Farewell Pilgrimage

Significant event in early Islam
The Farewell Pilgrimage (حِجَّة ٱلْوَدَاع) refers to the one Hajj pilgrimage that Muhammad performed in the Islamic year 10 AH, following the Conquest of Mecca. Muslims believe that verse 22:27 of the Quran brought about the intent to perform Hajj in Muhammad that year. When Muhammad announced this intent, approximately 100,000 of his Sahaba gathered in Medina to perform the annual pilgrimage with him. Muhammad performed Hajj al Qiran. According to the opinion of Sunnis, Hajj al Qirān is type of Hajj in which Umrah and Hajj are performed together. On the 9th of Dhu al Hijjah, the Day of Arafah, Muhammad delivered the Farewell Sermon atop the Mount Arafat outside Mecca. Muhammad's pilgrimage defined several of the rituals and rites of the Hajj and is one of the most well recorded moments of his life, later transmitted through his sahaba, who accompanied him on this occasion, observing every gesture of Muhammad, which has become a precedent to be followed by Muslims all over the world (sunnah).

Muhammad had lived in Medina for ten years since the Hijrah and had not partaken in any Hajj pilgrimage, although he had performed the Umrah on two previous occasions. Muslims believe the revelation of verse 27 of Surah 22, Al Hajj:

Muhammad committed to the Hajj that year. The Muslims in Medina and the surrounding regions gathered with Muhammad to undertake the journey. Muhammad appointed Abu Dujana al Ansari as the Governor of Medina during his absence. On 25 Dhu al Qi'dah (c. February 632), he left Medina, accompanied by all his wives. Before leaving for Mecca, Muhammad stayed at the Miqat Dhu al Hulayfah and taught the Muslims the manner of wearing Ihram. He first performed ghusl, before putting on his ihram, which is said to have consisted of two pieces of Yemeni unsewed white cotton. Muhammad then performed the Zuhr prayer at the miqat before leaving on a camel named Al Qaswa'. Muhammad then proceeded with his journey until he reached Mecca, arriving eight days later.

Spending the night at Dhi Tuwa outside Mecca, Muhammad and his companions arrived at the Masjid al Haram the next day. They entered from what is the Al Salam Gate today and approached the Kaaba. Muhammad then proceeded to the circumambulate the Kaaba (tawaf), after which he once again touched and kissed the Black Stone. After his prayers, Muhammad drank from the Zamzam well, prayed, and then continued to the hills of As Safa and Al Marwah, where he performed the ritual walking between the two mountains (sa'ee). According to Al Mubarakpuri, verse 3 of Surah 5, Al Ma'idah, was revealed to Muhammad after having delivered this sermon: Muhammad then ordered the sacrifice of the sacrificial animals that he had brought with him. Muhammad and his companions ate little of what they had sacrificed and gave the rest to charity. Muhammad then returned to Mecca, performed another Tawaf and prayed Zuhr at the Masjid al Haram. He then drank from the Zamzam well before returning to Mina on the same day and continuing the Stoning of the Devil. Muhammad then spent the next three days, the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhu al Hijjah, known as the Days of Tashrīq, in Mina performing the Stoning of the Devil. Al Mubarakpuri says that Muhammad delivered another speech on the 12th, following the revelation of Surah 110, An Nasr.