I request your assistance in regard to the khutbah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) at ‘Arafah. My understanding is that there are only various short narrations in the books of Hadith and in fact there was more than one khutbah.
I have not been able to trace an authentic Hadith reference in regards long composite sermons, such as the following:
After praising, and thanking Allah Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“O People, lend me an 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 as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Harm no one so that no one may harm you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds.
Allah has forbidden you to take usury (Interest); therefore all Interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer inequality. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn Abd’al Mutallib shall henceforth be waived.
Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He lost all hope that he will ever 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 regards to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission.
Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.
O people listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, perform your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give of your wealth the poor due (Zakah). Perform Hajj (pilgrimage) if you can afford to.
All mankind is from Adam, and an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor does a black have any superiority over a white, except by piety and good action.
Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not sway from the path of righteousness, after I am gone.
O People, no Prophet or Messenger will come after me, and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand the words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example (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, that I have conveyed my message to your people.”
Answer
I have not come across a narration which states that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) delivered a lengthy sermon on the day of ‘Arafah [the 9th] and said ‘Those present should inform those who are not present today.’
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) and other Muhaddithun have recorded some short khutbahs Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) delivered on the Day of ‘Arafah.
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 1841)
Khutbah in Mina
The sermons which include the words ‘Those present should inform those who are not present today’ are found in the khutbahs that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) delivered in Mina and not ‘Arafah.
I have heard Shaykhul Hadith Moulana Fadlur Rahman A’zami also expressing the same view.
Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) has recorded several khutbahs that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) delivered in Mina. One of these versions is similar to the one cited in your question, albeit shorter. The Arabic text of this version is as follows:
حدثنا عفان، حدثنا حماد بن سلمة، أخبرنا علي بن زيد، عن أبي حرة الرقاشي، عن عمه، قال: كنت آخذا بزمام ناقة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في أوسط أيام التشريق، أذود عنه الناس، فقال: ” يا أيها الناس، هل تدرون في أي يوم أنتم؟ وفي أي شهر أنتم ؟ وفي أي بلد أنتم؟ ” قالوا: في يوم حرام، وشهر حرام، وبلد حرام، قال: ” فإن دماءكم وأموالكم وأعراضكم عليكم حرام، كحرمة يومكم هذا، في شهركم هذا، في بلدكم هذا، إلى يوم تلقونه “، ثم قال: ” اسمعوا مني تعيشوا، ألا لا تظلموا، ألا لا تظلموا، ألا لا تظلموا، إنه لا يحل مال امرئ إلا بطيب نفس منه، ألا وإن كل دم، ومال ومأثرة كانت في الجاهلية تحت قدمي هذه إلى يوم القيامة، وإن أول دم يوضع دم ربيعة بن الحارث بن عبد المطلب، كان مسترضعا في بني ليث فقتلته هذيل، ألاوإن كل ربا كان في الجاهلية موضوع، وإن الله قضى أن أول ربا يوضع، ربا العباس بن عبد المطلب، لكم رءوس أموالكم، لا تظلمون، ولا تظلمون، ألا وإن الزمان قد استدار كهيئته يوم خلق الله السموات والأرض، ثم قرأ: {إن عدة الشهور عند الله اثنا عشر شهرا في كتاب الله يوم خلق السموات والأرض منها أربعة حرم ذلك الدين القيم فلا تظلموا فيهن أنفسكم} ، ألا لا ترجعوا بعدي كفارا يضرب بعضكم رقاب بعض، ألا إن الشيطان قد أيس أن يعبده المصلون، ولكن في التحريش بينكم، فاتقوا الله في النساء، فإنهن عندكم عوان، لا يملكن لأنفسهن شيئا، وإن لهن عليكم، ولكم عليهن حقا: أن لا يوطئن فرشكم أحدا غيركم، ولا يأذن في بيوتكم لأحد تكرهونه، فإن خفتم نشوزهن فعظوهن واهجروهن في المضاجع، واضربوهن ضربا غير مبرح “، قال حميد: قلت للحسن: ما المبرح؟ قال: المؤثر، ” ولهن رزقهن وكسوتهن بالمعروف، وإنما أخذتموهن بأمانة الله، واستحللتم فروجهن بكلمة الله ألا ومن كانت عنده أمانة فليؤدها إلى من ائتمنه عليها “، وبسط يديه، فقال: ” ألا هل بلغت؟ ألا هل بلغت؟ ألاهل بلغت؟ ثم قال: ليبلغ الشاهد الغائب، فإنه رب مبلغ أسعد من سامع “، قال حميد: قال الحسن حين بلغ هذه الكلمة: ” قد والله بلغوا، أقواما كانوا أسعد به
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5 pg. 72-73. Also see: vol. 5 pg. 39. Also see: Juz u Khutubatin Nabi of Allamah Al Muhaddith Habibur Rahman Al A’zami rahimahullah)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar