ISLAMIC EDUCATION AND ETHICS IN THE FAREWELL SERMON OF PROPHETMUHAMMAD (SAW): A MODEL FOR VALUE RE-ORIENTATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The Farewell Sermon of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), delivered during his final pilgrimage,
encapsulates the core values of Islamic education and ethics. This paper explores the sermon as a
timeless source of moral instruction and spiritual guidance, emphasizing its relevance to
contemporary Nigeria. The Prophet's teachings on justice, equality, gender respect, honesty, and the
sanctity of life and property offer a holistic framework for value re-orientation in a society facing
moral and ethical challenges. Using a qualitative research design, the study employs textual and
content analysis of classical and contemporary Islamic sources, alongside documentary review of
Nigerian educational and moral contexts. It further draws on interpretive analysis to identify the
ethical and pedagogical implications of the sermon. Findings reveal that the Farewell Sermon
embodies comprehensive principles capable of addressing Nigeria's moral decline, social injustice,
and educational gaps. The study establishes that integrating the Prophet's ethical teachings into the
Islamic education curriculum can foster moral consciousness, civic responsibility, and national
unity. It concludes that the Farewell Sermon provides an ideal and practical model for reforming
Nigeria's moral orientation and promoting value-based education.