at Namirah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then set out, and Quraysh were sure he would stop at the Sacred Monument (al-Mashʿar al-Harām), just as they had done in the Days of Ignorance. Instead, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed beyond it until he reached ʿArafah. Finding the tent already pitched, he alighted there.
When the sun had begun to decline, he ordered that al-Qaswāʾ be made ready; he mounted her and rode to the heart of the valley, where he addressed the people, saying:
“Your blood and your property are inviolable to one another, as sacred as this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this land of yours. Behold, every matter of the Days of Ignorance is now laid beneath my feet. The blood-claims of the Days of Ignorance are abolished, and the first blood I set aside is that of Rabīʿah ibn al-Ḥārith—he was nursing among the Banū Saʿd when Hudhayl killed him. All pre-Islamic usury is likewise annulled, every bit of it.
Fear Allah concerning women: you have taken them under Allah’s trust and made their private parts lawful to you by Allah’s word. Your right over them is that they do not allow anyone you dislike to tread your beds; if they do, discipline them with a beating that is not injurious. Their right over you is that you provide for them and clothe them in a fair manner.
I have left among you that which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray after me—the Book of Allah, exalted is He. You will surely be asked about me; so what will you say?”
They answered, “We bear witness that you have conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, and offered sincere counsel.” He then raised his index finger toward the sky and pointed it toward the people, saying three times, “O Allah, bear witness.”
Bilāl then gave the call to prayer, followed by the iqāmah, and the Prophet prayed the noon prayer. Another iqāmah was pronounced and he prayed the afternoon prayer, with nothing between the two.
He then mounted and came to the place of standing, positioning the belly of his she-camel near the rocks and keeping the walkway of the pedestrians before him. Facing the qiblah, he remained standing until the sun had set and the yellow glow had faded a little after the disk had disappeared. Usāmah ibn Zayd rode behind him, and he set off, holding al-Qaswāʾ’s rein so tightly that—