On the “Farewell Sermon” (khuṭbah al-wadā‘) of the Prophet Muḥammad

Abstract

Abstract

The article analyzes the key directions of the theological interpretation of the ritual narrative of the “Farewell Sermon” (khuṭbah al-wadā‘) of the Prophet Muḥammad. The study focuses on the content and moral signifi cance of the sermon’s text, the question of its authenticity, and the specific representation of this corpus in hadith literature and in classical sīrah genre devoted to the Prophet’s biography. Khuṭbah al-wadā‘, the Prophet’s last public speech, was delivered in the Plain Arafat (present-day Saudi Arabia) on the 9th day of the month of Dhu al- Hij jah in the 10 th year of the Hij rah (6 March 632 CE) during the Farewell Pilgrimage (ḥajjat al-wadā‘). It contains key ritual, ethic, and legal principles of Islamic doctrine: the establishment of the sacred status of certain days and places; the inviolability of life, property, and honor; human equality; women’s rights; and the prohibition of usury (ribā) and blood feud. The article summarizes the main theological discussions related to this text and outlines potential directions for its further study, particularly in the context of interreligious dialogue.