Don’t be Fooled by Muhammad’s Fake “Final Sermon”

Muslims sincerely want and need to be following a prophet who models today’s most cherished humanitarian values --  universal equality,  civil rights for women,  and a faith for all peoples and all times.  After all, Islam is now competing in a marketplace of ideologies, some of which actually ensure those values.  Unfortunately, it is impossible to reach back into the well-documented history of Muhammad and find those values.  So, instead, Muslims have re-written history.  Be aware!  When Muslims tell you that Muhammad espoused universal equality, equal rights for women, and a “perfected” religion, they may be quoting from a fake “Final Sermon” of Muhammad.  Here it is:   

"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, 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. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. God has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. God has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn 'Abd'al Muttalib (Prophet's uncle) shall henceforth be waived...

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under God's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship God, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.
Remember, one day you will appear before God and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.”

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O God, that I have conveyed your message to your people".

This sermon was found in a collection of Muhammad’s sermons, “Sermons of the Prophet,” translated by S. H. Faizi in 2001.  Faizi acknowledges that the authenticity of the texts thereof is still doubted by ulema [Muslim scholars]. 

Most likely, this is merely a compilation of different hadith attributed to Muhammad.  The actual, more authentic “Farewell Sermon” is presented in Al Tabari’s “History,” Vol. IX, page 112.  It is also contained virtually word-for-word in Ishaq’s “The Life of Muhammad,” page 651.  

Here are the major differences: 1) the authentic sermon prescribes wife-beating which is not mentioned in the fake sermon; 2) authentic sermon describes women “like domestic animals” whereas the fake sermon describes them as “partners and committed helpers;” 5) equality of mankind is not mentioned in the authentic sermon, but rather the brotherhood of Muslims only is described; 4) The Islamic Pillars of five daily prayers, fasting, zakat, and the hajj are not mentioned in the authentic sermon; 5) the edict that no prophet or new faith will follow Islam is not in the authentic sermon; 6) there is nothing in the authentic sermon about passing his words on to others who will understand better than those who heard Muhammad directly; and 7) the authentic sermon ordains the Islamic calendar which is 11 days short of a full year, but this is not mentioned in the fake sermon. (See Surah 9:37)

Note also that even the language was not consistent with 7^th Century terminology: 1) Negros were called “slaves (abd),” not “blacks”; 2) Arabs in the 7^th Century did not use “white” to describe a race; 3) “committed” was never used in the Quran as an adjective. 

Clearly, this fake version of Muhammad’s final sermon was concocted to whitewash some of his primitive commands, to falsely promote modern humanitarian values, and to highlight Islam’s Five Pillars which were overlooked in the original Quran.  Do not be fooled by Muhammad’s fake “Final Sermon.”

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