Arafat — Jabal ar-Rahma and Masjid Nimira
عَرَفَاتُ — جَبَلُ الرَّحمَة وَمَسجِدُ نَمِرَة
The plain of Arafat is the central station of Hajj — wuquf al-Arafah (the standing at Arafat) on 9 Dhul-Hijja is the very heart of the pilgrimage. The Prophet (SAW) said: 'Hajj is Arafat.' Jabal ar-Rahma (the Mountain of Mercy) is the small hill at the eastern edge of the plain where the Prophet (SAW) delivered his Farewell Sermon (Khutbat al-Wada) on 9 Dhul-Hijja 10 AH / 632 CE. In that sermon, the Prophet (SAW) said the words that define Bohra identity: 'I leave among you two weighty things: the Book of Allah and my family, the Ahl al-Bayt — hold fast to them and you will never go astray.' (Hadith al-Thaqalayn) Masjid Nimira is the large mosque on the western edge of the plain where pilgrims gather for the combined Zuhr/Asr prayer before the wuquf. The pilgrimage congregates here in millions on the Day of Arafat — the closest analogy to the Day of Judgement that exists in earthly life.
Why it Matters
Arafat is where Hajj is made or broken — the pilgrim who misses wuquf al-Arafah has missed their Hajj. For the Bohra mumin, the plain of Arafat is also the site of the Prophet's Farewell Sermon containing Hadith al-Thaqalayn — the definitive prophetic statement about the Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt. Standing on the plain where the Prophet (SAW) stood and preached, facing Qibla, and spending the afternoon in dua and dhikr is among the most spiritually intense experiences of the pilgrimage. The duas accepted at Arafat are considered among the most accepted in a lifetime.
Dua when visiting
اللَّهُمَّ أَنتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ خَلَقتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهدِكَ وَوَعدِكَ مَا استَطَعتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِن شَرِّ مَا صَنَعتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنبِي فَاغفِر لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنت
Also in this region
4- Masjid al-Haram & the Sacred Kaaba Mecca Anbiya المَسْجِدُ الحَرَامُ
- Masjid al-Haram — The Grand Mosque of Mecca Mecca Anbiya المَسجِدُ الحَرَامُ
- Masjid al-Nabawi — The Prophet's Mosque, Medina Medina Anbiya المَسجِدُ النَّبَوِي
- Rawdah al-Nabawiyya — Grave of the Prophet (SAW) Madina al-Munawwara Anbiya الرَّوضَةُ النَّبَوِ