হজ্জ — আরাফাত

The unparalleled importance of the Day of আরাফাত in Islam is captured in a single profound hadith narrated by Abdur-Rahman ibn Ya'mar ad-Dili: নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said, 'Al-Hajju আরাফাত' — 'হজ্জ is আরাফাত' (reported by Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah, authenticated by al-Albani). This concise statement carries immense weight in Islamic jurisprudence. The scholars explain that নবী করীম used this construction to indicate that the standing at আরাফাত is the greatest pillar of হজ্জ, to the extent that the entire হজ্জ is identified with it. If a হাজী performs every other ritual of হজ্জ — the তাওয়াফ, the সাঈ, the stoning, the sacrifice — but misses the standing at আরাফাত during the prescribed time window, their হজ্জ is invalid and must be repeated. Conversely, if a হাজী manages to reach আরাফাত for even a moment during the valid time (from after noon on the 9th until dawn of the 10th of Dhul Hijjah), the fundamental requirement of হজ্জ is fulfilled, even if they miss other rites (which can be compensated through sacrifice). No other pillar of হজ্জ is described in such absolute terms. This hadith has led many scholars to describe আরাফাত as the 'heart of হজ্জ,' and the plain of আরাফাত as the most spiritually significant location a হাজী will visit during their entire হজ্জ journey.

The plain of আরাফাত lies approximately 20 kilometers southeast of মক্কা মুকাররমা, outside the boundaries of the Haram. It is a vast, flat expanse surrounded by low hills, the most notable being Jabal ar-Rahmah (the Mount of Mercy), a small granite hill where tradition holds that Prophet Muhammad delivered his Farewell Sermon. The name 'আরাফাত' itself carries multiple etymological explanations rooted in the Arabic root 'a-r-f,' meaning to know or recognize. One tradition holds that it was at this location that Adam and Hawwa (Eve) recognized one another after being separated following their descent from Paradise. Another explanation is that Ibrahim came to know (ta'arafa) the rites of হজ্জ shown to him by the angel Jibril at this place. Some scholars suggest the name derives from the fact that people come to know (ya'tarifu) their sins and seek forgiveness there. The boundaries of আরাফাত are clearly marked, and it is essential that হাজীগণ position themselves within these boundaries for their standing to be valid. The valley of Uranah, which borders আরাফাত, is specifically excluded — নবী করীম warned: 'I have stood here, but all of আরাফাত is a place of standing' (Sahih Muslim), while also noting that Uranah is not part of আরাফাত. Today, the Saudi authorities have erected signs and markers to help হাজীগণ identify the boundaries, and modern tent camps accommodate the millions who gather there on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah.

The Day of আরাফাত follows a structured spiritual program that mirrors নবী করীম's own practice during his Farewell হজ্জ. Pilgrims typically arrive at আরাফাত after spending the night of the 8th in মিনা, where they pray their five daily সালাতs shortened (qasr) as travelers. On the morning of the 9th, they proceed to আরাফাত after sunrise. The day begins with the Dhuhr and Asr সালাতs, which are combined and shortened at the time of Dhuhr (jam' taqdim), following the Sunnah. A sermon (khutbah) is delivered at the Masjid Namirah, which straddles the boundary of আরাফাত and Uranah, recalling নবী করীম's historic Farewell Sermon in which he proclaimed the equality of all people, the sanctity of life and property, and the completion of the religion of Islam. After the সালাতs, the most important part of the day begins: the standing (wuquf). The হাজী faces the Qiblah, raises their hands, and engages in continuous, heartfelt দোয়া from Dhuhr until sunset. নবী করীম said: 'The best দোয়া is the দোয়া of the Day of আরাফাত, and the best thing that I and the prophets before me said is: La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir' (There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner; to Him belongs sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things capable). Scholars emphasize that this is not a time for socializing, sleeping, or distraction — it is the single most precious window of দোয়া in the entire Islamic calendar.

The Day of আরাফাত is described in multiple authentic hadiths as the day of greatest divine mercy and forgiveness. নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said: 'There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Hellfire than the Day of আরাফাত. He draws near, then He boasts about them to the angels and says: What do these people want?' (Sahih Muslim 1348). In another narration, নবী করীম said: 'Allah descends to the lowest heaven on the afternoon of আরাফাত and boasts to the inhabitants of the heavens about the people of the earth, saying: Look at My servants, they have come to Me disheveled, dusty, and crying out from every deep valley. I call you to witness that I have forgiven them' (reported by Ibn Hibban and authenticated by al-Albani). These hadiths paint a vivid picture of divine generosity. The হাজীগণ stand equal before their Lord — kings and paupers, scholars and laypeople, from every nation and tongue — in simple white garments that erase all worldly distinctions. The scene at আরাফাত is often described as a rehearsal for the Day of Judgment, when all of humanity will stand before Allah for reckoning. This imagery deepens the হাজী's consciousness of mortality, accountability, and the overwhelming mercy of Allah. Many হাজীগণ describe the Day of আরাফাত as the most emotionally intense and spiritually transformative experience of their lives, a day when tears flow freely and hearts are laid bare before the Creator.

While those performing হজ্জ are present at আরাফাত on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims around the world who are not performing the হজ্জ are strongly encouraged to fast on this day. নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) was asked about fasting on the Day of আরাফাত, and he replied: 'It expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year' (Sahih Muslim 1162). This makes the fast of আরাফাত one of the most rewarding voluntary fasts in Islam, second only to the fast of Ashura in terms of the specific expiation mentioned in hadith. Scholars clarify that the sins expiated are minor sins (sagha'ir), while major sins require specific repentance (tawbah). The majority of scholars hold that হাজীগণ themselves should not fast on the Day of আরাফাত, as নবী করীম did not fast on this day during his হজ্জ. The wisdom behind this is that fasting may weaken the হাজী and reduce their ability to engage in the extensive দোয়া and worship that the day demands. Aisha reported that নবী করীম was observed at আরাফাত and was not fasting, and a cup of milk was brought to him which he drank in view of the people to demonstrate that he was not fasting (Sahih al-Bukhari 1658). For non-হাজীগণ, the Day of আরাফাত falls on the day before Eid al-Adha, and fasting on it connects the global Muslim community to the spiritual reality of হজ্জ, allowing them to share in its blessings even from thousands of miles away. Many families make this a day of collective worship, gathering after iftar for সালাত and দোয়া, united in spirit with the হাজীগণ standing at আরাফাত.