Arafat

Arafat is a mountain in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia located on the road between Mecca and Taif. It is about 22 kilometers from Mecca, 10 kilometers from Mina, and 6 kilometers from Muzdalifah. The most important rituals of Hajj, which is called the Arafat Pause, are held there on the ninth day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah. The stop at Arafat is considered the most important ritual of Hajj, as the Prophet Muhammad said: “Hajj is Arafat.” Mount Arafa reaches 300 meters in length, and at the center of its peak is a 7-meter-tall mark to distinguish it from the rest of the mountains.

Naming
Arafat was named by this name. Because people get to know each other there, and it was said that Gabriel walked around Abraham and showed him the sights and said to him: “Did you know?” Did you know?”, and Abraham replied: “I knew, I knew.” It was also said that he was named Arafat because Adam and Eve “when they descended from Paradise” met in him, so he knew her and she knew him. It was also said that he was named that because people confessed their sins to him, and it was said: Rather, he was named with patience. What they struggle to achieve, because custom is patience, the poet said:

Tell Ibn Qais, brother of the Ruqayat
How good is knowledge in calamities

Mount Arafat was known as Arafat, as it was mentioned in the Qur’anic text: “There is no blame on you if you seek bounty from your Lord. So when you reach out from Arafat, remember Allah at the mountain “The forbidden, and remember Him as He has guided you, even if before that you were among those who went astray.” [Al-Baqarah: 198]. The word Arafat is not the plural of Arafat – as some people think – but rather it is singular in the plural form, and it has counterparts in the Arabic language, and it is a vast expanse of land surrounded by an arc of mountains whose chord is Wadi Urnah.

Arafat is called by other names, including: Jabal al-Rahma, al-Qurain, al-Nabit, and Jabal Ilal.

The borders of Arafat

Ibn Abbas said: “The border of Arafah is from the mountain overlooking the valley of Urnah to its mountains, to the palace of the Malik family, and Wadi Arafah.”

Arafat is located on the road between Mecca and Taif, about 22 kilometers east of Mecca, 10 kilometers from Mina and 6 kilometers from Muzdalifah. The length of Arafat is approximately two miles, and its width as well. It is a flat plain surrounded by a series of mountains in the shape of a large arc.

The borders of Arafat from the side of the Holy Mosque are Nimra, Thuwayyah, Dhu al-Majaz, and Arak. As for the other three borders of Arafat, they are a series of black mountains, the most prominent of which is Umm al-Rudhum. Two flags were placed for Arafat symbolizing its beginning, and two flags symbolizing its end, as an explanation for those who do not know that. And between the flags is Batn Arafat. The Messenger of God said: “All of Arafat is a stopping place, except Batn Arafat.” In this situation, it was revealed to the Messenger: “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” [Al-Maeda: 3].

Arafat means the furthest point of Hajj, and it is the only one located outside the boundaries of the Sanctuary, and it is the site on which pilgrims stand after the noon prayer on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah.