The best du’aa is the du’aa of the day of Arafaah. The best of what I and the prophets before me have uttered, is:
لا اله الا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك و له الحمد، و هو علي كل شيء قدير
Laa ilaaha il-lal-laahoo
WaH-dahoo laa shareeka-lahoo
Lahool moolkoo
Wa-lahool Hamdoo
Wa-hoowa ‘alaa kool-li shay-in qadeer”
[There is none to worship except Allaah alone
With no partner or associate
His is the entire kingdom and to Him be praise
He gives life and gives death
and He has power over all things]
He (SAW) also said: “Du’aa is the core of worship” [Narrated in Tirmidhee]
The pilgrims will now have left the tents of Mina to reach Arafaat for mid-day. Having stayed and offered the Zuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, ‘Ishaa and Fajr prayers there at their appointed times in Mina.
After Fajr Salaah the Takbeer of Tashreeq will have started. Throughout the camps and on the way to Arafaat the sound of the praises of Allaah will be heard throughout the day.
Mount Arafaat (Jabal e Arafaat) is a hill about 12 miles east of Makkah in the open plain of Arafaat.
Mount Arafat reaches about 70 m (230 ft) in height and is also known as The Mount of Mercy (Jabal ar-Rahmah).
This hill is the place where Prophet Muhammed s.a.w. stood and delivered the Farewell Sermon to the Muslims who had accompanied him.
The Prophet Muhammad (Sal-lal-laahoo Alayhi Wa Sal-lam) [Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon him] only ever completed one Hajj during his life. This was not only his only Hajj, but one which took place shortly before he s.a.w. passed away. Therefore this occasion is known as the Farewell Hajj, and the Sermon he s.a.w delivered there known as the Farewell Sermon.
It is narrated that it is also the place where the Prophet Aadam (Adam) a.s. and Hawwaa (Eve) were reunited on earth after being sent down from Heaven. It is the place where Aadam [Peace be upon him] was forgiven, hence it is also known as Jabl-ar-Rahmah (the Mount of Mercy). A pillar is erected to show the place where this took place.
After mid-day (Zuhr time) at the Namrah Mosque on the edges of Arafaat, the Khootbah [Sermon] of Hajj is narrated and then pilgrims offer the Zuhr and ‘Asr prayers together at Zuhr time.
The pilgrims then spend the whole day at Mount Arafaat performing “Wuqoof” [standing before God]. This is one the the most significant and important acts of Hajj. A pilgrim’s Hajj is considered invalid if they do not spend the afternoon on Arafaah.
Wuqoof is from the time when the sun first starts to decline (from Zuhr) until the time it sets completely (to Maghrib), pilgrims hold a vigil on a plain of Arafaat during which time they pray and reflect, supplicating to Allaah s.w.t to forgive their sins and making personal du’aas and seek the mercy of Allaah [Soob-Haana Wa Ta’aala].
No specific prayers are assigned just sincerely prayers & du’aas from the heart.
The Prophet [Sal-lal-laahoo Alayhi Wa Sal-lam] said, ‘There is no day on which Allaah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of ’Arafaah. He comes close to those (people standing on ’Arafaah), and then He revels before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.” [Narrated in Tirmidhee]
“Allaah expresses His pride to His angels at the time of ‘Ishaa’ on the Day of ‘Arafaah, about the people of ‘Arafaah. He says, ‘Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and dusty.’” [Narrated by Ahmad]
Allaah s.w.t and His special Mercy draw even closer to the sky of the world and He boasts about His servants to the Angels, and says: ‘My slaves have come to Me, looking rough, from every deep valley hoping for My mercy, so if your sins were equivalent to the amount of sand or the drops of rain or like the foam on the sea I will forgive them. So go forth My slaves! Having forgiveness and for what or who you have interceded for.’ [Narrated in Tabarani]
It is on this day on which religion was completed for all of creation and Allaah’s Favour was completed.
‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) mentions that a Jewish man said to him, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is an aayah in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid (festival).” ‘Umar r.a. said, “Which aayah?” He said: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah Ch5:v3]. ‘Umar r.a. said, “We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). It was when he was standing in ‘Arafaah on a Friday.” [Al-Saheehayn]
For those not on the Pilgrimage, fasting on the day of Arafaah is an expiation for two years:
“It expiates the sins (Minor) of the past year and the coming year.” [Muslim]
Also, the sight of millions standing at ‘Arafaat are a reminder of the Day of Resurrection and should humble oneself to Allaah s.w.t. at this time through repentance, du’aa, sincere intention and strong determination to free oneself from the sins of the past and to build up a commitment to rush for doing what is good and becoming a better person.
Bear in mind that this day is the day that humiliates the open enemy of mankind.
“Apart from the day of the battle of Badr, there is not day in which the Shaytaan is seen to be more humiliated, more dejected, more depressed and more infuriated, than on the day of Arafaah. And indeed all this is because of beholding the abundance of the mercy that descends (on that day), and because of Allaah’s forgiveness of great sins of the servants. [Narrated in Maalik, Mishkaat]
Shaytaan had worked so hard in misleading people. However, they arrived at the Merciful Master’s courtyard, who readily forgives them. This is what disgraces Shaytaan, seeing all his efforts go down the drain.
May Allaah s.w.t accept all our good deeds and make us of those who are completely forgiven before we leave this world.
