The prayer and what your right hands possess

Explanation

The Prophet's main advice to his Ummah while he was in the throes of death was: Adhere to the prayer, observe it, and do not neglect it. Likewise, fulfill the rights of those whom your right hands possess, including slaves and bondmaids, and treat them kindly. He kept repeating this until his throat gurgled with it, and his tongue could barely articulate it.

Lessons

• The significance of the prayer and the rights of those in one's possession, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave advice about them in his final advice.
• Prayer is among the greatest rights of Allah upon His slaves, and fulfilling the rights of the people—especially the weak and those under one's care who are not from one's offspring—is among the greatest rights owed to the people.