Staying in ‘Arafat and Its Boundaries

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘All of ‘Arafat is al-Mawqaf (the station) and the best of it is the foot of the hill.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when you pause and stay in ‘Arafat, stay close to the highland, the hills. The Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘People of Arak (a certain area in ‘Arafat) do not have a valid Hajj, that is, those who stay near al-Arak.’”

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, about al-Mawqaf (the station) has said, ‘You must come out of Batn ‘Urnah.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘Hajj of the people of al-Arak is not valid.’” NOTE: (Ahadith 1-3 of this Chapter are best explained in the form of fatwa).

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you should stay toward the left side of the hill; the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, stayed on the left side of the hill in ‘Arafat. When he stopped, people then began to move close to him on the footsteps of his camel to stand next to him. He moved his camel and so also did the people, and he then said, ‘O people, the place to stay here is not limited to where my camel has set foot. In fact, this entire place is for staying;’ he pointed with his hand toward the whole area. He did the same thing in al-Muzdalifah. ‘If you find a vacant space, fill it up with yourself and transporting animal. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves that all of these places be filled up. Move away from the hillside and al-Arak.’ When you stay in ‘Arafat then praise Allah, speak of His Lordship, glory and praise. Say Takhir (Allah is great beyond description) one hundred times. Read Chapter 112 of the Holy Quran one hundred times. Choose for yourself whatever prayers you like. Strive hard; it is the day for prayer and appeal for help (before Allah). Seek protection with Allah against Satan; Satan does not become tired in a place where he loves to make you feel tired (of praying). You should avoid looking at people. Come to yourself, and of the things you say should be this, “O Allah, Lord of all of al-Mash’a‘ir (things that remind one of Allah), set me free of hellfire, increase my sustenance of the lawful kind and keep away from me the wickedness of sinful Jinn and man. O Allah, do not plan against me, or prepare slippery conditions and do not lead me gradually to destruction. You listen to appeals better than all of those who listen. You are the best observer of those who observe, the swiftest of those who prepare accounts and the best of those who grant mercy. I appeal before You O Allah, to grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause), make so and so of my wishes to come true.” Of the prayer you may say should be this when you raise your hands to the sky, “O Allah, my wishes are such ones that if You grant them, whatever You deny will not harm me and if You deny whatever You have granted me will not benefit me. I appeal before You to set me free from hellfire. O Allah, I am Your servant, of the things that You own and the control of my forehead is in Your hand, and You know the time of my death. I appeal before You to grant me the opportunity to do whatever pleases You with me. Accept the acts of my al-Hajj that I have performed following the instructions that you had given to Ibrahim Your friend and have showed them to Your beloved one, Muhammad (SAW).” In your prayers you should include this, “O Allah, make me of those with whose deeds You are happy, who are granted long life, and a beautiful life after death.’””

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say this. ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, stayed in ‘Arafat. At about sunset before moving fast said, “O Allah, I seek protection with You against poverty, chaotic affairs and the mischief that takes place during the night and day. It is evening and I seek protection with Your forgiveness against my injustice. It is evening and I seek protection with Your immunity against my fear. It is evening and I seek protection with Your majesty against my lowliness. It is evening and I seek protection with Your ever-living face against my destructible face. O the best One before whom appeals are made, O most generous, lift me up through Your mercy and dress me with Your good health, and keep away from me the evil of all of Your creatures.’” ‘Abd Allah ibn Maymun has said, ‘I heard my father saying, “O the best of those before whom appeals are made, O the most generous of those who grant favors, O the best of those who show kindness and mercy.’ Then ask for your wishes.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘There is no definite prayer and supplication for the evening of the day of ‘Arafah.’” (Hadith 6 of this Chapter is best explained by Fatwa)

“Once I saw ‘Abd Allah ibn Jundab in ‘Arafat but I had not seen any stay (spending the ninth day of Dhu al-Hajj) in ‘Arafat better than that. He continued stretching his hands to the sky and his tears flowed on his both cheeks all the way to the ground. When people left I said to him, ‘O abu Muhammad, I have never seen a wonderful performance in ‘Arafat such as yours.’ He said, ‘By Allah I did not pray for anything but for my brothers (in belief). That is because of abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), who told me this. “Whoever prays for his brothers (in belief) in his absence is called from the Throne. ‘(O servant of Allah) you will have one hundred thousand times as much reward as one may receive for his prayer.’” Thus, I did not like to leave one hundred thousand guaranteed for only one of mine, of which I am not certain whether it is accepted or not.’”

“‘Isa ibn ’A‘yan in al-Hajj during his stay in ‘Arafat prayed for his brothers (in belief) until people left ‘Arafat for al-Muzdalifah. I (the narrator) asked him, ‘You spend your money, make yourself tired and when you reach the place where wishes are presented before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, you then begin to pray for your brothers (in belief). Why do you ignore yourself?’ He replied, ‘I am certain that the prayers of angels are accepted but I have doubts about the acceptability of my prayer for myself.”’

“I was in al-Mawqaf (‘Arafat). When I left for al-Muzdalifah I met Ibrahim ibn Shu‘ayb. I offered him greeting of peace. He had trouble in one of his eyes and I found his trouble-free eye had turned red like a piece of blood clot. I said to him, ‘One of your eyes is damaged and I am afraid for your other eye. I wish you reduce weeping.’ He said, ‘By Allah O abu Muhammad, I did not pray for myself today.’ I then asked for whom then did you pray today?’ He replied, ‘I prayed for my brothers (in belief) because I have heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, “If one prays for his brother (in belief) in his absence, Allah appoints an angel who says, ‘Double of the same is for you.’” I decided to pray for my brothers (in belief) so that the angel prays for me; I have doubts about the acceptability of my prayer for myself but I have no doubt about the acceptability of the prayer of the angel for me.’”

“I saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), on the day of ‘Arafah in al-Mawqaf (the station) saying at the top of his voice, ‘O people, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, was an Imam. Then Ali ibn abu Talib was an Imam. Then al-Hassan was an Imam. Then al-Husayn was an Imam. Then Ali ibn al-Husayn was an Imam. Then Muhammad ibn Ali was an Imam. Then, Hah.’ He then called three times toward his front, right, left and backside; twelve voices.’ I (the narrator) then went to Mina and asked Arab linguists about the meaning of the word “Hah.” They said, ‘It is an expression of banu so and so, meaning, “I am the one. Ask me whatever you want.” I then asked other Arab linguists and they also said the same thing.”