The General Conference When the Prophet (S) had finished the rituals of the hajj...

The General Conference When the Prophet (S) had finished the rituals of the hajj, he held a general conference at the well of Zamzam. He made a speech and ordered Rabee’ah bin Umayya bin Khalaf to announce his (the Prophet) speech loudly to people. He said, ‘O Rabee’ah, say: O people, the messenger of Allah says to you: you may not meet me in such a situation after now. O people, do you know which country this is? Do you know which month this is? Do you know which day this is?’ People said, ‘Yes!

This is the inviolable country, the inviolable month, and the inviolable day.’ Then the Prophet (S) said, ‘Allah has prohibited for you your bloods and your properties (to kill each other and to extort each other’s properties) like the inviolability of this country, this month and this day.

Have I informed?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ The Prophet (S) said, ‘O Allah, bear witness.’ Then he said, ‘Every blood (that was shed) in the pre-Islamic era is put under my foot, and the first blood that I put under my foot is the blood of Adam bin Rabee’ah bin al-Harith bin Abdul Muttalib.

Have I informed?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘O Allah, bear witness.’ Then he said, ‘Every usury in the pre-Islamic era is put under my foot, and the first usury that I put under my foot is the usury of al-Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib.

Have I informed?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘O Allah, bear witness.’ Then he said, ‘O people, postponement (of the sacred month) is only an excess in disbelief whereby those who disbelieve are misled; they allow it one year and forbid it (another) year, that they may make up the number of the months which Allah hath hallowed… I recommend you to be kind to women for they are deposits with you. They are weak. You have taken them by the deposit of Allah, and married them by the Book of Allah.

You have rights on them and they have rights on you. They have a right on you that you provide them with clothes and sustenance, and you have a right on them that they should not betray you with anyone in your beds, and not permit anyone into your houses except with your knowledge and permission. If they commit something of that, then you do not to sleep with them and you beat them but not violently.

Have I informed?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘O Allah, bear witness.’ Then he said, ‘I recommend you to be kind to what your hands possess (servants).