Mount Arafat (Jabal-Ar-Rahmah)

Also known as Jabal-Ar-Rahmah or the Mount of Mercy, Mount Arafat is a hill in the valley of Arafat outside Makkah where Prophet (pbuh) gave his last sermon after completing Hajj. It is mandatory for pilgrims to leave Mina and reach Mount Arafat on 9th Dhu’al Hijjah and spend the day in praying, doing Dhik’r and asking for forgiveness from Allah (SWT). Standing in Arafat is an essential part of Hajj and it is considered invalid if a pilgrim fails to reach here. Prophet (pbuh) said,

“Hajj is Arafat.” [Al-Hakim]

Virtues of the day of Arafat have been narrated in many hadiths. Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“There is no day in which Allah sets free more souls from the fire of hell than on the day of Arafat. And on that day Allah draws near to the earth and by way of exhibiting His Pride remarks to the angels, ‘What is the desire of these (servants of mine)?” [Muslim]

The word “Arafat” means “to know” and this is the place where Adam (AS) and Hawa (AS) met on earth after being taken out of Jannah.