Arafah

What Does Arafah Mean in Detail?

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