The Prophet’s Farewell Hajj: Between Misplaced Wall Posters and the Lunar Calendar
By: V.A. Abdul Rahim
Part I: The Completion of Religion
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion…” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:3).
This verse is one of the most significant in human history. It signifies the conclusion of divine revelation and the perfection of Islam, declaring that no further prophets or new rituals are to follow. This event took place during the Prophet’s (PBUH) Farewell Hajj.
In the rites of Hajj, there are three pivotal days: Yawmu Tarwiyah, Yawmu Arafah, and Yawmu Nahr (the Day of Sacrifice). The pilgrimage reaches its completion on the third day, Yawmu Nahr (10th Dhul-Hijjah), which is when pilgrims conclude their Ihram. Both Quranic context and historical reports confirm that the verse regarding the perfection of religion was revealed on this day.
This day holds double significance: it was a Friday and the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah. In Islamic tradition, Friday is considered the “Eid of the believer” and the “Hajj of the poor,” while the 10th is the global festival of Eid-ul-Adha. The Prophet (PBUH) delivered a momentous sermon on this day, witnessed and reported by thousands. Sahih al-Bukhari contains numerous Hadiths affirming that this historic address took place on the Day of Sacrifice (Yawmu Nahr).
Part II: The Anatomy of a Persistent Myth
A lie, if repeated often enough without being questioned, can eventually be perceived as truth. While the “truth” being promoted is a falsehood, it gains roots in society until it is difficult to uproot. Even when the reality is exposed, the established lie often persists, leading to debates rather than a return to the truth.
However, truth has a cosmic quality. Much like a product and its advertisement: no matter how grand the ad, if the product fails the consumer, it will eventually be discarded. Evaluating the truth requires a research-oriented mind and the power of thought. Islam is not a religion that grows merely through propaganda, but through preaching, intellect, investigation, and logic.
The “Advertisement” on Mosque Walls:
In mosques across Kerala and the world, one often finds posters of the Prophet’s “Arafat Sermon.” They usually begin with the headline: “The Hajj Declaration delivered by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on Friday, 9th Dhul-Hijjah, Hijri year 10, at the plains of Arafat.”
It is striking how this specific event is labeled with a precise year, date, day, and location—details that are often subjects of scholarly debate for other major events like the Prophet’s birth or the exact start of the Hijra. Curiously, while the “Arafat Sermon” is displayed everywhere, there is almost no mention on mosque walls of the sermon delivered on the 10th (Yawmu Nahr), despite the latter being extensively documented in Sahih al-Bukhari.
Part III: The Divine Calendar and Human Error
The Quran (9:36) clarifies that Allah ordained the calendar of twelve months from the day He created the heavens and the earth. Tampering with this system (Nasi’) is described as an “increase in disbelief” (9:37). The sun and moon are the basis of time-reckoning (10:5), and the moon’s phases are the markers for mankind (2:189, 36:39-40).
From these verses, it is clear that in Islam, time-reckoning is a divine sign and there is no room for compromise. However, the calendar systems currently followed by many Muslim communities often contradict the Quran and Sunnah.
The current method of “finding” Ramadan and Eid is often unscientific and embarrassing for a religion that claims to be a “religion of nature” (Deen-ul-Fitr). When we challenge the accuracy of modern calendars, opponents often cite a specific report to claim the Prophet was in Arafat on a Friday.
The Dialogue with the Jew:
A Jewish man once told Umar (R.A.): “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is a verse in your book; had it been revealed to us, we would have taken that day as a day of Eid.” Umar asked which verse, and the man recited “Al-yawma akmaltu lakum…” Umar replied, “I know well when it was revealed; it was on a Friday while the Prophet was standing at Arafat.”
This specific report is often used to justify calendar discrepancies, yet a logical analysis reveals its weaknesses:
Illogical Response: The Jewish man wasn’t asking when it was revealed; he was commenting on making it an Eid. Umar’s response doesn’t directly address the celebration aspect but focuses on the day.
Contradiction with Bukhari: As established in Part I, over twenty Hadiths in Bukhari confirm the Great Sermon and the completion of the verse occurred on Yawmu Nahr (the 10th), not the Day of Arafat (the 9th).
The Meaning of “Completion”: Hajj—and by extension, the religious rites—is perfected on the Day of Sacrifice.
The “Hajj-al-Akbar”: When the Day of Sacrifice falls on a Friday, it is a rare alignment of two Eids, often called Hajj-al-Akbar. This explains why it was a Friday, but it confirms the date was the 10th.
Linguistic Inconsistency: Some reports suggest the verse came at night (Lailat-ul-Jumu’ah), but the Quran explicitly says “Al-Yawm” (This Day), not “Al-Lail” (This Night).
Conclusion
The Quran and science both prove that the phases of the moon are the practical dates for mankind. Because this is a divine calendar, it has always been a target for disruption. By causing the calendar to be wrong, the entire Ummah can be misled in their fasts and festivals—effectively making the forbidden permissible and the permissible forbidden.
As the Quran warns, we must be wary of our “open enemy” (Satan), who attacks the foundations of our worship through the manipulation of time and truth. Today, we do not need to rely solely on ancient manuscripts; we can look at the heavens and use our intellect to understand the truth directly.
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