TheFarewell Pilgrimage (Arabic:حِجَّة ٱلْوَدَاع,romanized: Ḥijjat al-Wadāʿ) refers to the oneHajjpilgrimage thatMuhammad performed in the Islamic year 10 AH, following theConquest of Mecca. Muslims believe that verse 22:27 of the Quran brought about the intent to perform Hajj inMecca that year. When Muhammad announced this intent, approximately 100,000 of hisSahaba gathered inMedina to perform the annual pilgrimage with him. Muhammad performed Hajj al-Qiran, a type of Hajj in whichUmrah and Hajj are performed together. On the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, theDay of Arafah, Muhammad delivered theFarewell Sermon atop theMount Arafat outsideMecca.
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Muhammad's pilgrimage defined several of the rituals and rites of the Hajj and is one of the most well-recorded moments of his life, later transmitted through hissahaba, who accompanied him on this occasion, observing every gesture of Muhammad, which has become a precedent to be followed by Muslims all over the world (sunnah).
Muhammad had lived in Medina for ten years since theHijrah and had not partaken in anyHajjpilgrimage, although he had performed theUmrah on two previous occasions. Muslims believe the revelation of verse 27 ofSurah 22,Al Hajj:[Quran 22:27]
And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass.
Muhammad committed to the Hajj that year. The Muslims in Medina and the surrounding regions gathered with Muhammad to undertake the journey. Muhammad appointedAbu Dujanaal-Ansari as the Governor of Medina during his absence. On 25Dhu al-Qi'dah (c. February 632), he left Medina, accompanied by all his wives.[1]
Before leaving forMecca, Muhammad stayed at theMiqat Dhu al-Hulayfah and taught the Muslims the manner of wearingIhram. He first performedghusl, before putting on hisihram, which is said to have consisted of two pieces ofYemeni unsewed white cotton. Muhammad then performed theZuhr prayer at themiqat before leaving on a camel named Al Qaswa'. Muhammad then proceeded with his journey until he reached Mecca, arriving eight days later.[2][3][4][5]
Spending the night at Dhi Tuwa outside Mecca, Muhammad and hiscompanions arrived at theMasjid al-Haram the next day. They entered from what is the Al Salam Gate today and approached theKaaba. Muhammad then proceeded tocircumambulate theKaaba (tawaf), after which he once again touched and kissed the Black Stone. After his prayers, Muhammad drank from theZamzam well, prayed, and then continued to the hills ofAs Safa and Al Marwah, where he performed the ritual walking between the two mountains (sa'ee).[4] Muhammad then moved to Al Hujūn; he had not removed hisihram after the Sa'ee as he had intended to perform Hajj Qirān, which involves performingUmrah andHajj together. Muhammad then ordered those who had arrived without sacrificial animals to observeihram forUmrah and to perform Tawaf and Sa'ee, following which they relieved themselves ofihram.[5]
On the sunset of the 8th ofDhu al-Hijjah, Muhammad left forMina and performed all prayers fromZuhr toFajr, before leaving forMount Arafat the next morning, walking alongside his camel. As he ascended the mountain, he was surrounded by thousands of pilgrims chantingTalbiyah andTakbir. Muhammad ordered a tent be erected for him on the east side ofMount Arafat at a spot calledNamirah. He rested in the tent until the sun passed thezenith, then he rode his camel until he reached the valley ofUranah. Muhammad delivered his final Fridaysermon (khutbah), known as theFarewell Sermon, to more than 100,000Sahaba, before leading theZuhr andAsr prayers in conjunction. Then he moved to plain of Arafat and spent the afternoon in supplication.[2] According toAl Mubarakpuri, verse 3 ofSurah 5,Al Ma'idah, was revealed to Muhammad after having delivered this sermon:[5]
This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour uponyou, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.
Upon sunset of the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, Muhammad arrived atMuzdalifah and performed hisMaghrib andIsha prayer before taking rest. At the break of dawn, he prayed and supplicated before returning to Mina in the morning and carrying out the ritual of theStoning of the Devil, reciting thetakbir every time he threw a stone at theJamrah.[6] Muhammad then ordered the sacrifice of the sacrificial animals that he had brought with him. Muhammad and his companions ate little of what they had sacrificed and gave the rest to charity. Muhammad then returned to Mecca, performed anotherTawaf and prayedZuhr at theMasjid al-Haram. He then drank from the Zamzam well before returning to Mina on the same day and continuing theStoning of the Devil.[6] Muhammad then spent the next three days, the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, known as the Days of Tashrīq, in Mina performing the Stoning of the Devil. Al Mubarakpuri says that Muhammad delivered another speech on the 12th, following the revelation ofSurah 110,An Nasr.[5]
