Today is a day unlike any other. The 9th of Zil-Hijjah, known as the Day of Arafah, is the heart and soul of Hajj. Without standing at Arafat, the pilgrimage remains incomplete—so essential is this act of devotion that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Hajj is Arafah.”
Here, in the boundless plain of Arafat, under the blazing sun and expansive sky, stands the ocean of humanity—millions of believers dressed identically in two unstitched white cloths (Ihram), reminding every soul of the equality of all human beings and of the inevitability of death. The scene is a striking reminder of the Day of Judgment, when all of mankind will rise and gather before their Creator, stripped of worldly titles, possessions, and status.
There is no king or pauper here. No scholar or layman stands above the other. No race, no language, no nationality distinguishes one from another. We are only slaves of Allah, humbled and united in our shared purpose: to seek His mercy, forgiveness, and closeness.
It is believed that on this day, every sincere prayer is heard, and every heartfelt repentance is accepted. The plains of Arafat echo with whispers and cries. People stand with their hands raised, weeping like children, pouring out their sins, regrets, hopes, and dreams before Allah. It is a profoundly moving sight—an open confession from the soul to the Creator.
This moment reminds us of our fragility. All the illusions of power, prestige, and pride fall away. The only thing that matters here is the purity of the heart and the humility of the soul. We all crave the same mercy, we all beg for the same forgiveness, and we all hope for the same salvation.
Here, I truly felt what it means to be a slave of Allah (Abdullah). He is Ar-Rahman, the Most Compassionate, and Ar-Raheem, the Most Merciful. And we—weak, flawed, forgetful—stand in total submission, knowing that no one is closer to Allah than the one who fears Him and upholds His Oneness (Tawheed).
The Spirit of Equality and Brotherhood
One of the most powerful aspects of this day is the embodiment of absolute equality. The simplicity of the Ihram eliminates every external marker of identity. Rich and poor, black and white, Arab and non-Arab—there is no superiority except in piety.
The words of the great poet echo in this scene:
“Aik hi saf mein kharay ho gaye Mahmood-o-Ayaz,
Na koi banda raha, na koi banda nawaz.”
Here in Arafat, we witness the true essence of Islam—a religion founded on justice, humility, unity, and submission to the One True God. This is a day when hearts are softened, egos are shattered, and souls are awakened.
Today, we performed Fajr, and then Dhuhr, and Asr prayers together (Jama’ and Qasr), and as the sun begins to set, we prepare to leave Arafat and move towards Muzdalifah, another sacred stop. There, we will offer Maghrib and Isha prayers together, under the open sky, with nothing but the earth beneath and the heavens above.
We will spend the night in Muzdalifah, collecting pebbles for Rami (stoning of the devil), and continuing in our state of remembrance and gratitude.
Tomorrow: Eid and Its Sacred Duties
InshaAllah, tomorrow is the 10th of Zil-Hijjah, the day of Eid al-Adha—a day not just of celebration, but of sacrifice, humility, and spiritual fulfillment.
Three essential rites await us:
1. Qurbani (Sacrifice): Remembering the unwavering submission of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), we offer an animal sacrifice, symbolizing our willingness to surrender everything for Allah’s sake.
2. Halaq or Taqsir: Shaving or trimming the hair marks the completion of a major phase of Hajj and symbolizes inner purification.
3. Rami (Stoning): Casting pebbles at the symbolic pillars in Mina, representing our rejection of Shaytaan’s whispers and temptations.
Each act is filled with spiritual symbolism and historical continuity. Each act deepens our connection with Allah and reminds us of our covenant with Him.
As I sit here among millions of fellow believers, I feel incredibly small, yet spiritually elevated. Hajj has stripped me of all worldly identifiers and revealed to me a deeper truth: we are all one Ummah, bound by our faith, sustained by hope, and guided by the mercy of Allah.
May Allah accept the Hajj of all pilgrims. May He forgive our sins, accept our duas, and return us as better Muslims .
Ameen.
