PoetryFaith
The pilgrimage
Hajj is
A realization
That I have to go
Soon, maybe later
Towards the approaching
Day of Judgment
That while I live
I expect, I hope
For the certainty
Amidst uncertainty. Ninth of Dhul Hajj
Is the Day of Arafat,
That marks the significance of Hajj. Wuquf at Arafat
Is from zuhar to sunset
Stream of pilgrims in ihram
Stand on the plain of Arafat
They face Kaa'ba
And pray for Allah's forgiveness.
For nearly five and more hours
Say salat for zohr- asar in single azan The first wuquf
Allah asked:
'Am I not your Rabb?
Yes! We bear witness that You are.' 7:172
And made mankind aware of Rabb
And the Day of Judgment.
Thus we have established a covenant with Allah.
To accept only him
We resolve to worship
Only Allah. 'At Arafat
Acknowledge your transgression and faults
And renew your covenant with Allah.’
(Imam Jafar al Sadiq) At Namrah mosque
On the border of Arafat
The grand mufti delivered
The Hajj sermon:
'Piety will lead you to
The path of righteousness,
And spare the torment of
The Day of Judgment.’
And the imam of the mosque
Read the khutba of the Day. The Mount of Mercy
Is the 70 meter granite
Rising out of the plain
Is Jubel Arafah,
Jabal-r-Rahman. Wuquf at Arafah
Every year
On this very day is renewal
For prayer and repentance
The whole day
The pilgrims stand in earnest supplication
And devotion
Praying for Allah's abundant forgiveness. Tears are shed
By those who make repentance
And seek Allah's mercy
For their sins. 'It is most grievous sin
To stand in Arafat
And to imagine
That Allah, Exalted is He
Does not forgive one.’
(al- Ghazali) It was on mount Arafah
That Aadam and Bibi Hawa
Separated from each other
For so many years
After their expulsion
From the Garden of Eden. For Aadam forgot the covenant
To Allah
Aadam was seduced.
Iblis whispered:
'O Aadam shall I lead you to
The Tree of Eternity…
…and to a kingdom that never decays?' On the mount of Arafah
Aadam recognized Bibi Hawa
(Arafah means recognition)
… Seeks Allah's forgiveness
Allah forgives anything… and whom He pleases.4:48
Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful. 4:110 The Prophet said:
'The best dua is
The dua made on the day of Arafat.'
The Prophet gave his last sermon
On ninth day of Dhul Hajj, 10 A.H
From Uranah valley of Mount Arafat,
The Prophet said:
That this is a sacred day
Makkah , Mecca is a sacred city
Every Muslim man's
Life and property is a sacred trust Then the Prophet said:
That Allah has forbidden usury.
And Beware of Iblis, Satan.
Men, be kind to your wives
For they are
Like their partners and helpers.
Let them befriend
Whom the men approve of
Unchaste is forbidden. Further the Prophet said:
To worship Allah alone
To say five salat daily
To fast during Ramadan
To give of one's wealth in zakat
And to perform Hajj if that is affordable. The Prophet said:
No race, no colour
Is superior over the other
All Muslims constitute one brotherhood. After Prophet Muhammad
No Prophet
Would come and be born As living legacy
To accept the Quran and Sunnah
Finally
The Prophet said:
'O Allah … I have conveyed
Your message to Your people.' Converted to Islam
American poet-writer* said:
'In Arafat, the Hajj goes on
Inside the hearts and thoughts of each of us.
This is a rehearsal for the Day of Judgment.
How will we account for our acts?
Have I injured anyone?
Have I been grateful enough
For the simple gifts of life,
Water, food, friends, family
And the air I breadth.' *Micheal Wolfe
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