Seerah
The last pilgrimage and the end of a life
"This day I have perfected your religion."
5 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 4
In 632 the Prophet led the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah, with tens of thousands of pilgrims. It was the only one he ever made. It set the pattern of the pilgrimage Muslims still follow.
Lesson
Muslims still perform the Hajj the way he did that year.
Part 2 of 4
On the plain of 'Arafah, during that Hajj, the Prophet addresses the pilgrims: lives and property are sacred, debts of interest and blood feuds are cancelled, treat women kindly, and no one is better than another except in piety.
Qur'an 49:13
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرࣲ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ شُعُوبࣱا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ أَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَىٰكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرࣰ ١٣
13 O people, We have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most noble of you before Allah is the most righteous among you. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
Lesson
At 'Arafah he spoke of equality: people were made nations and tribes to know one another.
Part 3 of 4
Back in Madinah the Prophet falls ill and dies in the room of his wife 'A'ishah, aged about sixty-three. Many cannot believe it. Abu Bakr tells them: whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad has died; whoever worships God, God is alive.
Qur'an 3:144
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولࣰ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُۚ أَفَإِيْن مَّاتَ أَوۡ قُتِلَ ٱنقَلَبۡتُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَعۡقَٰبِكُمۡۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبۡ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيۡهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ ٱللَّهَ شَيۡـࣱٔاۚ وَسَيَجۡزِي ٱللَّهُ ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ ١٤٤
144 Muhammad is no more than a messenger; there were messengers who passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? Anyone who turns back on his heels will not harm Allah in the least, but Allah will reward those who are grateful.
Lesson
Abu Bakr's point: Muhammad was a messenger, and messengers die. God does not.
Part 4 of 4
So what did the Prophet leave behind? No throne and little property. He left the Qur'an, his example, and a community that within a century stretched from Spain to Central Asia.
Lesson
He left no throne. He left a book, an example and a community.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
"This day I have perfected your religion."