Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It comes during the last Islamic month Dhul Hijjah. The total days of Hajj are five to six which start from the 8th of Dhul Hijjah and end on the 12th or 13th of Dhul Hijjah. From the 8th Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims from worldwide begin their journey to Makkah. Where they start their journey to Mina which is almost 8 kilometres away from Makkah. After dawn prayers in Mina, pilgrims start the journey to Arfat, which is about 14 kilometres away. Now, the question arises which day of Hajj is the most important?
Muslims consider that the day of Arafah is the most significant day of Hajj as pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat, near Makkah, to pray to their Lord. This day is the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. There is no difference between the words Arafah and Arafat. Arafah refers to the name of a day and Arafat is the name of the desert plain as the day got its name because of this.
It is a significant day of the year when Allah’s Mercy and Bless descend upon the earth, especially for those who pass this day through Hajj and fasting. It is hoped that the Saudi government will announce that the kingdom’s gates will welcome all pilgrims without restrictions in 2023.
So, the best travel agencies have the option of booking Hajj Packages 2023. If one of you pays in advance, he won’t have to worry about the future as he has already protected himself from expensive packages by booking.
What is the day of Arafah?
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best and blessing days of the entire Islamic year. One of these days is Arafah which comes on 9th Dhul Hijjah. It’s the 2nd day of the Annual pilgrimage. After this special day, the first day of Eid-ul-Adha begins. Performing it is obligatory for all Muslims at least once time if possible for them.
What do pilgrims do on Arafah?
Pilgrims listen to the Hajj sermon on the day of Arafah. They perform Zuhr and Asr prayers together and spend the whole day in prayers. They stand facing the Qibla until sunset and seek forgiveness for their past sins. That is why it is the most important ritual of the Hajj.
Why is the 2nd day of Hajj special?
This day is special for Muslims as it is one of the holiest days of the entire Islamic year and on this occasion, pilgrims seek forgiveness for their past sins. This day is also known as the “Standing” day. The day of Arafah is the same as Lailatul-Qadr (Night of Power), the holiest night of the Islamic year in Ramadan.
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Why is this day called “Arafah”?
Arafah or Arfat means “Mount of Recognition”. It is a desert plain about 12 miles from the Kaaba (situated in Makkah). The plain of Arafah is also known for the prominence of Jbaal’Arafah (mount Arafah).
Scholars found some unauthenticated origins of Arafah plain:
Arafah is from the verb ‘Arafa’, which means “he came to know”. It became the name because of Angel Jibrail when He was teaching the rituals of Hajj to Ibrahim (A.S) and He asked a question from Ibrahim (A.S) about His religious rites. Jibrail asked: ‘Arafat’? means “Do You know it?” and Ibrahim said: ‘Arafah’ means “now, I know it”.
It gives the name to the plain where pilgrims get to know each other.
It is the sacred place where the blessings and mercy of Allah descend.
Some virtues of the day of Arafah
- Firstly, it is the day when God perfected the religion, Islam.
- It is the day on which God fully poured His favour upon Muslims and humanity as a whole.
- It is the day when the Prophet (PBUH) says three times before the believers and God that I had accomplished the Divine task, which was to spread Islam and the message of God to humanity.
Furthermore, it is the day God revealed to His Prophet (PBUH) the three tenets of Islam.
Conclusion
The day of Arafah is the most important day of Hajj because of its blessings and mercies. It is also called the day of Standing when pilgrims seek forgiveness for their sins. Without this day Hajj cannot be completed.
The annual pilgrimage for many of us can be affected by the increase in airfares and the cost of accommodation. But the best travel agency has a better solution for us according to our pocket money.
