The Mahdi Times November 2011 | Page 36

Arafat By: Mohammed Khaku Of the nights in a year, there are six nights mark as a grandeur and majesty nights. These are Shab-e-Qadr (Night of power), Shab-e-Meraj (Night of Ascension), Shab-eBarrat (Night of deliverance), The night of Arafat (Great gathering) and the nights of two Eid (Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-Ul-Adha). However, the night of Arafat has great political as well as religious significance. But what is Arafat? Arafat is a mountain or a granite hill, east of Mecca. It is also known as the Mount of Mercy (Jabal ar-Rahmah). The level area surrounding the hill is called the plains of Arafah. Arafat literally means Knowledge and Science. Arafat is the place where according to the Islamic narrations, the repentance of Adam was accepted by God after his fall from heaven, Adam and Eve were united at the mount of Arafat, prayed together, asking for forgiveness and got married by archangel Gabriel. Arafat is a site for prayer, supplication and repentance but also acquiring proper recognition of God. Arafat which is marifat means recognition This is a day for those present on the plains of Arafah, who stand/sit in two piece of clothes, in scorching heat and ponder over just two facts, to whom they belong and where they are going About two and half million Muslims will converge on the plains of Arafah for Waqafa (waiting) all afternoon for sunset. It is a vivid representation in all of humanity gathering at the end of Time. It is the day of reckoning where all pilgrims are repenting, supplicating, with hands high. Arafat is the place, where Prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon 14 centuries ago by proclaiming the equality of mankind, justice and freedom for all in an eloquent Human Rights manifesto. “All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over non-Arab. A white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white person, except by piety”. He also emphasized the women’s rights and demanded that husbands treat their wives with kindness, respect and gentleness and that abusing the wife is immoral. The pilgrims ought to remember and recite the famous sermon on the mount Arafat is where he explicitly gave instructions to the Ummah in the following words: “I am leaving behind you two weighty things (the Saqalayn) the book of God – the Quran and my progeny, the Ahlul Bayt. Hold fast to them and you will never go astray.”  The plain of Arafat is the high point of the Hajj and Proph ]]Z[[XY\œ