The Farewell Sermon at ʿArafāt

On Friday 9 Dhū al-Ḥijjah 10 AH, at ʿArafāt during his only ḥajj, the Prophet ﷺ addressed the largest gathering of his life — the sources speak of over a hundred thousand pilgrims.

The sermon's clauses became a charter recited ever since: the sanctity of life and property "as sacred as this day, this month, this land"; usury of the Jāhiliyyah abolished, beginning with his own uncle's; the rights owed between spouses; that no Arab has precedence over a non-Arab except by taqwā; and the refrain "have I conveyed? — O Allah, bear witness." The verse "This day I have perfected for you your religion" (5:3) came down at ʿArafah that afternoon.

Eighty-one days later he ﷺ died; the sermon reads as the seal it proved to be.