Day of Arafa -
Graces of Arafa day
Written by: SK.
Translated by Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
dd mmm yyyy h
dd mmm yyyy ac
Thanks be to Allah Lord
of the worlds. And peace and prayers be upon the most honorable of all
messengers,
One of the Jews said to
the Kalifa Omar: There is a verse (an Aya) in your book, if it did come to us
Jews, we
would have taken that day a festival. Omar asked: and what ayah would that be?
He said: ”Today I have your religion completed upon you, and finalized my
blessings; and I have accepted for you Islam as a religion.”. Omar said: ”I do
remember the day and place it was brought down. It was brought down when the
messenger prayers be upon him was standing at mount Arafa on a Friday”. It came down
on an Eid day, on a Friday on the day of Arafah.
The blessings of this
day are great. Two blessings joined in this day, the blessing of the day of
Friday and the blessings of Arafah. Considering some of the blessings of the
day Friday. The prophet peace be upon him said {No sun rises or sets down on
any day better than the day of Friday}. For Friday is the day when Allah
completed the creations. On a Friday Adam was created. He was entered into
paradise on a Friday and he was thrown out of paradise on a Friday. It is on a
Friday that the Hour of the end of life shall occur. It is also the day that
contains an hour during which prayers are answered. It is the day of extra
benefits when the people in paradise get to see Allah’s face. Friday has great
great benefits.
The day of Arafa has
many blessings and features. It is the day when Allah completed his religion
and finalized his blessings. Completing the religion is giving the final
pillar of Islam (the Hajj). Completing the religion also refers to the
appearance of the message calling for the oneness of Aallah. The finalizing of
the blessings is by forgiveness of sins. The prophet peace and prayers be upon
him said: {When the day of Arafah comes, Allah descends to the nearest
heavens. He boasts or shows off to angles with all the pilgrimages (Hajj
people), Allah says: Look at my servants, they have come to me tousled and
dusty, from all far and narrow gaps. Bare witness that I have forgiven them.
The angles say, “God, such and such person is so heavy”, Allah says I have
forgiven them}
A’aesah (ÚÇÆÔÉ) reported
that the prophet peace and prayers be upon him said {There is no other day
that Allah frees more people from fire as he does on the day of Arafah. Then
he comes closer to boast to angels and he says “it is what they want”}
It is also on Friday
that Satan is defeated. It was reported that the prophet on the evening of
Arafah made a lot of supplication and prayers asking forgiveness and mercy to
his nation. On the next day in Muzdalafa he made more prayers and asked Allah
the same. Then suddenly he smiled. Some of the companions said “prophet, you
laughed in an time you were not to laugh at. What was it that made you laugh”.
He said {I smiled at the enemy of Allah; Eblees, when he found out that Allah
be exulted has answered my prayers when I asked for my nation. He forgives the
transgressor. He is crying out his loss, throwing dust on his head. I smiled
at his disappointment}. For the enemy of Allah is never seen at any day as
belittled and disappointed than on the day of Arafah because of the amount of
blessings and the forgiveness of the major sins except the day of Badr.
Also, the best day where
a Duaa (a Prayer) is made asking Allah the almighty. The prophet peace and
prayers be upon him said: {The best supplication is the supplication of the
day of Arafah. And the best of what I and the prophets before me said is: áÇ
Åáå ÅáÇø Çááå There is only One God, it is Allah, No partners with him, he
alone has the entire creation, all thanks be to Allah alone. He is capable for
anything}
One man (Íßíã Èä ÍÒÇã)
at Arafah he had one hundred slaves. He started setting them free. Every time
he sets one free the people start crying and ask Allah saying: “here is a
slave of yours setting his slaves free. And we are your slaves, do set us
free”
Ebk Mubarak found the
Sufyan a-thowry the evening of Arafah day while he was on his knees with the
tears seeping out of his eyes, he asked him “who do you think is in the worst
state of all of those?”. he said “The ones who think that Allah has not
forgiven them”
Those of you who see the
hundreds of thousands or millions of Hajj leaving the worldly life behind and
head for the life after. Those who do not feel at home with this life and is
looking forward to paradise and its essences. They cry to Allah and call him
in many different languages. Allah is the one who hears all, who listens to
all, who sees all, no language is unknown to him. No question shall keep him
busy from answering another question.
Assalam Alaikum -
The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace
be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching
it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during
leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
Aya (or Ayah):
is a verse of the Koran.
It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
is a mountain
outside the city of Mecca
that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing
Hajj must stay at this location on the same
day.
Badr
- The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the
pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph
- A Muslim ruler. See:
(Khalifa)
Dajjal
- Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah
- The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din)
- Religion or way of life.
Duaa:
a prayer in the form of
talking to Allah;
praising him and asking him for help.
Fatwa
- Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are
the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose:
is the highest level of
the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh
- Religious law.
Hadeeth:
is something reported
that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave.
It is usually narrated or told by one
of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are
reported and checked to be genuine. No
more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar -
The Black Stone set into the corner of the
Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj -
The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in
the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas:
is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith
- The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his
followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is
the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or
Hejrah):
the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This
event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12
months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a
name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah -
Worship. All the words and deeds with which
Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese):
On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used
by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar
or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn
Omar.
Imam
(or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman:
belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) -
The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the
Christians.
Islam
- Submission, the religion of all the
prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah -
The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of
the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad:
is striving in the
line
of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving
oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection
of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the
fight one's self against temptations.
It also means "holy war."
Jinn
-
Supernatural, invisible beings race of
beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst
them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on
Judgment Day.
Ka'aba:
A cube shaped building in
Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say
Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by
Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers.
Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage
in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa:
is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation:
"Successor".
Khutbah -
A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr -
Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for
anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran
- Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book
of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran
literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to
the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the
Arabian
peninsula
(in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to
immigrate to.
Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid -
A
center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah -
A
sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah:
is
the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous
black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim
house of worship.
Muhajir -
(Muhajireen)
Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It
was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median
and Ethiopia.
Muhammad -
the final messenger and
prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He
received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in
Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad
ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim
- One who holds faith to the religion of
Islam.
Nafilah:
a voluntary prayer other
than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara -
Christians. Nasrani:
A Christian individual. Nasraniah:
Christianity.
Ommah:
is the Arabic word for a
nation. It usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise -
Another word for heaven. A
garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and
imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels.
All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty
Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise
is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU
(P.B.U.H.) :
Peace and Prayers Be
Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the
messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar -
Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all
things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr):
The night when the first
revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the
last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to
the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and
few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the
holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla -
The direction which Muslims turn for daily
prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish -
An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger
Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan -
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which
is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat -
Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of
worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is
performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa:
A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion
leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants
of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who
ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk -
Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with
Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of
Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam-
Fasting
Sunni:
is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life
style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah):
Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he
dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought.
Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered
the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an
important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes.
It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all
Muslims.
Surah -
A
chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf:
part of the pilgrimage (Hajj)
ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise
direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed -
Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that
there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement
of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new
Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah -
Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person
to understand God.
Taurat: The old
Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah -
the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah):
A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to
Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic
year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual
done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor -
The
Psalms
Zakat -
The
third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
