The Day of ̒Arafah
The ninth day of Dhū al-Hijjah is the day of 'Arafah. It is the day when Hajj pilgrims stand on the plain of 'Arafāt (a flat wide desert about 22 km south east of Mecca and beyond Minā and Mashʹar al-Harām) when the stand of the pilgrims is observed in this place from midday until sunset in solitude supplication and intimate discourse with Almighty Allah. This day is considered to be of supreme significance to the extent that the hadiths state that this day is important even for those are not at Hajj. On this day, Allah commanded his servants to obey and worship Him. He thus extended for them the tables of His benevolence and magnanimity. Imam al-Hussain (the third Imam of Shia) made the supplication, one of the most famous in Shi'ite history, one year during the pilgrimage to Mecca on the Day of ʹArafāh and it has been recited by Shia Muslims ever since. The spirit of the day is well represented in the Imam's prayer.
Though 'Arafah, literally means knowledge and science, there are different interpretations on why that day was called ̒Arafah or ̒Arafāt.
The Secrets of the Pause in Arafat
Arafah is the day when the Almighty called His servants to worship and obey Him, extended His favor to them, and promised them to forgive their sins and cover their faults.
This article intends to explain some of the philosophies of stopping pilgrims on this day.
There are many secrets of Arafat, some of them mentioned in the hadith of Shibli[1] are:
1. Understanding religious and divine knowledge
standing in Arafat is for a person to become familiar with religious knowledge and sciences and to learn about the divine secrets of the creation system. God is aware of all human needs and is able to meet all of them. Surrender yourself to God and obey Him only, His obedience is the capital and means of every needlessness.
Therefore, Imam Sajjad (a.s.) said to the beggar who was begging on the day of Arafah:
"Woe to you! On such a day, do you reach out your hand in need to someone other than God; on such a day, the hope of happiness for children in the womb goes away."[2]
2. Arafat, a place of perception and intuition
Pilgrims should become know there, that God Almighty is aware of the hidden and the visible, their heart and their secrets, and even that which is not clear to them and passes unconsciously in the corners of their souls.” Whether you speak loudly [or in secret tones,] He (God) indeed knows the secret and what is still more hidden. “(Taha (20): 7)[3]
3. A place for true repentance and forgiveness of sins
On this day, Almighty God pays special attention to three places and three groups of people; Karbala and the pilgrims of Imam Hussain (as), the desert of Arafat and the pilgrims of Baitullah(Mecca), and wherever people pray or Dua'a, God's special attention is drawn to them.
[1] -Shibli was one of Imam Sajjad's students. This hadith is known as Shibli's hadith. When he returned from Hajj, Imam Sajjad asked him, "Did you perform Hajj?" He said yes, son of the Prophet, then Imam Sajjad told him about the secrets of Arafat's standing.
[2] - Wasail Us Shia- Vol 10
"ویحک! أغیر الله تسأل فى هذا الیوم. إنه لیرجی لما فى طون الحبالی فى هذا الیوم أن یکون سعیداً".
[3] -وَإِنْ تَجْهَرْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى
