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Arafah - A Witnessed Day
Shaykh Abdul Muhsin Al Qaasim [(Dhul Qa'dah 8, 1424 (January 30, 2004)]
All praise is due to
Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the
Messenger, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! Fear
Allaah as He should be feared. That is the best provision and the only way to
salvation in the Hereafter.
Dear Muslims! Seasons
of blessings follow one another by Allaah's grace. In Hajj season, hearts of
Muslims long for the House of Allaah which they face in every prayer. Their eyes
look towards the sacred and blessed places in which lessons are learnt. Allaah
says,
"In
it are manifest signs."
(Aal 'Imraan
3:97)
The
place is full of security and safety from Allaah. Allaah says,
"Whosoever enters it attains security."
(Aal-'Imraan
3:97)
City-dwellers and
country dwellers enjoy its benefits. Allaah says,
"That they may witness things that are of benefit to them."
(Al-Hajj 22:28)
The provision of this
sacred place is comprehensive and its bliss is continuous. Allaah says,
"Have We established for them a secured sanctuary [Makkah], to which are brought
fruits of all kinds? [It is] a provision from Ourselves, but most of them know
not."
(Al-Qasas
28:57)
The pilgrims to the
House of Allaah show helplessness before Him, hoping for the fulfilment of His
promise, and performing one of the greatest acts of worship: Hajj. They want
their sins to be erased and forgiven. Allaah's Messenger told 'Amr bin Al-'Aas
after the latter accepted Islaam, "Did you not know that Islaam erases whatever
sin committed in the past, that Hijrah [migration] erases whatever was done in
the past and that Hajj erases whatever committed in the past?" (Muslim)
Hajj purifies the
pilgrim from sins and iniquities. The Messenger of Allaah said, "He who
performed Hajj and he did not engage in sexual activities nor engage in
obscenities will return as [sinless] as the day his mother bore him." (Al-Bukhaaree
and Muslim) He also said, "The accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise."
(Muslim)
Brethren in faith! Hajj
has benefits and lessons. Abstention from wearing normal dresses reminds one of
the shrouds one will be covered with after death. It teaches humility and
shunning of arrogance. All that the male pilgrim wears are just two sheets of
cloth and the head is left uncovered as a sign of humbleness for Allaah.
Sincerity with Allaah
in acts of worship and affirming His Oneness are the hallmarks of Hajj. It is
the first word uttered at the beginning of the rites of Hajj when the pilgrims
says, "Labbayk Allaahumma labbayk."
It is a proclamation of
the Monotheism and shunning of polytheism. 'Labbayk Labbayk Allaahumma labbayk,'
[I respond to Your call, O Allaah, I respond to Your call.]
This proclamation also
reminds of Allaah's favours: 'Innal-hamda, wan-ni'mah laka,' [Yours is the
praise and favour.]
Therefore, he who
answered the call of Allaah to His sacred city for Hajj has a greater
responsibility to obey His commandments in other things.
Dear brethren! The
Sight of the Ka'abah is that of being sincere with Allaah in all acts of
worship. Prophet Ibraaheem and his son raised the pillar for this sacred house,
yet they were asking Allaah to accept it from them. Allaah says,
"And
remember when Abraham and [his son] Ishmael were raising the foundations of the
House [the Ka'bah] and saying, 'Our Lord, accept [this service] from us. Verily,
You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower."
(Al-Baqarah
2:127)
Al-Hasan Al-Basree
said, "The believer possesses kindness and compassion but the hypocrite
possesses cruelty." The pilgrim must therefore, performs his Hajj rites and
other acts of worship sincerely for Allaah alone. He should not to show off or
boast with his acts of worship. He should rather seek for the pleasure of Allaah
and expiation of his sins.
Dear Muslims! Going
round the House of Allaah in Tawaaf has strong impacts in the hearts. There is
no place in the earth around which Tawaaf is made as an act of worship except
the noble Ka'bah.
Kissing the Black Stone
also indicates submission to the Will of Allaah even if the logical reason
behind doing so is not manifest. 'Umar bin Al-Khattaab said addressing the Black
Stone, "By Allaah, I certainly know that you are only a stone that can neither
cause benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Messenger of Allaah kissing you, I
would not kiss you." (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
Rites of Hajj teaches
us to stick to the Sunnah and follow the path of the Prophet. The Messenger of
Allaah said, "Take your Hajj rites from me." The Muslim must therefore follow
the Messenger of Allaah in all acts of worship. Allaah says,
"And
whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you,
abstain from it."
(Al-Hashr
59:7)
Brethren in faith! 'Arafah
day is a grand day. It is the unique conference of the Muslims. It is the day of
hope and humility. It is a day of showing submissiveness and helplessness. It is
very dear to Muslims. Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said, "In the evening of
the day of 'Arafah, indescribable faith, mercy, light and blessing descend on
the hearts of the pilgrims."
Dear brethren! The best
supplication is that of the Day of 'Arafah. Ibn 'Abdil-Barr said, "The
invocations of the day of 'Arafah are mostly accepted." Frequent recitation of
the statement of piety with full understanding of its meaning is the best act.
The Messenger of Allaah said, "The best supplication is the one done on the day
of 'Arafah. And the best statement uttered by me and the Prophets who were
before me is: 'Laa ilaaha illallaah, wahdahoo laa shareeka lah, lahul-mulk
walahul-hamd wahuwa 'alaa kulli shay'in qadeer.'
One the day of 'Arafah,
Allaah liberates many from Hell and He is proud of the pilgrims in front of the
Angels. The Messenger of Allaah said, "The day in which Allaah liberates more of
His servants from Hell is the day of 'Arafah. Allaah draws near on that day and
boasts with them [the pilgrims] and says: 'What do these [servants] want?'"
(Muslim)
Ibn 'Abdil-Barr
commented on this hadeeth saying, "This indicates that their sins will be
forgiven, because Allaah does not boast with the sinners except He has accepted
their repentance and forgiven them." Humble yourself to Allaah on that day and
show helplessness in front of Him hoping for His promise and fearing His
punishments.
Fellow Muslims!
People's gathering on that day reminds of the greatest gathering of the Day of
Resurrection; the day in which Allaah will judge among His creatures after which
the dwellers of Paradise will be sent to their abode and the people of Paradise
will be sent to their abode.
Supplication is an
important act. The pilgrim asks his Lord for his needs. Follow the approved
manners of making supplication and beware of falling into thing that can prevent
your supplication from being accepted. Seize the opportunity of excellent places
and periods for your supplication and face your Lord with your heart. Allaah
says,
"Call upon Allaah making your worship pure for Him."
(Ghaafir
40:14)
Invoke Him, ask Him for
relief and be sure of response to your invocation. Do not lose hope if response
to your supplication is delayed, for there is mercy and wisdom in delay. Allaah
says,
"Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be!"
- and it is!"
(Yaaseen
36:82)
Dear brethren!
Slaughtering for hady or udh'hiyah is an act of worship that
should exclusively be directed to Allaah alone. Allaah says,
"It
is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allaah, but it is piety from
you that reaches Him."
(Al-Hajj 22:37)
Lowering heads for
Allaah while shaving or cutting the hair is a sign of submission to Him, and a
sign of showing helplessness before Him. Also, remembrance of Allaah is a means
of giving life to the heart, refining the soul and purifying the mind. Making
much of it at the places of Hajj rites makes its acceptance more likely and
indicates the sincerity of the worshipper. Allaah says,
"That
they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the
Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade), and mention the Name of
Allaah on appointed days."
(Al-Hajj 22:28)
He also says,
"Then when you leave 'Arafât, remember Allaah (by glorifying His Praises, i.e.
prayers and invocations) at the Mash'ar-il-Harâm."
(Al-Baqarah
2:198)
Allaah also says,
"So
when you have accomplished your Manasik, remember Allaah as you remember your
forefathers or with a far more remembrance."
(Al-Baqarah
2:200)
Allaah says,
"And
remember Allaah during the appointed Days."
(Al-Baqarah
2:203)
Remember through your
Hajj, for Hajj rites are ordained for that. Allaah's Messenger said,
"Circumambulation of the House, trotting between As-Safa and Al-Marwah and
throwing the pebbles [at Jamaraat] are all ordained for the remembrance of
Allaah." (At-Tirmidhee)
The nearest to Allaah
in position among the pilgrims is the greatest of them in remembrance of Allaah.
Ibn Al-Qayyim said, "The best of performers of acts of worship are the ones who
remember Allaah most in these acts of worship. The best of fasting Muslims are
those who remember Allaah most in their fasting and the best of charity givers
are those who remember Allaah most while giving their charity and the best of
the pilgrims are those who remember Allaah most."
Brethren in faith!
After finishing your Hajj, seek much forgiveness from Allaah for that is the
best way to conclude acts of worship. Seeking forgiveness turns one's imperfect
deed to perfect and elevates a servant from a lower position to a higher one. He
who performs his Hajj perfectly and abstains from imperfections returns home a
better person. Allaah says,
"And
proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on
every lean camel; they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain
highway (to perform Hajj)."
(Al-Hajj 22:27)
Fellow Muslims! He who
has attained the blessings of Hajj would return to his country a better, purer
and more peaceful person. He would be full of faith and piety. His behaviour
would be refined and he would be more determined to perform righteous deeds and
move closer to Allaah.
Of the signs of
acceptance of righteous deed is to perform another righteous deed after it. Let
the pilgrim be a model in piety, righteousness, calling to the way of Allaah
with sure knowledge and upholding the religion of Allaah when he returns to his
country.
Dear pilgrim! Your
departure from places of Hajj rites should remind you of your departure from
this world. You are on a journey that will be followed by another journey to
your grave. So make provision for that journey from this. Ibn Al-Qayyim said,
"Men are always on a journey right from the day they were born till they will
enter Paradise or Hell."
Therefore, seize the
opportunity of the seasons of Ibaadah before they are gone for life itself, is a
chance. The days are numbered and spans of life are short.
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