Mufti Saad Abdul Razzaq
The Plain of Arafat: During the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, as the sun rose, Nabi Muhammad SAAW departed from Mina towards Arafat. Ummul Mu’mineen, Sayyidatuna Ayesha R.A narrates:
Previously, the Quraysh and those who followed their ways stayed at Muzdalifah, this practice was known as Hums, while other Arab tribes gathered at Arafat. However, with the advent of Islam, Allah commanded Rasulullah SAAW to stay at Arafat, and from there to travel to Muzdalifah. (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 4248, pg. 1643)
This is the meaning of the verse:
Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart.
Hence, Rasulullah SAAW journeyed through Muzdalifah to Arafat, all along, he and his noble companions continued to recite the Talbiyah and Takbeer. Arriving at Arafat, Rasulullah SAAW pitched his tent and remained at Namirah. At sunset, he prepared his camel Qaswa and proceeded to Batn-Wadi, where he delivered a remarkable sermon.
In this sermon, Rasulullah SAAW announced the abolishment of the blood money of Ibn Rabi’ah and he also announced the abolition of usury and declared that the usury of Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib was the first to be abolished. In his sermon, he emphasized the abolishment of the practices stemming from the pre-Islamic era, proclaiming, “Every practice of ignorance is now beneath my feet.”
After concluding his sermon, Rasulullah SAAW instructed Bilal R.A to call the Adhan and Iqamah for prayer. He then performed two rak’ah of Zuhr, followed immediately by two rak’ah for Asr. Subsequently, he rode his camel Qaswa to the Mawqaf, near the rocks beneath Jabal al-Rahmah, where he fervently prayed and supplicated, shedding tears in humility before Allah Ta’ala. Rasulullah SAAW supplicated in such a manner that is similar to a hungry person asking for assistance from a benevolent and generous patron. His hands were raised, and he cried profusely while engaging in Dua until sunset.
During this time, some individuals from Najd approached Rasulullah SAAW to inquire about Hajj. He informed them:
That Hajj is to stay in Arafat, stating, “The Hajj is of the one who arrives at Arafat on the night of Muzdalifah before dawn is complete.” (Sunan Tirmizi, Hadith 889, Pg. 163)
While standing in Arafat, Rasulullah SAAW prayed for the forgiveness of his ummah. According to the Sunan of Ibn e Majah, his supplication was answered, except for those who oppress others, for whom he sought justice. His prayers were accepted, signifying a moment of divine mercy and forgiveness for his followers.
Rasulullah SAAW supplicated for forgiveness for his Ummah on the eve of ‘Arafat, and the response came: “I have forgiven them, except for the oppressor, with whom I will settle the score in favour of the one whom he wronged.”
Rasulullah SAAW said, “O my Rabb, if You will, then grant Paradise to the one who is wronged, and forgive the wrongdoer.” No response came (that evening). The next day at Muzdalifah he repeated the supplication, and his Dua was granted. He (the narrator) said: “Rasulullah SAAW laughed,” or he said, “He smiled.”
Abu Bakr R.A and ‘Umar R.A said to him: ‘May my father and mother be sacrificed for you; this is not a time when you usually laugh. What made you laugh; may Allah make your years filled with laughter’?
He said: ‘The enemy of Allah, Iblis, when he came to know that Allah answered my prayer and has forgiven my nation, took some dust and threw it on his head, uttering cries of woe and doom, and what I saw of his anguish made me laugh.’
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3013, Pg. 327)
While they were in Arafat, a companion met his demise after falling from his horse while in the state of Ihram. In accordance with the directive of Rasulullah SAAW, he was laid to rest draped in the two sheets of Ihram. This incident is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, under the chapter concerning the Sunnah of handling deceased individuals in the state of Ihram. (Bukhari, H 1753, Pg. 656)
It was on the plains of Arafat that the following blessed verse of the Qur’an al-Karim was revealed:
“This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”
(Surah al-Maida, verse 3)
This verse, considered of profound significance, was revealed to Rasulullah SAAW after the Asr prayer on a Friday. Rasulullah SAAW was on his camel, Adhbah, and it seemed that due to the weight of the revelation, the knees of the camel had started to buckle.
