Standing at Arafat, standing for truth
Who doesn’t err? But the best are those who repent
Published: Fri, 26 October 2012 09:36 PM
Your Lord says, “Call on me – I will give you freedom from Hell fire.”Repent and pray. The 9th day of Zhul-Hijja is called the Day of Arafah, the essence and pinnacle of Hajj. A blessed great day when the pilgrims shall stay in a blessed place, the land(s) of every pilgrim’s dream, plain of ‘Arafat until sunset for glorifying Allah and for supplication asking forgiveness. Staying at Arafat is mandatory pillar of Hajj rites without which the Hajj is invalid. The Prophet (SAW) said: “The Hajj is Arafat” (Tirmidhi). Millions of pilgrims all in that place wrapped in two white seamless cloths gather in the plain of Arafat to seek the promised forgiveness from Allah the merciful.
Pilgrims are all equal, celebrities and followers, rich and poor, black and white, eminent and common people. This day tears are shed, sins are washed and faults are redressed for those who ask Allah for forgiveness and offer sincere repentance for their wrong doings. Who doesn’t err? Every descendant of Adam is oft to err, we have erred and strayed from the righteous path and the best of those who err are those who are oft to repent.
The Prophet (SAW) said, “There is no day in which Allah liberates more servants from the hellfire than the Day of Arafah-9th of Zhul-Hijja”, there is no such location where Forgiveness of the Sins even if they are like the foam on the Sea are pardoned. My brethren, if any among you erred from the truth, this is the day of sincere repentance. A great opportunity chance of lifetime to get their slates cleaned. Allah the Merciful says, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful” (Holy Quran 39;53).
Allah does not love the sinner, but Allah loves the repenter. Allah looks at the sincerity in your repentance in your chanting and in place like Arafat on 9th Zull Hijja , people cry with their hearts out and ask Allah for His mercy. This is a day of forgiveness and reconciliation mercy from Allah (ST)so that we may hereafter live a righteous, and obedient life. As for those who are staying till the evening in Arafah, let him know, on this day Allah Almighty boast of them to His angels then Allah (ST) descends to the sky of the world and He boasts about you to the Angels, and says: ‘My slaves have come to Me, looking rough, from every deep valley hoping for My mercy, so if your sins were equivalent to the amount of sand or the drops of rain or like the foam on the sea I will forgive them. So go forth My slaves! Having forgiveness and for what or who you have interceded for’ (reported by at-Tabarani in his book “al-Kabeer”).
Talhah (RA) reports that Prophet (SAW) said, “Apart from the day of the Battle of Badr there is no day on which Satan is seen to be more humiliated, more rejected, more depressed and more infuriated, than on the day of Arafat, and indeed all this is only because of beholding the abundance of descending mercy (on the day) and Allah’s forgiveness of the great sins of the servants” (Mishkat).
My brothers and sisters, what are you waiting for? If you couldn’t be amongst those who are not in the plains of Arafat on this day not performing Hajj this year, then plan it for next year, make niyah now, till then on this day besides supplication and reciting Quran it is mustahabb (highly recommended), to fast on the day of Arafah since the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Fasting on the day of Arafah expiates the sins (Minor) of the past year and the coming year” (Muslim).
Let us hope this fasting becomes a cause of forgiveness for sins committed in past, and an inspiration to do righteous in future. Regarding frequently asked question (controversy) on fasting on the day of Arafah, please ask your local mufti whether we fast on the ninth of Zhul Hijjah as some religious scholars believe in on the day when the pilgrims gather in the place of Arafah, or the fasting on Arafah day depends on sighting the month’s moon in each country, as some scholars say. There is nothing more deserving of regard by Allah Ta’Ala than du’a, there is no better day than the day of Arafah to Ask Allah Ta’Ala of His grace because Allah Ta’Ala likes being asked, and it is a great act of ‘ibadah that one waits for ease while in hardship. The Holy Prophet SAW said, “Du’a is the essence of ibadah” (Tirmidhi).
