The Journey and Scale
In Dhu al-Qa’dah 10 AH, the Prophet announced the Hajj and approximately 100,000-114,000 Muslims joined the pilgrimage — more than had ever gathered in one place in Islamic history to that point. The Prophet led every rite of Hajj personally, teaching as he went: “Take your Hajj rites from me — for I do not know whether I will be able to perform Hajj after this year.”
He performed all the pillars: ihram from Dhu al-Hulaifa, tawaf of the Ka’ba, sa’ee, standing at ‘Arafah, spending the night at Muzdalifa, the stoning of the jamarat at Mina, the sacrifice, and the farewell tawaf. Every action became a permanent record of the correct Hajj procedure.
The Farewell Sermon — Key Declarations
The Prophet delivered his major address on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijja at ‘Arafah. Among its declarations:
On the sanctity of life and property: “Your lives and your property are as sacred and inviolable as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this town of yours.”
On social equality: “O people! Your Lord is One and your father [Adam] is one. No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor any non-Arab over an Arab, nor a white person over a black person, nor a black person over a white person — except in taqwa [God-consciousness].”
On women’s rights: “Fear Allah regarding women — you have taken them as a trust from Allah.”
On Riba (usury): “All riba from the time of Jahiliyya is abolished… and the first riba I abolish is the riba of my uncle ‘Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib.”
On the Quran and Sunnah: “I am leaving among you two things that if you hold fast to them you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet.”
The Event at Ghadir Khumm
On the return journey from Mecca (18th Dhu al-Hijja), at the pool of Ghadir Khumm, the Prophet stopped the entire caravan and made his final public declaration — preserved in both Sunni and Shia/Ismaili hadith collections. He took Ali ibn Abi Talib by the hand and declared: “Of whomsoever I am the mawla — Ali is his mawla.” (Tirmidhi — authenticated in multiple chains)
This event is foundational for the Ismaili and Shia understanding of Ali’s designated succession.
See also: Prophet Muhammad, Seerah Final Years, Seerah Death, Arafah, Hajj Journey, Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Nass