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The farewell sermon of prophet Muhammad and its moral lessons for our polarized world (Part 1)
Kpone Katamanso Municipal Chief Imam | Certified Counsellor | Governance Expert
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. We praise Him, seek His help, and ask His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our own souls and from our misdeeds.
Whomever Allah guides, none can mislead; and whomever He leaves astray, none can guide.
We send endless peace and blessings upon our noble Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., the Seal of the Prophets, whose final sermon stands as a moral compass for humanity.
Introduction: A Timeless Message to a Divided Humanity
In 632 CE, during his final pilgrimage, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم delivered what would become one of the most profound moral declarations in human history — Khutbat al-Wadā‘ (The Farewell
Sermon). Standing before more than one hundred thousand followers on the plains of ʿArafah, he encapsulated the essence of faith, justice, and human dignity: affirming equality, the sanctity of life, mutual respect, and unwavering devotion to God. Shortly after this address, the Qur’anic revelation affirmed the culmination of divine guidance:
“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your religion.” (Qur’an 5:3)
More than fourteen centuries later, this sermon continues to speak to a world divided by race, politics, class, and ideology. Its timeless message remains a moral compass for humanity, resonating far beyond the boundaries of faith. Scholars such as John L. Esposito (2003) and Seyyed Hossein Nasr (2015) regard it as a “charter of universal ethics” — a manifesto of spiritual equality
and social justice that transcends time, geography, and creed.
The Farewell Sermon (Opening Section)
“O people! Listen attentively to me, for I do not know whether after this year I shall ever be among you again in this place. Therefore, listen carefully to what I say and take these words to those who could not be present here today.
O people! Just as you regard this month, this day, and this city as sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Do not wrong anyone, so that none may wrong you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and He will surely reckon your deeds.
Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest); therefore, all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer injustice.
Allah has judged that there shall be no interest, and all interest due to ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib (the Prophet’s uncle) is henceforth waived in its entirety.
The Sanctity of Life, Property, and Honour “Indeed, your blood, your property, and your honour are sacred to you, just as the sanctity of this day, this month, and this city.”(Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)
This was not only a declaration for Muslims but a divine affirmation of human dignity. The Prophet linked the sanctity of human life to the holiness of Makkah, Dhul-Hijjah, and the Day of ‘Arafah — emphasizing that harming another person is a violation of sacred trust.
Allah says:“Do not kill the soul which Allah has made sacred, except by right.” (Qur’an 17:33)
“Whoever kills a person unjustly, it is as though he has killed all mankind.” (Qur’an 5:32)
Moral Lesson and Contemporary Relevance
In a world marked by terrorism, ethnic violence, political oppression, and mass shootings, this principle is a moral anchor for all. Islam commands that human life is inviolable — whether Muslim or non-Muslim.
As Dr. Tariq Ramadan (2007) notes, “The Prophet’s final sermon redefined human relations based on divine accountability, not tribal affiliation.”
If embraced universally, this teaching could guide peace-building, conflict resolution, and social justice movements worldwide. It teaches that human life is sacred beyond borders, color, and belief — a message urgently needed in today’s fractured world.
Economic Justice and the Abolition of Exploitation
“Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest); all usury obligations are abolished.”
“Verily, all forms of usury from the pre-Islamic period are abolished, and the first usury I
abolish is that of my uncle, al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib.” (Muslim)
In a single proclamation, the Prophet ended the exploitative financial systems of his era. Islam’s economic vision is rooted in fairness, mutual consent, and compassion.
Allah commands: “O you who believe! Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, but only through lawful trade by mutual consent.” (Qur’an 4:29)
Moral Lesson and Modern Insight
Economic justice remains one of humanity’s greatest challenges, from poverty and debt slavery to corporate greed. The Prophet’s message is not merely a prohibition of interest, but a call for economic ethics.
Non-Muslims can appreciate this as a model for sustainable finance, encouraging microcredit,ethical banking, non-interest banking system, and corporate social responsibility. The World Bank (2021) and UNDP reports affirm that societies thrive when economies prioritize fairness and reduce inequality.
Islam’s vision of wealth as a social trust (amanah) rather than an instrument of domination is a moral paradigm that the modern world urgently needs.
Respect for Women and Family Rights
“O people, you have certain rights over your women, and your women have rights over you.
Treat them with kindness, for they are your partners and committed helpers.”
At a time when women were denied inheritance and dignity, the Prophet uplifted them as equal moral agents and partners in society.
The Qur’an proclaims: “And live with them in kindness.” (Qur’an 4:19)
“And their rights are similar to the rights upon them, according to what is equitable.” (Qur’an 2:228)
Moral Lesson and Global Relevance
This message resonates deeply in contemporary gender discourse. It challenges both patriarchal injustice and modern exploitative models that objectify women.
As Amina Wadud (1999) writes in Qur’an and Woman, the Prophet’s teachings established “a moral equality that precedes modern feminist thought.”
Muslims and non-Muslims alike can embrace this principle: that strong families and societies depend on justice, empathy, and partnership not dominance. True liberation lies in mutual respect and responsibility.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
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THE state of feeling rejected, could be a terrifying experience especially for those who have become used to fame. If not properly addressed, it could lead to depression and the consequences, could be disastrous.
When you are on top of your game in whatever profession you find yourself such that you become famous, a lot of people try to associate with you. The phone never ceases to ring and one is tempted to feel loved and very important.
When a disaster strikes and the fame or the money which was the source of the attraction fades away, the circle of friends and fans begin to shrink and the phone will start to stop ringing until the call stops voting completely.
You will be shocked at how people you considered friends, will no longer be calling you or pay casual visits as they used to. You will begin to notice that messages you leave after calling them and not getting a response are not replied to and that is when you begin to know who your true friends are.
One of the most popular movie stars was an actress called Sharon Stone. In an interview with one of the media houses that was published, she spoke about how people who should have come around to encourage her in her moment of depression, shunned her. The calls stopped coming.
This is what the Bible admonishes that the arm of flesh will fail you and therefore we should put our trust in God. It could be a very frightening experience and can easily lead to depression.
Human nature being what it is, people will want to get close if things are okay. Everybody wants to associate themselves with interesting things, famous people, rich people etc for mainly selfish reasons.
We need to develop the habit of putting our trust in God and relying less on human beings. The lesson we have to take along in life is that, no one marries his or her enemy so how come people who took vows that they will love each other become so hostile to each other that they want to go their separate ways in life? Such is the reality of life.
It is therefore prudent for people to recognise that, life is full of uncertainties and so there is the need to prepare your mind for uncertainties so that when they occur, they do not disorganise your mental sanity.
A lot of people have experienced situations where people who they could have sworn will never betray their trust have disappointed them when they were through challenging moments.
If there is one thing famous people should desire, it should be the ability to identify who are true friends are. Countless stories abound regarding incidence of celebrities who have lost their shine and their wives divorcing them soon after.
It is sometimes useful as a famous or rich person to sign a prenuptial agreement before marriage to safeguard or protect yourself from any future unpleasant surprises.
People can be very pretentious these days, it goes both ways. There is this real life story where a man married a divorced wealthy woman and convinced her to sell her house so they could build a new one together, with the excuse that people are gossiping that he is being housed by a woman.
The woman agreed and they put up a new building. After a few years the man asked for a divorce, only for the woman to realise that the land on which the building was situated, was bought in the man’s name.
This can drive a person insane, if you are not mentally tough and this happens to you. When people hear that you are homeless, a lot of your so-called friends will stop calling, so that you do not become a burden on them.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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‘But, er …. I don’t even know your name’.
‘Paul. Paul Allotey. I’m Sarah, by the way. Paul, why don’t you leave me here, since this is the last important thing I’m doing today’.
‘Okay. Now Sarah. I was just thinking. You will be here at the cafe for about an hour. By then it will be about twelve thirty. Then, you would be thinking of buying yourself some lunch, to eat here or to take home. So if you would please allow me, I will take you to one of the nicest eating places in town, and after you have sorted that one out, then I can drop you home. Just that one errand, then I won’t bother you again’.
‘You are not bothering me at all. You are being very kind to me. And I just realised you are a mind reader too. The last item on my agenda was lunch’.
‘I’m so glad I appeared at your doorstep, just in time’.
‘Okay. Now Paul, since you say the cafe is a comfortable place, let’s go in together, and you can do your work while I get my application done’.
‘Okay, Sarah. Thanks. Let’s go’.
We got back in the car at eleven forty-five.
‘So where are we going, Paul?’
‘To Royalty restaurant. It’s a twenty minute drive away’.
‘So, do you enjoy your job?’
‘Most certainly. I won’t change it, not even to be President. And am I right to say that you are preparing to enter the university?’
‘That’s my plan. I hope it works’.
‘It will, if you are determined, and disciplined. You look very much like a disciplined person’.
‘Thank you very much’.
We arrived at Royalty in twenty-five minutes, ‘You are joining me for lunch, Paul’.
‘Thanks for the honour, Sarah. But the bill is on me’.
‘Aren’t you taking on too much for one day?’
‘I never do anything that is bigger than me, Sarah’.
Over the next hour and a half, we discussed fashion, local and international politics, and sports, as we ate and relaxed. Finally, he drove me to the shop.
‘I will never forget you, Paul’.
‘I’m glad to have been helpful. But if you don’t mind, I’ll say it again, your husband is extremely lucky. You are really beautiful’.
‘Thanks again. But do you mind if I call you sometime in the future?’
‘Certainly not. Let me write it here. I will not ask for your number, for obvious reasons. But I will be looking forward to hearing from you. And hopefully, I will see you next month, when I call to drop your bill’.
‘Okay Paul. See you then’. What a lovely day, I said to myself as I opened the front door. I closed the shop and got home by seven. I went straight to the bedroom, stood in the mirror and took a good look at myself. ‘You are a very beautiful woman, Sarah. Never forget that’. I will not forget that, again.
Over the next several weeks, Martin and I had very little to do with each other. In the morning he ate his breakfast and after a shabby ‘I’m going’, he left. He came home around eight at the earliest, ate his dinner and, already soaked in beer, went off to sleep.
He spent the greater part of the weekends at the club house with his friends, playing tennis and partying. My mind was focused on furthering my education, so I didn’t complain to him, and didn’t bother to inform my parents about what was happening. I had decided that I would only take action if he lifted his hand against me again. I spent my free time reading all manner of interesting stuff on the internet, and chatting with my sister on WhatsApp.
One evening, he came home at about eight, rushed to the bedroom and rushed out. An envelope, obviously containing money, dropped out of his pocket, and I picked it up and followed him. I was going to call him and give it to him, but I noticed that there was a young woman in the car, so I went back in, counted it and put it in a drawer in the hall. He came back after some ten minutes.
‘Excuse me, I dropped an envelope containing money. You must have seen it’.
‘Yes, I saw it. Actually, I followed you, and was about to call you and hand it over to you when I realised that there was a woman in the car, so I came back in. I counted it. One thousand cedis.
‘Well let me have it. I have to be going’.
‘I will let you have it if you will tell me who the woman in the car is, and why you are going to give her that amount of money’.
‘Listen, if you waste my time, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget. Give me the money now!’
‘Here’s what we will do, Martin. I know you will give money to her anyway, so I will give it to you, if you will withdraw the threat you just issued. But I want you to know that I will be taking some steps from tomorrow. Things are getting out of hand’.
‘Okay, I’m sorry I threatened you. Can you please give me the money’. I handed it over to him, and he ran out’.
The following morning, I waited for him to finish having breakfast, and told him I wanted to have a word with him urgently.
‘You better be quick. You know I’m going to work’.
‘Well, I want to inform you that I will inform my parents, and your parents, about the situation in this house. As I said yesterday, things are getting out of hand. You spend most of your time drinking. You get drunk every evening, and through the weekend. And you are also spending your time and money on a prostitute’.
‘How dare you? One more stupid word from you …’
‘Am I lying, Martin? You have just started life, yet you are behaving like a rich, elderly man who has already seen his children through university, and can afford a life of fun. As I said, I’m going to inform our parents. Maybe your parents can straighten you out before it is too late’.
‘Look, we can talk this evening. It’s nothing like what you are saying’. He walked away, shocked.
That evening, I was expecting to have a meaningful discussion with him, but his mother called early in the evening to offer me some ‘advice’. Her son had called to say that certain developments at home were disturbing him so much that they were beginning to affect his work.
And, ‘as a loving mother to her daughter’, she was advising me to submit to my husband, and support him in prayer, and not ‘drive him from home’. Men would always be men, and she was telling me ‘from experience’ that no matter how much time Martin stayed away from home, he would always come home to me.
She had been a young wife before, so she understood the challenges I was facing. So I could be assured that if I followed her advice, all would be well. And, of course, she didn’t allow me to tell my side of the story.
Martin came home very late, and very drunk. And from the next morning, he carried on as before. With some hesitation, I called my dad and told him all that had gone on.
‘Well, my daughter. I’m not going to say “I told you so”. I was only trying to protect you. So here’s what we’ll do. Continue doing the best you can, and try not to give him any excuse to harm you, but if things continue to deteriorate, I will take you back.
A couple of days later, my cousin Dinah arrived in Accra from Brussels, having completed her medical course. With Martin’s agreement, I went to Koforidua and spent a couple of days. I spent most of the time chatting about her experiences in the US, but we also discussed my relationship with Martin, and she endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if Martin’s behaviour did not change after two weeks Elaine informed Mom and Dad. We endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if there was no change in two weeks.
Dinah returned with me to Takoradi. Her plan was to spend a couple of weeks, and return to Accra to be posted. I called Paul Allotey, and asked if he would meet her for lunch and, if possible, show her some interesting spots. Delighted, he suggested that we meet at Royalty the next day.
I told Martin about it, to remove any possibility of future disagreement over ‘going out with men’.
‘It’s fine with me’, he said, ‘if, of all the people who could show your sister round this town, you chose a borla man. Doesn’t that indicate the kind of person you are?’
‘ First of all, Martin’, I’ve spoken to him a few times, and he comes across as a decent guy, so I think it is rather unfortunate that you are writing him off when you don’t know him’.
By Ekow de Heer
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