In the name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful
In Cairo the muezzin calls faithful Muslims to prayer. It’s the same call that sounds 5 times a day everyday in cities across the world. Nearly a quarter of the people on Earth respond to it bound together by the enduring spirit of Islam.
God is Most Great
I testify that there is no god (worthy of worship) but God
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God
Come and pray
Come and flourish
God is Most Great
There is no god (worthy of worship) but God
In the unfolding of history, Islamic civilization has been one of humanity’s grandest achievements, a worldwide power founded simply on faith, a spiritual revolution that would shape the nations of 3 continents and launch an empire.
For the West much of the history of Islam has been obscured behind the veil of fear and misunderstanding yet Islam’s hidden history is deeply and surprisingly interwoven with western civilization
It was Muslim scholars who reclaimed the ancient wisdom of the Greeks while Europe languishes in the dark ages. It was they who sowed the seeds of the Renaissance 600 years before the birth of Leonardo Da Vinci. From the way we heal the sick to the numerals we used for counting, cultures across the globe have been shaped by Islamic civilization.
But all these began with the life of a single ordinary man and the profound message he proclaimed which changed the world forever.
His name was Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Guided by the Al Qur’aan which God Almighty revealed to him through the Archangel Gabriel, peace be upon him, Muhammad taught his companions that there is only one god, Allah, worthy of worship and that he, Muhammad, is His messenger and that Islam is the only way of life which God Almighty has perfected, completed His favour upon and decreed for Man.
Persecuted and constrained both physically and materially, Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, persisted for thirteen years to spread the words of God Almighty to his idol worshiping tribe, the Quraysh of Mecca. Slowly but surely, the number of followers to his teachings grew and spread to nearby Yathrib the city that eventually became known as Madinah, City of the Prophet.
In the thirteenth year of prophet hood, Muhammad was commanded by God Almighty to emigrate to Yathrib, where he set up the seat of Islam as a state and consolidated his position as Prophet and Messenger of Allah by spreading Islam to the whole of Arabia and the surrounding states.
Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, passed away at the age of sixty three, in the twenty third year of his prophet hood.
The following is the sermon he gave to the people who accompanied him on his last pilgrimage to Mecca and known historically as Khutbatul Wada’, the Farewell Sermon, on the 9th day of Zul Hijjah 10 AH in the Uranah Valley at Mount Arafat.
"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I don't know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.
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.
Allah has forbidden you to take usury (Interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived...
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 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 committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery.
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.
You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim.
You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action.
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 apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words which 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."
God Almighty revealed verse 3 of Surah Al Maaidah on this same day, confirming this sermon of the prophet, “This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”.
