In the year 632 A.D., the Holy Prophet felt that his mission was nearing completion, and understanding that the end of his life was near; he decided to make a farewell pilgrimage to Mecca. After completing the various ceremonies of the Hajj, the Prophet addressed the people gathered there from the top of the Mount of Mercy, in the Plain of Arafat:
“O people, listen to my words; for I do not know
if I shall be among you after this year . Remember that you have to appear before your Lord Who will demand from you an account of all your actions.“O people, you have rights over
your wives and your wives have rights over you. Remember, you must always treat your wives with kindness. Woman is weak and cannot protect her own rights. When you married, God appointed you the trustees of those rights. You brought your wives to your homes under the Law of God. You must not, therefore, insult the trust which God has placed in your hands.“O people feed
your slaves as you feed yourselves and clothe your slaves as you clothe yourselves. If they commit a fault which you are unable to forgive, then pass them on to someone else. They are part of God’s creation and are not to be harshly treated.“O people, listen to my words, and remember that all Muslims are brothers one of another. As you are one
brotherhood , you will not take your brother’s belongings which he does not give you of his own goodwill. And guard yourself against committing injustice.“O people, take note that I trample under foot
all un-Islamic customs and traditions . All blood feuds are wiped out. As God has made you one brotherhood, so be not divided. An Arab has no superiority over a non Arab, nor a non Arab over an Arab; nor is a white one to be preferred to a dark one, nor a dark one to a white one. This day, retaliation for all murders committed in the days of ignorance is cancelled and all sums of interest are remitted.“O people, worship your Lord, observe Prayer, observe the Fast during Ramadhan, pay the Zakat cheerfully,
perform the Pilgrimage , and obey those in authority among you; God will admit you to His paradise”And he concluded:
“What I have said to you, you shall tell the others who are not present”
With these words the Prophet finished his address when a revelation came to him:
“This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed upon you my favour and have chosen for you Islam as Religion (5:4)
This is believed to be
the last revelation received by the Holy Prophet and with it the process of Quranic revelations, spanning a period of twenty two years, came to a close.