The Message of Islam — Page 41
Pilgrimage to Makkah 41 had among them, saying that they must be accorded the same treatment as was due to the members of their families. He stressed that all human beings were equal, whatever their individual status, and that no one could claim any privilege or superiority against any other. He ended by asking them to hold fast to the Unity of God, and to the principal articles of faith. He then inquired whether he had conveyed God’s message to them and had discharged his trust. There was a deafening and repeated response that he had. He asked those present to convey what he had said to those who were not present on the occasion. At the end of his address, he received the revelation: َمْوَيْلَا ُتْلَمْكَا ْمُكَل ْمُكَنْيِد َو ُتْمَمْتَا ْمُكْيَلَع ْيِتَمْعِن َو ُتْيِضَر ُمُكَل َماَلْسِاْلا اًنْيِد١ؕ This day have I perfected your religion for you and com- pleted My favour unto you and have chosen for you Islam as your faith. ( Surah al-Maa’idah, 5:4) This was a clear indication that his mission having been fulfilled, he should now prepare for his return to his Lord. It was time for prayer and the Prophet saw led the combined noon and afternoon Prayer services. Thereafter he again mounted Qaswaa and returning to the vicinity of the Mount of Mercy, among the boulders, he stood on the back of Qaswaa, facing in the direction of the Ka’aba, and raising his arms, became absorbed in entreaty and supplication in the attitude of one who, sore troubled and distressed, begged for mercy. He continued thus till sunset. The pilgrimage over, the Prophet saw returned to Madinah and occupied every available moment with expounding and teaching the principles of Islam and the philosophy that lay behind them,