The Prophet’s Last Will

Today, there is an urgent need to remind all Muslims throughout the world of a warning by the Prophet that he issued on the occasion of the Hajjatul Wida (‘The Farewell Pilgrimage’). In the words of a narrative recorded in the Sahih al-Bukhari:

Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet delivered a sermon before people on the Day of Sacrifice. The Prophet asked, “O people, what day is this?” They replied, “A sacred day.” Then he said, “What city is this?” They replied, “A sacred city.” Then he said, “What month is this?” They replied, “A sacred month.” The Prophet said: “Verily your blood, your property, and your honour are as sacred and inviolable as the sacredness of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this town of yours.” The Prophet repeated these words several times. Then he raised his head towards the sky and said: “O God, have I conveyed the message? O God, have I conveyed the message?” Abdullah ibn Abbas said: “By Him in whose hands is my soul, this is Prophet’s bequest to his followers. So, he who is present should convey it to him who is not.” Then Abdullah ibn Abbas repeated these words of the Prophet: “Do not turn disbelievers after me, striking off each other’s necks.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1739)