Last Sermon of the Prophet and the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus

While originating from different historical contexts and faiths, the Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad and the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus Christ share core moral and ethical themes while differing in their specific focus and audience. The Sermon on the Mount establishes a new spiritual and ethical framework for believers. At the same time, the Last Sermon serves as a comprehensive, concluding summary of existing Islamic law and social principles.

The Sermon on the Mount by Jesus Christ

Recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, the Sermon on the Mount was delivered early in Jesus's ministry to a crowd of his followers and disciples. This sermon is foundational to Christian ethics and provides a new understanding of God's law.

The sermon opens with a series of blessings ("Blessed are...") for the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and the peacemakers. This redefines what is considered "blessed" from worldly success to spiritual virtue.

Jesus taught that righteousness extends beyond mere external actions and encompasses a person's inner intentions. For example, he reinterpreted the prohibition against murder to include anger, and the law against adultery to include lust.

One of the most challenging and central tenets of the sermon is the command to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This calls for a non-retaliatory response to injustice.

The sermon warns against hypocrisy and ostentatious displays of piety, such as giving to the poor, praying, or fasting for public admiration rather than for God. It emphasizes the importance of sincerity and a "pure heart."

The Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad (Farewell Sermon)

Delivered in 632 CE during the Prophet's final pilgrimage to Mecca, the Last Sermon was a capstone address to a large, established community of Muslims. It was a final, comprehensive message that solidified the key principles of the nascent Islamic state and provided guidance for future generations.

The sermon famously declares, "All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white—except by piety and good action." This powerful statement abolished racial and tribal hierarchies.

The Prophet Muhammad emphasized treating women with kindness and respect, stating that they have rights over men, just as men have rights over them. This was a radical departure from the pre-Islamic Arabian context, where women had few, if any, rights.

The sermon made it clear that the life, property, and honor of every Muslim are sacred and inviolable. It also abolished old blood feuds and usury (riba), establishing a new foundation for a just society.

The Prophet left a clear directive: to hold fast to the Quran and his own teachings (Sunnah), which would ensure the community would never go astray.

Comparative Analysis: Similarities and Differences

Both sermons represent a profound shift in moral and social thinking, moving people toward a more compassionate and righteous life.

• Similarities:

  • Ethical Foundation: Both sermons stress the importance of justice, compassion, and moral integrity. They condemn hypocrisy and emphasize that a person's inner state is as important as their outward actions.

    
    

  • Warning Against Injustice: Both leaders warned their followers against harming others and against the oppressive practices of their time, such as racism and usury.

    
    

  • Focus on a Higher Purpose: Both messages ultimately guide humanity toward a life of piety and devotion to God, and a focus on eternal reward over temporary worldly gain.

  • The Sermon on the Mount was a founding document for a new movement, establishing new ethical principles. The Last Sermon was a concluding address to a functioning state and community, confirming existing laws and providing final instructions.

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    The Sermon on the Mount focuses on the individual's spiritual transformation and offers a new, more profound interpretation of religious law. The Last Sermon addresses both spiritual tenets and concrete civil and social laws (e.g., property rights, women's rights, abolishing blood feuds) for an organized society.

  • Jesus is presented as a new law-giver, fulfilling and expanding upon the Law of Moses. Prophet Muhammad, while delivering his final message, explicitly directed his followers to the Quran and his Sunnah, which had already been revealed over two decades, thereby establishing his role as the final messenger and completer of God's complete message.