THE FAREWELL PILGRIMAGE:
After the accomplishment of the Call, the proclamation of the Message and the establishment of a new  society on the basis of ‘There is no god but Allâh,’ and on Muhammad’s mission, a secret call uprose in  the heart of the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) telling him that his stay in the Lower World  was about to terminate. That was clear in his talk to Mu‘adh whom he had dispatched to Yemen in the  tenth year of Al-Hijra: “O, Mu‘adh! You may not see me after this current year. You may even pass by  this very Mosque of mine and my tomb.” Upon hearing that Mu‘adh cried for fear that he would part  with the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him).
Allâh’s care was so bounteous as to let the Prophet (P  eace be upon him) see the fruits of his Call for  the  sake of which he suffered various sorts of trouble for over twenty years. Those twenty years had  elapsed actively. He used to spend his last days meeting, at the outskirts of Makkah, members of  tribes  and their representatives who used to consult him and learn the laws and legislation of Islam from  him,  and in return he used to exact their testimony that he had delivered trust and communicated the
Message and counselled the people.
The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) announced an intention to proceed with this blessed  pilgrimage journey himself. Enormous crowds of people came to Madinah, all of whom seek the  guidance and Imamate of the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) in the pilgrimage (Al-Hajj). On  a
Saturday of the last four days of Dhul-Qa‘dah, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) started the departure  preparations procedure. He combed his hair, applied some perfume, wore his garment, saddled his  camel and set off in the afternoon. He arrived at Dhul-Hulaifa before the afternoon prayer. He  performed two Rak‘a and spent the night there. When it was morning he said to his Companions:
“A comer, sent by my Lord, has called on me tonight and said: ‘Pray in this blessed valley and  say: I intend ‘Umrah combined with pilgrimage (‘Umrah into Al-Hajj).
Before performing the noon prayer, he bathed for Ihram (ritual consecration), and ‘Aishah (May Allah  be pleased with her) perfumed him on both his body and head with her hand with a Dharira (a plant)  and with a perfume containing musk. The thick sticky layer of perfume could be seen among his parts  of hair and beard. He left it unwashed, wore his loincloth and garment. He performed the noon prayer  shortened, two Rak‘a. He proclaimed pilgrimage procedure associated with ‘Umrah at his prayer-place.
He, then mounted his she-camel ‘Al-Qaswa’, and proclaimed: ‘There is no god but Allâh’. When he  moved into the desert, he acclaimed the Name of Allâh.
He proceeded with his journey till he approached Makkah. He spent the night at Dhi Tuwa and entered
Makkah after performing the dawn prayer. He had a bath on Sunday morning, the fourth of
Dhul-Hijjah  the tenth year of Al-Hijra. He spent eight days on the way, which was an average period. As soon as  he  entered Al-Haram Mosque he circumambulated Al-Ka‘bah and walked to and fro (Sa‘i) between
As-Safa  and Al-Marwah. He did not finish the Ihram (ritual consecration) because he was Qarin (i.e. intending
‘Umrah and Al-Hajj associated). He then took Al-Hadi (i.e. the sacrificial animals) in order to slaughter  them. He camped on a high place of Makkah — Al-Hajun. As for circumambulation, he performed only  that of Al-Hajj (pilgrimage circumambulation).
Those of his Companions who had no Hadi with them to sacrifice, were ordered to observe Ihram (i.e.  the state of ritual consecration) into ‘Umrah (i.e. lesser pilgrimage), and circumambulate Al-Ka‘bah  and  stride ritually to and fro between As-Safa and Al-Marwah. After that they could relieve themselves  from
Ihram. They, however, showed reluctance to do what they had been told. Thereupon, the Messenger  of
Allâh (Peace be upon him) said: ”Had I known beforehand what I knew afterward, I would not bring
Hadi, and if I did not have Hadi, I would break Ihram. On hearing these words, his Companions  obeyed  the orders to the latter.
On the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah — that is the Day of Tarwiyah, he left for Mina where he performed  the noon, the afternoon, the sunset, the evening and the dawn prayers. — i.e. five prayers. Then he  stayed for a while till the sun rose up then he passed along till he reached ‘Arafah, where there was a