Mount Arafat

Mount Arafat or Mount Arafah (جَبَل عَرَفَات‎ transliterated Jabal ʿArafāt) is a granite hill about 20 km (12 mi) east of central Mecca in the plain of Arafat. Mount Arafat reaches about 70 m (230 ft) in height, and is also known as the “Mount of Mercy” (جَبَل ٱلرَّحْمَة‎, Jabal Ar-Raḥmah). According to Islamic tradition, the hill is the place where the Prophet Muhammad stood and delivered the Farewell Sermon to the Muslims who had accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life. Muslims also say that it is also the place where Adam and Hawa reunited on Earth after falling from Heaven, and where Adam was forgiven, hence it is known as the “Mount of Mercy”. A pillar is erected to show the place where the aforementioned took place.

Arafat during Hajj

Arafat during Hajj

On the 9th of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah pilgrims go to Arafat from Mina, for the most important part of the Hajj. The Khutbah of Hajj is narrated and Zuhr and Asr prayers are prayed together. The pilgrims spend the whole day on the mountain to supplicate to Allah to forgive their sins and to pray for personal strength in the future.

Pilgrims supplicating

Pilgrims supplicating

Hajj

Arafah rituals end at sunset and pilgrims then move to Muzdalifah for Maghrib Prayer and a shortened Isha prayer and for a short rest.

The level area surrounding the hill is called the Plain of Arafat. The term Mount Arafah is sometimes applied to this entire area. It is an important place in Islam because during the Hajj, pilgrims spend the afternoon there on the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah. Failure to be present in the plain of Arafat on the required day invalidates the pilgrimage.

Since late 2010, this place is served by Makkah Metro. On a normal Hajj, it would be around 21 km (13 mi) to walk.

Masjid Namirah (Arabic: مَسْجِد نَمِرَة‎)

Masjid Namirah (Arabic: مَسْجِد نَمِرَة‎)

Masjid al-Namirah

Masjid al-Namirah (مسجد نمرة), located in Wadi Uranah, marks the location where the Prophet ﷺ camped before delivering his final sermon on the plain of Arafat. During Hajj, on the Day of Arafat, a sermon is delivered by the Imam of the mosque before Dhuhr and Asr prayers are performed together.

See also

Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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