which is the Tarwiah Day, and it is better to leave for Mina in the morning.  In Mina , the pilgrims pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha of the 8^th day of Dhul-Hijjah and Fajr of the 9^th day of Dhul-Hijja (Arafah Day).  Dhuhr, Asr and Isha are each shortened to two Rak’ah only, but are not combined.  The pilgrims remain in Mina until sunrise of the 9^th day of Dhul-Hijjah and then leave for Arafat.

     Departure to Arafat:

   On the 9^th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the Day of Arafah, the pilgrims stay in Arafat until sunset.

    It is preferable to pray Dhuhr and Asr at Arafat, shortened and combined during the time of Dhuhr to save the rest of the day for glorifying Allah and for supplication asking forgiveness.  A pilgrim should make sure that he is within the boundaries of Arafat, not necessarily standing on the mountain of Arafa, he should also be sure that he has spent any part of the night –even a few minutes-within Arafat.  The Prophet (SAS) said:  “I stood here on this rocky hill and all Arafat is a standing place” (Muslim).  One should keep reciting Talbeyah, glorifying Allah the Greatest and repeating supplication.  It is also reported that the Prophet (SAS) used to say the following supplication:  “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, the one without a partner.  The dominion and the praise are His and He is powerful over everything”.  Anas Ibn Malik was asked once how he and his friends used to spend their time while walking from Mina to Arafat in the company of the Prophet, (SAS).  Anas said: “Some of us used to cry out Talbeyah, others used to golrify Allah the Greatest and the rest used to repeat supplications.  Each one of us was free to worship Allah in the way he likes without prejudice or renunciation of his right”.  (Bukhari).  

          In the vast plain of Arafat, 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 in the past.  Happy is the person who receives the Mercy and Pleasure of Allah on that particular day


Next Page