Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, at ISOC – Dhul Hijjah 8, 1424/ January 30, 2004, states that: Almighty Allah says: (For Hajj are the months well known. If any one undertakes that duty therein, let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Hajj and whatever good ye do, (be sure) Allah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is right conduct. So fear Me, O ye that are wise! It is no crime in you if ye seek of the bounty of your Lord (during pilgrimage). Then when ye pour down from (Mount) Arafat, celebrate the praises of Allah at the Sacred Monument, and celebrate His praises as He has directed you, even though, before this, ye went astray. Then pass on at a quick pace from the place whence it is usual for the multitude so to do, and ask for Allah’s forgiveness. For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) (Al-Baqarah 2:197-99)

As far as Prophet Muhammad’s Hajj and his everlasting message during the Hajj are concerned, the Hajj of the Prophet is known as the Hijjat al-Wada` (the Farewell Pilgrimage), because upon returning from Hajj the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left this world within three months. This Hajj is also known with other names: It is called “Hijjat al-Islam” because this is the only Hajj that the Prophet performed after receiving the message of Islam. It is also called “Hijjat al-Balagh” because in this Hajj the Prophet conveyed the final message of Islam. It is called “Hijjat al-Kamal and Hijjat at-Tamam” because in this Hajj Allah revealed to him the good news that the message of Islam is perfected and Allah’s favor is fully granted for those who shall follow the way of Islam.

This Hajj took place in the 10th year of Hijrah. Many details about this Hajj are available in the books of Hadith and Sirah. One can prepare a whole diary of this Hajj from Prophet’s departure from Madinah to his return to Madinah.

The Prophet left Madinah on the 25th of Dhul Qi`dah. People kept joining him from all directions. When he arrived in Makkah, the number of those who joined him reached to about 125,000 people. The Prophet explained to them at every step the basic rules and principles of Hajj.

In `Arafat he gave his famous Khutbah and then next day in Mina he repeated some of its points and gave some more points. The speech had many important points and it was communicated by different people in the crowd who would repeat after the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The main theme of this famous speech can be summarized as: “Do not wrong any one.”

Here are some basic points of this speech:
“O People, do you know in what month, what day and in what city you are?” They said, “In a sacred day, in a sacred city and a sacred month.” He said, “Your blood, your properties and your honor is as sacred among you as the sacredness of this day of yours, this month of yourS and this city of yours.”
Then he said, “Listen to me and you shall live (happily): Behold do no injustice, Behold do not injustice, Behold, do no injustice.

It is not permissible to take the money of a Muslim without his/her good pleasure. Behold, every blood demand, every money demand or any special privilege that you held in the time of Ignorance (before accepting Islam) are under my feet until the day of Judgment. Every demand of interest is cancelled. You can only have your capital with doing wrong or being wronged.

All people are equal like the teeth of the comb. All of you are descendants of Adam and Adam was created from dust. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab or for a white person over a black person except in the matters of piety.

A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. All Muslims are one brotherhood.

Behold, do not turn infidels after me by striking at the necks of each other.

Behold, Satan has lost all hope that the people of Salah will worship him, but he shall still try to create dissentions among you. (So beware of Satan and his plots.)

Be conscious of Allah concerning women. They are your helpmates. They have some rights on you and you have some rights on them.

Behold, whosoever has any thing entrusted to him by someone else, he should give it back to the one who entrusted him.”

Then he spread his hands and he said, “Behold, I have conveyed. Behold, I have conveyed.” Then he said, “Let those who are present convey this message to those who are not here. Indeed some who may receive it later may follow it better than those who heard it.”
Here the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized the following principles:

1. Honor the life, dignity and property of others.

2. Do not do injustice and oppression.

3. Be honest in your business and financial dealings

4. All human beings are equal.

5. Muslims are brothers to each other.

6. Do not fight each other

7. Avoid quarrels and disputes among yourselves

8. Recognize the rights of women

9. Fulfill the trusts

10. Convey the message of the Prophet to others.

This message was delivered more than fourteen hundred years ago and it is always needed. Muslims need it and the whole world needs it. This is the message that we have to live with and should convey to the world.