Last Sermon Of Holy Prophet (PBUH).
The farewell address delivered on 9th Dhul Hijjah, 10 AH – a timeless charter on human dignity, equality and justice.
The Salient Features of the Last Sermon of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
The Last Sermon (Khutbat al-Wada’) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad is a timeless declaration of human dignity, equality, justice, and respect for human rights. It serves as a guiding document for humanity, setting out universal principles that transcend time, race, ethnicity, and nationality.
Many of these principles, particularly equality, human dignity, justice, and non-discrimination—are reflected in international human rights instruments, especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Delivered during his Farewell Pilgrimage, the sermon affirms that all people are equal before God and deserve equal respect and protection.
Last Sermon Of Holy Prophet (PBUH)
Key Messages:
- Equality: The Prophet (PBUH) declared that no Arab has superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; no white person over a black person, nor a black person over a white person, except in piety and righteous conduct.
- Non-Discrimination: Every individual is entitled to equal dignity and rights regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or social status.
- Justice and Human Dignity: The sermon upholds the sanctity of life, property, and honor and calls for justice, honesty, and respect for the rights of others.
- Peaceful Coexistence: It promotes unity, mutual respect, compassion, and harmony while rejecting prejudice and discrimination.
These enduring principles are reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Articles 1 and 2, which affirm that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and are entitled to these rights without distinction of any kind, including race, religion, language, or other status. The UDHR's commitment to equality, human dignity, and non-discrimination is therefore consistent with the universal values articulated in the Last Sermon more than fourteen centuries earlier.
The Last Sermon remains a powerful foundation for promoting equality, non-discrimination, human dignity, and peaceful coexistence, demonstrating that these universal human rights values have deep historical and ethical roots within Islamic teachings.