The Day of Arafat

Recorded during the 2013 Hajj, as pilgrims moved from Mina to the Plain of Arafat under the guidance of Alhaj Akibu Quasim.

Transcript

This is Mina, early in the morning, before the Fajr prayer.
People are getting ready for the day that our Lord has specially made for us: the Day of Arafat.

After Fajr, we’ll be heading out to Arafat.

This is the tent where we all stay whether rich or poor, whatever your status, we’re all here together this morning, getting ready to start the journey.
We’re all going toward the same direction.Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim.
Today is the real day of action, the Day of Arafat. Alhamdulillah.

We are now in the plain of Arafat.

According to the saying of our leader, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), all these movements and actions we’ve been doing for the past one month come to their true meaning today.

Anyone who misses the Day of Arafat has not completed Hajj.
That’s why we’re here now, to perform this act that the Prophet mentioned.
Today is the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.

We’ve just arrived at Arafat, insha’Allah we’ll be here for a few hours.
We’ll wait for the time of Zuhr.
When it’s time, we’ll pray Zuhr and Asr together, shortening them to two rak’ahs each, as the Prophet did.

After the prayers, there’ll be a short lecture to remind everyone what this day is about,
to pray to Allah, to seek His forgiveness, and to ask for our needs.

Today is the day Allah is proud of His servants.
He tells the angels, “Look at My servants, they left everything behind: their families, their wealth, their comfort, and they came to answer My call.”
And because of that, He forgives their sins.

We’re encouraged today to increase in prayers, to seek Allah’s guidance and forgiveness, and to ask for everything we need.
We are hopeful that whatever we ask Allah today will be granted before we leave this place.

We’ll also remember all Muslims around the world, especially those going through hardship, and pray that Allah lifts their pain and makes us all better Muslims.

When we finish here, we’ll return to our camps, insha’Allah, and continue the remaining parts of Hajj.
We ask Allah to make today a good day for us, a day of forgiveness and mercy.

Every year comes with its own challenges.
Hajj is always as Allah has planned it, no Hajj without a few difficulties.
But Alhamdulillah, we are here in Arafat and everything is going well.

Tonight, we’ll leave for Muzdalifah.
The tents there are not as comfortable as Mina, but it’s part of the journey.
Tomorrow is the Day of Eid, the day of celebration for all Muslims, and we’ll begin the next part of Hajj: going back to Mina, throwing the stones at the Jamarat, then returning to Makkah for Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa’i between Safa and Marwah.

May Allah make it easy for us and accept all our prayers. Ameen.