiness) of a Muslim's life property and honour. Everyone who had received a deposit was asked to return his trust. The charging of interest on loans or capitals was condemned.
In social relationships the Holy Prophet laid emphasis on the rights of women or wives and their obligations towards their men or husbands. They were to be regarded as trusts form God and not maltreated unnecessarily or deal with illegally. Likewise, Muslims were forbidden to steal others’ assets or take away their property without permission or agreement. From the above analysis of the Holy Prophet's Address, it should not be difficult to conclude that touched the chords of realism, justice and equity and that it could offer enough guidance for an ideal human life.

DEATH (11AH): Read from the book

Posted by Ms. Sadaf Ikram at 8:11 AM 0 comments
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FEB WEEK 5 (SURAH FATIHA)
SURAH 6: Al-Fatiha
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds,
Most Gracious, most Merciful,
Master of the Day of Judgment.
You alone we worship, and Your aid we seek.
Show us the straight way,
They of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace,
Those whose portion is not wrath (anger), and who go not astray.

The Main Theme(s)
This is the opening Surah of the Quran and its theme is Tauheed or absolute oneness of Allah, and man’s relationship with Allah. It tells us that Allah alone deserves worship because He has the power to ensure sustenance of all, extend mercy to all and dispense ultimate justice because He alone will be the Judge and Master on the day of judgement. We need to seek his guidance in order to receive His favour by following the path of righteousness; and avoid the ill fate of misguided communities by deviating from the straight way. This guidance is contained in the Quran and the Prophet’s Sunah.

The Presentation of the Theme in a distinctive way.
The focal point of the Surah is the Guidance in the light of which man can guarantee success for himself in this world and Hereafter. This guarantee lies in treading path of righteousness designed and shown by Allah as contained in the Quran and the Sunah of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). This is the first Surah of the Qur’an in the form of a supplication or plea; and the answer to this plea is the rest of the Book, which is a complete code of life. This path has been given the name in 3:103 as the “Rope of Allah” that ensures collective survival of the believers. The Surah also stresses on seeking Allah’s help and kindness in all affairs of life because Allah alone is the source of help. The last two Surahs of the Quran (al- Muawwazatain) provide similar guarantee by asking the believers to seek Allah’s refuge against all evils.