Such a true spiritual spectacle does not exist anywhere except in Mecca: a spectacle that is devoid of charlatanry and an empty pretext for closeness to the Almighty; No other place on earth gives such a supernatural union of man with the spiritual, except for Arafah – the plain, which is located east of Mecca at a distance of about nine miles. Such a pilgrim will miss the hajj – one who will miss the meeting in the plain of Arafah. ‘Al-Haj Arafa’ -Hadj-Arafat, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) says.
The word Arafat comes from the Arabic trilitarian verb “Arafat“, which means “he knows.” This refers to the knowledge of a known subject whose existence is derived from the known. He embodies the need for people to know the Almighty through the mediums and objects created by Allah, the Almighty God.
On the 9th day of the month of Hajj, which will happen next Thursday, the pilgrims in Mecca will evacuate their tents in Minna at noon and go to the plain of Araf in time to pray together Zuhra and Asr. After that, they will listen to the imam when he delivers the khutb from the chair of Rahma (Jabal al-Rahma).
The entire period, that is, between the early afternoon and the sunset, will be held there. The pilgrims plunged into His eulogy; They will chant Gloria: “Laibayka Allahum Labaika” – I answered your call Oh! Almighty, I answered your call. “
After sunset pilgrims go to Muzdalifu, another place with high spiritual significance, they say the prayers of Maghrib and Isha together and carry the night in the open camp. Early in the morning of the next day, which is the 10th day of the month of Hajj (next Friday), on the day of the sacrifice, they will again go to Mina to perform a series of hajj rituals. These include animal sacrifice, hair circumcision, the shaking of shingles against the effigies of Shaitan, otherwise known as Rami al-Jimar and Tawaf al-Ifad.
Day Arafat is important for many reasons in the Islamic spiritual and communal reality. The day awakens pilgrims to historical and eschatological. Here are historical references to the situation, the Prophet Muhammad, on the same plain, many years ago, to convey the famous speech, a speech that changed the world. He said:
“O people! Lend me a careful ear, because I do not know if after this year I will be again among you. So listen to what I’m saying to you very carefully, and say those words to those who can not be here today. O people! Just as you think this month, this day, this city is sacred, so consider the life and property of every Muslim a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you by their rightful owners. Do not scare anyone so that no one will harm you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord and that He will truly count your deeds. He forbade you to take usury (interest); Therefore, all interest obligations will now be cancelled. However, your capital belongs to you. You will neither cause nor tolerate injustice … Beware of Satan for the safety of your religion. Satan has lost all hope that he will ever be able to knock you out of the way in big things, so beware of following him in small things. O people! It’s true that you have certain rights with respect to your women, but they also have rights to you. Remember that you accepted them as your wives, only under His trust and with His permission. If they observe your right, then they have the right to food and dress in kindness. Take good care of your women and be kind to them, because they are your partners and devoted helpers. And it’s your right that they did not make friends with any of you whom you disapprove, and never be unclean.
O people! Listen to me seriously, worship Almighty, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan and give your wealth in the Zakat (compulsory charity). Perform hajj if you can afford it. All mankind from Adam and Eve, Arabs do not have superiority over non-Arabs, and non-Arabs have superiority over Arabs; Also, white has no superiority over black, and black has no superiority over white – except for piety and good action. You must know that every Muslim is the brother of every Muslim and that Muslims are one brotherhood. Nothing should be legal for a Muslim belonging to another Muslim, unless it is freely and willingly given. So do not do injustice to yourself.
Remember, one day you will appear before Him and answer for your deeds. So be careful, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I leave.
People, no prophet or apostle will come after me, and no new faith will be born. So it’s reasonable, oh people, and understand the words I’m telling you. I leave behind two things: the Quran and the Sunnah (Hadith), and if you follow them, you will never lose your way … Be a witness, Almighty, that I have conveyed your message to your people. “
Brothers, the above is a historical one. And what about the eschatological? The day of Arafat reminds us of the whole coming day of resurrection, when humanity will stand before Allah to give an account. The ritual of throwing stones equally connects pilgrims with the spiritual patriarch in monotheism, namely with the Prophet Ibrahim (there will be peace on it). Pilgrims remember that they had to disconnect from Shaitan, just as the Prophet Ibrahim, his wife, Hajjar and their son were disconnected, as well as constantly, from the latter, so that they could reconnect with the Almighty. When a pilgrim sacrifices a ram, he symbolically puts an end to the unjust tendencies and inclinations in him, which often prompt him to commit violations against his creator; He closely watches that he obeys the one who made the sacrificial animal submissive to him.
Remember the sister that the rites of Hajj should be the top of the pack of our faith. So, whether you are on a hajj or at home, the Owner of Mecca and Medina does not go anywhere. When those other gods whom you call from the Almighty, go to bed at night, always remember that He constantly “calls”; Ever attentive, ever giving. He never dies.
