Advice of the Messenger

Q: What advice did the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) give his Sahabah (Companions) before his death?

A: It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) delivered a Khutbah (sermon) at the end of his life on the Day of `Arafah during the Farewell Hajj, in which he said: I am leaving with you that which if you stick to you will never go astray: the Book of Allah. In another narration stated by Al-Hakim in his Sahih, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The Book of Allah and my Sunnah. It was also authentically reported that he (peace be upon him) ordered his Ummah (nation) to observe Salah, treat slaves kindly, and get the Mushriks (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), the Jews and the Christians out of the Arabian Peninsula. Five nights before his death, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah has taken me as a Khalil (close friend) as He took Ibrahim (Abraham) as a Khalil. Were I to have taken anyone from among my Ummah (nation) as a Khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a Khalil. Beware! Those who came before you used to take the graves of their Prophets and righteous people as places of worship. Do not take graves as places of worship; I forbid you to do that. (Part No. 4; Page No. 384) Related by Muslim in his Sahih on the authority of Jundub ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him).We recommend you to refer to Al-Bidayah by Al-Hafizh ibn Kathir (may Allah be merciful to him), which talks about the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his advice.