The Prophet’s treatment of the people during Hajj

How the Prophet treated his people during the Hajj is indeed astonishingly magnanimous. He educated and led the masses simultaneously. It is needless to say that his deeds always measured up to his teachings. Everything he did was an indication of his greatness and nobility. Here are some examples:

1.   Educating Muslims

Allah sent the Prophet as an educator who would make people's lives and acts of worship easier. He undoubtedly excelled in his mission. People bore witness that they had never experienced any type of education better than his. He publicly announced his intention to perform the Hajj, to give those who wished to accompany him the opportunity to prepare themselves for the journey. The crowds flocked to Madeenah, hoping to learn from the Prophet and to follow in his footsteps. [Muslim] Throughout the Hajj, he mingled with the pilgrims and appeared for the public all the times. [Muslim] Nobody was beaten or turned away from him [Ibn Majah]. No one was mistreated or got hurt in his presence. [Muslim]

Having been keen on delivering the message in full, the Prophet used various methods of discourse and education. He reasoned with his people, urged them to learn, and made them listen to what he said and focus on what he did. He ordered Muslims to learn the Hajj rituals from him as he made it clear that it probably could be the last time he performed Hajj. [Al-Bukhari] He asked the people to bear witness that he had delivered the message fully. On many occasions, he would ask them: "Have I conveyed the message to you?" [Muslim] "We bear witness," they would reply, "that you have delivered the message, turned in the trust, and given exhortation." [Abu Dawood]

 2.   If’ (giving a religious verdict)

If’ was one of the important tasks performed by the Prophet in his Hajj. He gave religious verdicts concerning issues on which he was asked. One famous fatwa (verdict) of his was given to a woman from Khath'am tribe who asked him if she could perform Hajj on behalf of her aging father. "He cannot ride his camel," she said. "Perform Hajj on his behalf," the Prophet replied. [Al-Bukhari] Furthermore, the answer he  gave to anyone who asked about postponing or bringing forward the rituals due on Slaughter Day was "Do it, no problem." [Al-Bukhari]

3.   Preaching

Allah sent Muhammad to simultaneously warn people and to give them good tidings. The Prophet excelled in preaching and in showing his followers the righteous path. He urged them to do good and prohibited them from doing wrong.

The Hajj offered ample opportunity for preaching. Time and again he would remind the Muslims of some important rules. [Ahmad] He tackled several vital subjects in his preaching. Here are some important examples:

He ordered people to observe righteousness and to be religious. He explained to them the deeds they should do to enter Paradise. "Obey your Lord," he  said in one of his sermons, "Offer your five prayers, observe the fast in the month of Ramadan, give Zakah (alms) due on your wealth, and obey your rulers so that you may enter Paradise." [Ibn Majah]

He made it clear that we are each responsible for our deeds on an individual basis before Allah. He said: "Nobody is held responsible for somebody else's sins. No father is held accountable for the sins of his child, and no child is held accountable for the sins of his father." [Al-Bukhari]

He urged people to avoid disobedience and wrongdoing when performing their rituals. He asked them to occupy themselves with only that which is useful. "He who performs the Hajj without any wrongdoing," the Prophet  said, "will return free of all sins, like the day he was born." [Al-Bukhari]

4.   Unifying Muslims and warning them against trials and disunity

Despite all the feelings and emotions, it represents for Muslims, the Hajj is a unique opportunity to unify and to warn the nation against trials and afflictions. The Prophet gave great attention to this point. For instance:

He declared that all Muslims are equal and that Taqwa (fear of Allah) is the only basis for discrimination among them. "Your Lord is One," the Prophet said, "Your father is one. No Arab is superior to a non-Arab, and no black person is superior to a red person, or a red person to a black person except in the way of fearing Allah." [Muslim]

He ordered complete obedience to the righteous ruler who adheres to the Book of Allah and the Muslim congregation. In one of his sermons, he  exhorted the nation "If a black slave were made your ruler," he  said, "you should owe him allegiance and obedience provided that he adheres to the rulings of Allah's Book." [Muslim]

At the same time, he  warned against the intrigues of Satan saying "Satan has despaired of being worshipped by those who offer the prayer in the Arabian Peninsula but not of scheming against them." [Ibn Majah]

He also warned against introducing heresies into the religion. He  said: "I am going to save people, and will be called upon to save people; I will say, ‘O Lord how about my companions?’ and He (Almighty) will reply: ‘You do not know what they introduced after your death.’” [Al-Bukhari]

Further, he warned against all that may cause trials and dissension in Muslim society, such as fighting among Muslims. Having asked pilgrims to keep quiet, the Prophet said: "Never revert to disbelief after my death, killing each other." [Al-Bukhari]

He warned people against indifference for Muslim's blood, possessions, and other sanctities. In his sermons on the days of 'Arafah, Nahr (slaughter) and on the second day of Tashreeq, the Prophet  warned: "Your blood, your possessions, and your sanctities are all as sacred as this day of yours, as this month of yours, and as this land of yours." [Ahmad]

5.   Preaching submission to Allah and unifying the sources

Islam means total submission and humility to Allah Alone on the one hand and observance of the teachings of the Prophet on the other. Being a true Muslim requires undisputed submission to the divine revelation. The Hajj represents submission par excellence. It is a school of surrender to the will of Allah. The Prophet told his companions to unite in following his example and emphasized the necessity for adhering to his teachings. "The Prophet is with us," Jaabir reported, "and the divine inspiration is being revealed to him. He knows best how to interpret it, and whatever he does, we will follow in his footsteps." [Muslim] The outcome of this excellent education was enormously successful and blessed by Allah, Almighty.

On many occasions, the Prophet ordered his companions to follow his example when he mentioned that it might well be the last time he performed Hajj. "Learn your rituals from me," he  said: "I'm not sure that I will perform Hajj again." [Muslim]

In his sermon delivered on the Day of 'Arafah, the Prophet urged the pilgrims to hold on to the Quran and its teachings as the only way to deliverance from sins. "I have left you with the Quran," he  said: "you will never go astray if you adhere to it." [Ibn Majah]

The Prophet warned against following personal whims and introducing heresies into the religion. Addressing the pilgrims from the back of his she-camel at 'Arafah, he said: "I will beat you to the Hawdh (water fountain), and with your numbers, I will compete with other nations. Do not let me down; I will be saving people and will be called upon to save people. I will say ‘O Lord, what about my companions?’ Allah (Almighty) will reply, ‘You do not know what they introduced after your death.’" [Mukhtasar As-Seerah]