Page 221 - The Importance of the Ahl Al-Sunnah

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tant issues and ends quite a few non-Islamic practices that had
not been elaborated upon until then (e.g., blood feuds and
usury), discloses the law governing marital relations, explains
how to perform hajj, as well as many other issues. A number of
writers nowadays see the Khutbat al-Wada` as the Islamic dec-
laration of human rights and women’s rights. It is true that the
affirmation of the inviolability of people’s property, life, and
honor was proclaimed here for the first time in history.
Although the declaration of human rights accepted by the
United Nations contains many more fine distinctions, these
have never been practiced in reality. In his Farewell Sermon,
however, the Prophet (saas), who was sent to the worlds as a
mercy, was able to graft his values to his people’s consciences,
souls, minds, and ideas. As a result, people have always lived in
total freedom, secure in their lives, property, and honor in
Islamic lands, even when Muslims were at their most powerful
and splendid.
Even though human rights have developed slowly over time,
they only achieved their full expression with Islam. The
Khutbat al-Wada` carries a huge importance as the first decla-
ration of human rights. As history shows, human rights only
appeared in the West during the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries of the Christian era.

The principles introduced to social life by the
Khutbat al-Wada`
The Prophet (saas) primarily touched upon the following
points in his sermon:
- In every undertaking, one should always praise and thank
Allah (swt).
- One’s lower self always commands evil. Thus, one has to

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