The Farewell Pilgrimage of 632 A.D.
In February 632 A.D. Muhammad ﷺ (may peace be upon him) performed his last pilgrimage. An immense concourse of Muslims, some 140,000 strong had thronged to Mecca to perform the religious ceremony. His concept of a democratic divine government, his ethical ideals and his code of equality, fraternity and simplicity all materialised here before his eyes. As he heard the multitudes who had assembled shouting at the top of their voices, “Labbaik Allahumma, Laibbaik Allahuma” (Here am I, O Lord! Here am I, O Lord!) his heart filled with joy and he felt his mission to be complete.
Alone among all the Prophets, Muhammad ﷺ (may peace be upon him) had lived to see his dreams become the reality. Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus Christ and all the ancient Jewish prophets had had to content themselves with leaving their unfulfilled work to their successors or disciples. It was only Muhammad ﷺ who saw the successful fruition of his ideals and aspirations.
According to the chroniclers Ali, who was that bright fountain from which flowed the streams of eternal hope of deliverance, and who in his endeavours to arouse spiritual, life in Yemen had successfully completed his mission by converting the erring inhabitats into staunch believers in faith, was summoned by the Holy Prophet to join in the Farewell Pilgrimage, where, after the performance of religious rites, the Holy Prophet shared with him those animals which he sacrificed to God. The historic Khutba which the Holy Prophet delivered on this occasion was heard by hundreds of thousands of Muslims. Dressed in the seamless white robes of pilgrims, they flocked to Arafat, some ten miles from Mecca, the place where Adam and Eve are said to have met after their departure from the garden of Paradise.
From here the Holy Prophet took the road back to Medina, the concourse of his followers spreading for several miles. On arriving in the valley of Khum, near Tuhfa, the Holy Prophet received the following Revelation:-
“O Messenger of God! Make known that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord, for if thou do it not, thou will not have conveyed His Message. Allah will protect thee from mankind. Lo! Allah guideth not the unbelieving folk.”
(Quran 5:67)
Calling a halt near a “Ghadir” or pond, the Holy Prophet ordered messengers to ride up and down, to bring to the front those who had lagged behind and to call back those who had gone ahead. It was mid-day and in the middle of the desert. The scorching sun beat down on the pilgrims who could not stand on the burning sand. Putting their linen sheets under their feet, they waited in breathless silence, anxious to know the cause of so sudden and urgent a summons.
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 