Allah Apostle said in Hajjat-al-Wada`, "Which month (of the year) do you think is most sacred?" The people said, "This current month of ours (the month of Dhull-Hijja)." He said, "Which town (country) do you think is the most sacred?" They said, "This city of ours (Mecca)." He said, "Which day do you think is the most sacred?" The people said, "This day of ours." He then said, "Allah, the Blessed, the Supreme, has made your blood, your property and your honor as sacred as this day of yours in this town of yours, in this month of yours (and such protection cannot be slighted) except rightfully." He then said thrice, "Have I conveyed Allah's Message (to you)?" The people answered him each time saying, 'Yes." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, 'May Allah be merciful to you (or, woe on you)! Do not revert to disbelief after me by cutting the necks of each other.'
Context and Significance
This profound declaration was delivered during the Prophet's Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat-al-Wada`), marking the culmination of his prophetic mission. The rhetorical questions about the sanctity of time, place, and day establish a powerful analogy for the inviolability of Muslim life, property, and honor.
Scholarly Commentary on Sacred Protections
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari explains that the Prophet ﷺ used the established sacredness of Dhul-Hijjah, Mecca, and the Day of Arafah to emphasize the greater sanctity of human rights. This establishes that violating these protections is a grave sin equivalent to violating the sanctity of the most sacred times and places.
Al-Qurtubi notes that "rightfully" (haqqan) refers to legal punishments (hudood) prescribed by Shariah for crimes like murder, theft, and adultery - thus maintaining the balance between individual rights and societal justice.
The Final Warning Against Discord
The triple affirmation "Have I conveyed Allah's Message?" followed by the warning against cutting necks demonstrates the critical importance of Muslim unity. Scholars interpret this as prohibiting both physical fighting and metaphorical "cutting" through slander, backbiting, and damaging reputations.
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali emphasizes that the phrase "after me" indicates the particular vulnerability of the Muslim community following the Prophet's departure, making mutual protection and unity essential for preservation of the faith.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This hadith forms the foundation for Islamic criminal law regarding hudood punishments while simultaneously establishing the high sanctity of Muslim life. The protection of blood extends to all forms of unlawful killing, while protection of property prohibits theft and usurpation.
The protection of honor encompasses prohibitions against false accusation (qadhf), slander, and all forms of verbal and physical violation of personal dignity. These protections apply equally to all Muslims regardless of status or ethnicity.