Al-Hajj Al-Mabroor

Chapter Three
To The ‘Arafât Of Allah
After entering Mecca in a state of Ihrâm, the pilgrims perform
Tawâf and Sa‘y, and on the eighth day of Dhu’l–Hijjah [The 12th
month of the year in the Muslim calendar] they head for Minâ [An
area close to Mecca on the road to ‘Arafah where pilgrims spend the
Tashreeq days. It is the place of throwing pebbles at Jamarat and ritual
slaughter of the sacrifice] where they spend the night. Then, on the
ninth day of Dhu’l–Hijjah they proceed towards ‘Arafah [The area
that surrounds Mount Rahmah, southeast of Mecca; Standing at ‘Arafah
on the 9 th of Dhul-Hijjah and staying there from mid-day to sunset is
the essence of the Hajj] or directly proceed from Mecca towards
‘Arafah.
As well known amidst the rituals, ‘Arafah is not located inside the
Sanctuary but outside it. Therefore, the mind paused meditatively
before it for long. Whenever Allah reveals a secret to a faithful
mind, He causes it to pause before another so that the Unseen
remains non-submitting to the mechanism of legislation but to the
absolute power of The Legislator.
Hajj involves many stages beginning first with the choice of having
faith and pronouncing the Testimony of Faith (As-Shahadah) [Lâ
ilâh illâ Allah wanâ Muhammadan rasûl Allah There is no God but
Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah]. By choosing
belief man enters into the sphere of being assigned duties shared
by all the believers in Allah and His Messenger (may Allah bless
him and grant him peace), which include performing the daily
prayers (Salah), fasting during the month of Ramadan (Saum),
paying the alms tax (Zakâh), and performing the major pilgrimage
to Mecca by whoever can afford the expenses (for one’s
conveyance, provision and residence).
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