The Day of Arafah

Spending the day at Arafah is the most fundamental and important rite of Hajj for the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said, Hajj is Arafah. Staying in Arafah means physical and mental presence in any part of Arafah, providing that the Muslim is in the state of Ihram, whether standing, riding or sleeping. Staying in Arafah is accomplished so long as the Muslim is in the state of Ihram, regardless of the fact that he is full aware or ignorant that it is its time. The time to spend at 'Arafah begins from noon of the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah until dawn of the 10th day - Yaum Al Nahr [the day of sacrifice]. The pilgrim may spend the day of 'Arafah anywhere within the bounds of Arafah except the bottom of the valley called 'Urnah for it is not sufficient to fulfill the condition of staying at 'Arafah. Urnah is part of Al Haram. It is preferred to spend time near the rocks where the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) stood or as close to them possible providing such that the pilgrim does not crowd or hurt others. People often make a big mistake by standing on the Mount Rahmah in the belief that it is a Sunnah, which it is not. However, it is a Sunnah, to stand riding a mount, if possible. Before standing on Arafah, it is a Sunnah to make Ghusl (complete ablution), direct his face to Qiblah say there is no god but Allah, Allah is the Great and ask Allah to shower His blessings upon Muhammad (P.B.U.H.).

The pilgrim should implore Allah for whatever he craves of the good of this world or the Hereafter. He should persist in his supplications. He should keep in mind that the day of Arafah is a blessed day for the Almighty descends to the nearest heaven and looks with pride at His slaves on earth and boasts of them before those in heaven. Allah frees from Hell more people on the day of Arafah than on any other day. Angels witness that Allah, the Most High, has forgiven those who spend the Day at Arafah. The pilgrim who chooses to spend the day time at Arafah must stay there until after sunset for this is what the Prophet did in Wada' Hajj (Farewell Pilgrimage). In this respect, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said, Follow my example in performing the rites of 'Umrah and Hajj. If the pilgrim chooses to spend the night at Arafah, he is not obligated to stay until dawn. There is no consensus among scholars as to whether it is a requisite condition or a Sunnah to extend the stay at 'Arafah until nightfall. It is commended for the pilgrim to rid himself of minor and major impurities - through ablution or Ghusl - before standing at Arafah. However if someone was impure or, in case of female pilgrims, was menstruating or suffering of post-birth bleeding, it is allowed for them to stand at Arafah. Their standing at Arafah is valid and there is no compensation.

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Hajj And Umrah Guides, Pilgrimage Essentials, Mecca & Medina Topics Links:

Advice To Pilgrims | A Step by step Hajj and 'Umrah | Adhkar (Pertaining to the remembrance of Allah) | A Lasting Word For Hajj And 'Umrah | An Account of the Miqat | An Account of visiting the Prophet's Mosque | Ayaam at-Tashreeq | Binding on the pilgrim to refrain from sins | Command about the Menstruating and similar women | Conditional Ihram | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day One | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Two | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Three | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Four | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Five | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Six | Day of Arafah | Day to Day Activities of Hajj | Dhabh | Duties of pilgrims at 'Arafah | Entering Mecca | Entering Al-Masjid-al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) and Tawaf | Errors Often Committed by Pilgrims | Etiquette of Ihram | Etiquette of Visiting the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Grave | Farewell Pilgrimage of the Messenger of Allah | Farewell Tawaf | Farewell Tawaf is binding on everyone except the menstruating and women with post childbirth bleeding | Fixed time for Hajj | Fixed time for Hajj | Four Khutbahs in Hajj | Hajj in Pre-Islamic Times | Hajj of a woman | Hajj, Umrah & Ziyarah At a Glance | Halq or Qass | Halq or Qasr: Shaving or Clipping | Ihram | Ihram for youngsters | Ihram: Introduction And Significance | Innovations of `Arafah | Innovations Before Ihraam | Innovations of Hajj, `Umra and Visiting Madinah | Innovations of Ihraam and Talbiyyah, etc. | Innovations of Muzdalifah | Innovations of Sacrifice and Shaving the Head | Innovations of Sa'y Between Safaa and Marwah | Innovations of Stoning | Innovations of Tawaaf | Innovations of Visiting Madinat-ul-Munawwarah | Innovations of Visiting Bait-ul-Maqdis | Innovations: Various Innovations | Istilaam | Kinds of Ihram | Leaving Arafah to spend night in Al Muzdalefah | Many `Umrahs after Hajj is not encouraged by the Shari`ah | Maqaam Ibraaheem | Meeqaat | Merits of Hajj | Merits of 'Umrah | Minaa | Neglecting and delaying the throwing of pebbles | No Specific Supplication for Tawaf and Sa'y | Not allowed to shave the beard | Not obligatory to visit the Prophet's Mosque | Objective of Hajj - To seek the Divine Pleasure | Obligations during Hajj and Umrah | Performing Hajj on behalf of others | Permitted and Forbidden things in the State of Ihram | Pilgrim with Sacrificial Animal in the month of Hajj should intend Qiran (accompanied Hajj) and the one | Pillars of Hajj | Prayers at Arafah | Preparations for Hajj, Umrah and travelling to the holy lands | Preparing for Hajj or 'Umrah | Prerequisites and Sunnahs of valid Tawaf | Ramy | Reaching Miqat at a Time other than the Hajj Season | Regulations Concerning Hady (Sacrificial animals) | Restrictions of Ihram | Rites, obligations and Sunnahs of Umrah | Sa'y | Sa'y between Safa and Marwah | Sa'y and its rituals | Sacrificial animals | Shaving or clipping hair | Sunnah and allowed throwing | Sunnahs of Tawaf | Supplication at the beginning of the journey | Supplication on entering the Mosque | Supplications at Arafah | Supplications: Some All-Inclusive Supplications | Supplications: Some Supplications which may Be Recited At 'Arafat, at the Sacred Sites, and at Other Places of Supplication | Talbeeyah | Tawaaf | Tawaaf al-Ifaadah | Throwing Al Jemar | Throwing pebbles on behalf of other people | Types of Hajj | Umrah | Veiling and giving up the display of beauty is compulsory for women | Verdict on spending the night at Mina | Visitation of the Prophet's Mosque | Visiting Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi | Visiting Quba Mosque and Al-Baqi' cemetery | What a Pilgrim should do when he reaches the Miqat | What Is Required of the Pilgrims | What is allowed to a Muhrim | Where to pick the pebbles from and the number and size of pebbles | Woman's Hajj with Mahram, expenses of Hajj, taking husband's permission | Woman may enter into the Ihram in any dress | Wuqoof 'Arafaat | Wuqoof Muzdalifah | Zamzam