Fruitful Living
Equality, anti-racism: Humanity as one family (Final part)
THERE is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor of a white over a black, except by piety.
This is perhaps one of the earliest and clearest condemnations of racism in history.
Fourteen centuries before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the Prophet proclaimed human equality as a divine truth.
The Qur’an confirms:
“O mankind! We created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Verily, the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous.” (Qur’an 49:13)
Moral lesson and global impact
The farewell sermon’s anti-racist ethos remains revolutionary. It inspired civil rights leaders such as Malcolm X, who after performing Hajj wrote that Islam revealed to him a “spirit of unity that erased colour from the equation of faith.”
In a world struggling with systemic racism, ethnic nationalism, and xenophobia, this prophetic statement offers a moral reset, inviting all humanity to embrace shared origin, purpose, and dignity.
Brotherhood, unity and social responsibility
“Every Muslim is a brother to every other Muslim. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly.”
This principle emphasises social trust, justice, and empathy. The Prophet also said:
“The Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he does not wrong him, nor forsake him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Moral lesson and modern application
In an age of loneliness, social division, and digital isolation, this call to fraternity is vital. Islam presents society as a moral community (ummah) bound by compassion and justice.
Even for non-Muslims, this principle offers a framework for civic solidarity, a reminder that community welfare depends on mutual care and responsibility.
As Karen Armstrong (2011) argues, “The Farewell Sermon represents a global ethic of compassion, a reminder that empathy is the foundation of civilisation.”
The final guidance: The Qur’an and Sunnah
“I leave behind me two things; if you hold fast to them, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”
The Prophet concluded by entrusting humanity with divine guidance. The Qur’an and Sunnah remain living sources of wisdom — calling to justice, mercy, and humility.
Allah says:
“If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger.” (Qur’an 4:59)
Moral lesson for all humanity (Part 4)
The Prophet’s emphasis on divine revelation reminds both Muslims and non-Muslims that moral renewal begins with reconnecting to higher values, such as truth, honesty, justice, and service.
In a time when materialism and moral relativism dominate, the Farewell Sermon calls humanity to re-anchor itself in divine ethics.
The subtle obedience to Shayṭān
The Prophet هيلع هللا ىلص ملسو ’s phrase, “but he is content to be obeyed in smaller matters,” reveals an important truth: Shayṭān rarely begins with major sins. Instead, he seduces believers through minor disobedience and internal division — envy, gossip, backbiting, or neglecting small acts of worship.
Allah says:
“And do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.” (Qur’an 2:168)
Imam al-Ghazālī (d. 1111 CE) explains in Iḥyā’ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn that Shayṭān works “step by step, whispering in the heart until disobedience feels natural and righteousness feels burdensome.” This gradual corruption transforms spiritual negligence into societal decay.
In today’s world, these “smaller matters” may include spreading false information, harbouring prejudice against fellow Muslims, or allowing political or ethnic loyalties to outweigh faith. The Prophet foresaw this danger and warned that Shayṭān thrives wherever believers are distracted by worldly divisions.
How these lessons benefit Muslims and non-Muslims alike
While the sermon emerged from an Islamic context, its principles are universal.
- For Muslims, it serves as a blueprint for faith, governance, and social conduct, urging us to live ethically in every domain.
- For non-Muslims, it offers a shared moral framework, one that transcends creed and culture. Its emphasis on life, equality, justice, and compassion mirrors the ethical teachings of other faiths and philosophies.
In a polarised world of religious intolerance and social fragmentation, the Farewell Sermon is not merely a relic of sacred history; it is a living manifesto of universal moral order.
Summary
The Farewell Sermon of Prophet Muhammad is not just an address to the seventh-century Arabs, it is a moral constitution for all humanity, regardless. Its teachings on the sanctity of life, economic justice, gender equality, anti-racism, and spiritual accountability remain unmatched in relevance.
As Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr (2015) aptly observes, “It is a universal proclamation of the sacred, calling man to live responsibly as God’s vicegerent on Earth.”
Conclusion and recommendation
The moral decline and divisions of our modern world from inequality and racism to corruption and conflict stem from our collective departure from divine ethics.
The Farewell Sermon reminds humanity that peace is not achieved through power, but through moral conscience, compassion, and justice. Muslims must embody these values daily in our families, communities, and governance systems. Non-Muslims can embrace the universal wisdom of its message fostering empathy, equality, and respect.
Let us all regardless of faith commit to living by this prophetic charter of peace. For when we uphold the sanctity of life, truth, and justice, we fulfill the very purpose of our creation.
Allah said:
“And we have not sent you, O Muhammad, except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Qur’an 21:107)
Thank you.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Responsibility extends beyond our homes to our environment and communities.
Allah says: “It is He who has made you successors upon the earth.” (Qur’an 6:165)
As khalīfah (stewards), we are entrusted to protect and preserve the earth. Unfortunately, activities like illegal mining (galamsey), poor sanitation, and deforestation have become threats to our land and water bodies.
Dr Julian Agyeman and Bob Evans (2004) in Just Sustainability argue that environmental justice is deeply tied to social equity we cannot claim moral uprightness while destroying the environment that sustains others.
Every responsible man must see the environment as an amānah (trust). Picking up litter, planting trees, conserving water, and speaking against galamsey are all acts of faith. As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person, or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift.” (Bukhari, Hadith 2320)
True responsibility therefore includes ecological consciousness for to destroy the environmentis to destroy the future we claim to build.
5.1 Environmental stewardship under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana
The 1992 Constitution of Ghana establishes environmental stewardship not merely as a governmental obligation but as a moral and civic duty of all citizens. It integrates environmental protection into the nation’s vision for sustainable development, justice, and intergenerational equity. Three key articles Article 36 (9), Article 41(k), and Article 269 outline this framework of responsibility.
1. Article 36 (9): Directive principles of state policy
“The State shall take appropriate measures needed to protect and safeguard the national environment for posterity; and shall seek cooperation with other states and bodies for the purpose of protecting the wider international environment for mankind.”
This article establishes that environmental protection is both a national and global responsibility.
It commits Ghana to sustainable use of natural resources including land, forests, water, and minerals for the benefit of future generations.
In essence, it means that every Ghanaian must act with intergenerational consciousness, ensuring that today’s development does not destroy tomorrow’s heritage. This principle directly condemns harmful practices such as illegal mining (galamsey), deforestation, and pollution.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
Wonderful counsellor
This coming king – Jesus, is exceptional because He is the Son of God and Son of man. He gives the right advice because He is intimately acquainted with the counsels of God from eternity. In fact John, one of His apostles describes Him as ‘one who was with God in the beginning’ – John 1:1-2. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God He was with God in the beginning.”(NIV) This Wonderful Counselloris the wisdom of God our Father who has made Him our wisdom. We can rely on Him for wisdom to handle our everyday situations and solve seemingly intractable problems. He is our wisdom because He enables us to move beyond our selfishness, greed, unholiness and self-will and submit to God’s direction without feeling that our peers would consider us foolish.
Mighty God
The coming King is a Divine Warrior because He has supernatural skill and strength in battle. Because He is God Himself, Jesus is able to fight and overcome every scheme of the devil concerning the lives of His redeemed. But even more, His divine skills in battle are transferred to us through the armour He has provided us which include the belt of truth; the breastplate of righteousness the gospel of peace; the shield of faith; the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit as we read in Ephesians 6:13-17. “Therefore, put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”. – (NIV) Through God’s might we are able to overcome one of our greatest enemies – the SELF; the I in us which insists on having its own way even if that way is against God and humanity. The might of God, given us through the coming King, Jesus Christ, gives us power to resist the world’s seductive attractions.
Everlasting Father
This coming King is timeless; He is God our Father or better put Father for ever, meaning that the King will look after His people as a father looks after His children. Jesus’ own promise to the disciples (and to us) is that no one can snatch us from His hands because we have been given to Him by His Father, God: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I am the Father are one”- John 10:27-30 (NIV).
Prince of peace
As a King, He preserves commands and creates peace in His Kingdom. He Himself is Peace and, therefore, brings prosperity and well-being to His people. He does this by governing with justice, righteousness and equity. In Isaiah 11:1-9 gives further detail about what constitutes the rule of the Prince of Peace as follows:
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from the roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord – and He will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what He sees with his eyes or decide by what He hears with His ears, but with righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice He will give decisions for poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be His belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist. The wolf will be with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, and their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra and the young child put his hand into the vipers nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” – (NIV)
Getting ready for the King
During this period until soon after Christmas, we should all be meditating on the message of Christmas. It is the message of God coming down to our level so that we will be raised to His level. It is a message of salvation from sin, the breaking of the bonds of slavery to Satan. It is a message of God lovingly binding broken hearts and healing diseases. But most of all, it is a message of restoration – God restoring us to the original relationship He created us to have with Him.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
