By Ishola Balogun
At the last gathering with the Muslims during the Hajj season, the Prophet Muhammad’s (s.a.w.) farewell sermon was delivered at the valley of Arafat, about 81 or 82 days before his death. It contained the very fundamentals of Islam.

He said with a clear tone: “O people, lend me and 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. Allah has forbidden you to take usury; therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived.

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hopes that he will 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. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in mildness. 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 anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery.

O people, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah (SWT), say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform hajj if you can afford to. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over the other except by piety and good deeds.

Remember, one day your will appear before Allah (SWT) and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not go astray from the path of righteousness after my death.

O people, no Prophet or Messenger will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore,

O people, and understand my words, which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and my examples, the 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’ Allah, (SWT) that I have conveyed Your message to Your slaves.”

Prophet Muhammad (s.aw.) died 1423 years ago, but the message was clear, precise for every generation of humanity. It is the message in a wrap, it is Islam in a peep and it is about the enduring legacy of  Qur’an and the hadiths. In his last sermon, he stressed the need to hold firmly to these two sources at the valley of Arafat that if people hold fast to them, they will never go astray.

These books are there everywhere, written in several languages. Those who are in doubts should take the pains to read the text and digest the narrations in order to appreciate better the teachings of Islam. The teachings he left for us if put into practice in their true spirit and proper way will bring a happy life in this world; and great rewards  in the hereafter.

Islam as brought by the Prophet Muhammad (s.aw.) is  a religion about daily prayers, fasting, alms-giving and pilgrimage. It is about love for one another; about fairness and justice for all; about socio-political and economic relief; and about peace and tranquillity for all.

In the field of economic development, the goal is not material gain, but human welfare in general. Islam exhorts that the balance between the material and physical aspects, between the individual and societal needs, be maintained in order to narrow the gap between two opposite sides of human world.

These and among others are what Islam is meant to achieve. These are the true teachings and intrinsic values of Islam. But no thanks to the new developments in the world especially in Nigeria where political and cultural issues have mixed up with the doctrine of Islam or better still erroneously perceived as anti-people.

Unfortunately, Islam is now looked upon in a narrow-minded perspective. In the light of the teachings of the Prophet, the Muslim Ummah must exhibit the Qur’an, must display the hadiths in them, must manifest the love and peace the religion teaches; must change the perception of those Muslims by birth that know little about the religion who also join the number of non-Muslims to condemn the religion on the basis of the action of a group of people.

Recently, I happened to visit a Muslim family and the father who rarely observes salat or fast during the month of Ramadan told his devout wife and children that they should stop associating themselves with any Islamic group or Muslim.

He explained that he feels ashamed introducing himself as a Muslim as a result of the terrorism unleashed by the Boko Haram group and the violent activities in the northern part of the country which were erroneously linked with Muslims.

Not ready to listen to any sermon, he handed down the warning with a stern threat. His dependants now don’t have the free-will to practice the religion. Now, this is one of the several crises some Muslims contend with in their homes as a result of the Boko Haram terror.

At this time, what is required is not to blindly follow the precept of those elements, even though they are perceived to be Muslims; you can go back to the Quran and hadiths and see if what you are doing is in concert with the books. Your primary concern should be to follow what the religion teaches and not the rule of behaviour of those who want to be identified by the religion.

May Almighty Allah guide to the right path.  Amin.