আরাফাত

What Does আরাফাত Mean in Detail?

The plain of আরাফাত is a vast, largely flat desert expanse approximately 20 kilometers southeast of মসজিদুল হারাম. It is bounded by defined borders, and the হাজী's presence anywhere within these boundaries — even for a brief moment between noon of the 9th and Fajr of the 10th of Dhul Hijjah — fulfills the essential Rukn of Wuquf. The most prominent landmark is Jabal al-Rahmah (the Mount of Mercy), a small granite hill where নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) delivered his Farewell Sermon during his final হজ্জ. Near its edge stands Masjid Namirah, where the imam delivers the হজ্জ sermon and leads the combined Dhuhr and Asr সালাতs — though part of Namirah actually falls outside আরাফাত's boundaries, so হাজীগণ must be aware of their position. Islamic tradition holds that আরাফাত is where Adam and Hawa (Eve) were reunited after their descent from Paradise. The Day of আরাফাত is considered the day of greatest divine mercy, when Allah descends to the lowest heaven, boasting to the angels about the হাজীগণ and forgiving their sins abundantly. নবী করীম said: 'There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of আরাফাত.' For non-হাজীগণ worldwide, fasting on this day expiates the sins of two years.