Mount Arafat

Mount Arafat

Plain of Arafat during the Hajj

Pilgrims supplicating on the Plains of Arafat

Coordinates: 21°22′0″N 40°0′10″E / 21.366667°N 40.00278°E / 21.366667; 40.00278 Mount Arafat or Mount Arafah (Arabic: جبل عرفات‎; transliterated Jabal ‘Arafāt) is a granite hill east of Mecca. It is also known as the Mount of Mercy (Jabal ar-Rahmah). The hill is the place Muslims believe the Islamic prophet Muhammad stood and delivered the Farewell Sermon to the Muslims who had accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life. It reaches about 70 m in height.

According to Islamic tradition, it was on Mount Arafah that Adam and Eve, separated for 200 years following their expulsion from the Garden of Eden, met and recognized each other and were reunited. Here too they were forgiven by Allah for their transgression after offering their repentance. A main reason of the ritual of pilgrimage is the renewal of that Prayer of Repentance every year standing on the hill of mercy, the climax of Hajj. The pilgrims will spend the whole day on Arafah supplicating to Allah to forgive their sins and praying for personal strength in the future.

Arafah rituals end at sunset and pilgrims then move to Muzdalifah for shortened Maghrib Prayer and `Isha’ prayers and for a short rest.

The level area surrounding the hill is called the Plain of Arafat. The term Mount Arafat is sometimes applied to this entire area. It is an important place in Islam because during the Hajj, pilgrims spend the afternoon there on the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah (ذو الحجة). Failure to be present in the plain of Arafat on the required day invalidates the pilgrimage. Many pilgrims stay here all night in vigil.^[1]

The hill is referenced in James Joyce's novel Finnegans Wake. ^[2]

Since late 2010, this place is served by Mecca Metro.

References

1. ^ Karen Armstrong (2000,2002). Islam: A Short History. p. 11. ISBN 0-8129-6618-x. 
2. ^ http://www.finwake.com/1024chapter1/prevod5.htm#ARAFAT