8 and 9 Dhul-Ḥijja: Minaa and the standing at 'Arafa

The days of Hajj at a glance • 8 Dhul-Ḥijja (yawm at-tarwiya): iḥraam for whoever is not yet in it, departure for Minaa. • 9 (yawm 'Arafa): standing at 'Arafa until sunset, then the night at Muzdalifa. • 10 (yawm an-naḥr, the day of sacrifice): stoning of Jamrat al-'Aqaba, sacrifice, shaving, ṭawaaf al-ifaaḍa (lesson 7). • 11, 12 and, for whoever stays, 13 (ayyaam at-tashriiq): nights in Minaa and stoning of the three jamaraat (lesson 8). • Before leaving Makkah: the farewell ṭawaaf (lesson 8). The most complete account of the Prophet's ﷺ Hajj is that of Jaabir ibn 'Abdillaah (Muslim 1218): it is the basis of this lesson and the following ones.

The 8th: the day of tarwiya • Someone performing tamattu' (and the resident of Makkah) takes iḥraam for Hajj in the morning, where he is staying, with the same preparations as at the miiqaat (ghusl, perfume on the body, clothing), and says: "Labbayka Ḥajjan". Someone performing qiraan or ifraad is already in iḥraam. • One goes to Minaa. There one prays Ẓuhr, 'Aṣr, Maghrib, 'Ishaa' and the Fajr of the 9th, each at its time, shortening the four-rak'a prayers to two, without combining them (Muslim 1218). Shortening for the residents of Makkah is discussed among the schools [À VÉRIFIER]. • Spending this night in Minaa is a sunna, not an obligation, according to the majority [À VÉRIFIER]. Today, some groups take pilgrims directly to 'Arafa: the group's programme to be completed by the centre. • One says the talbiya abundantly.

The 9th: the day of 'Arafa "Hajj is 'Arafa" (At-Tirmidhi 889, Abu Daawuud 1949, An-Nasaa'i 3016, Ibn Maaja 3015) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. The standing at 'Arafa (al-wuquuf) is the main pillar of Hajj: whoever misses it has missed the Hajj, by agreement of the scholars. • After sunrise, one leaves Minaa for 'Arafa. The Prophet ﷺ first stopped at Namira, at the entrance of 'Arafa, under a tent that had been pitched for him (Muslim 1218). • After the zenith (az-zawaal), the imam gives the sermon. The Prophet ﷺ said in it in particular: "Your blood and your property are sacred to you, as this day of yours is sacred, in this month of yours, in this town of yours", and he urged good treatment of women (Muslim 1218; see the lesson "The farewell pilgrimage" of the course "The Seerah"). • Then one prays Ẓuhr and 'Aṣr combined and shortened, at the time of Ẓuhr, with a single adhaan and two iqaamas (Muslim 1218). The schools differ on who combines: only those who pray with the imam, or each group in its tent [À VÉRIFIER]. • Then one stands at 'Arafa until sunset, in supplication. The whole plain is suitable: "I stood here, and all of 'Arafa is a place of standing" (Muslim 1218). Check that your tent is indeed within the boundaries, shown by signs; the valley of 'Urana is not part of it [À VÉRIFIER]. • It is not necessary to climb the Mount of Mercy (Jabal ar-Raḥma): the Prophet ﷺ stood below, near the rocks, facing the qibla (Muslim 1218).

The time of the standing • For the majority, it runs from the zenith of the 9th to the dawn of the 10th; for the Hanbalis, it begins from the dawn of the 9th [À VÉRIFIER]. • Whoever stands at 'Arafa by day must remain until sunset: this is an obligation for the majority (whoever leaves before owes a sacrifice); for the Malikis, being present for part of the night is the pillar itself [À VÉRIFIER : présentation des avis]. • Whoever arrives only at night, before the dawn of the 10th, has performed the standing. • The pilgrim does not fast on this day: the Prophet ﷺ drank publicly at 'Arafa (Bukhari 1658, Muslim 1123) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. The fast of 'Arafa is for those not performing Hajj (lesson 11).

The supplication of 'Arafa • "There is no day on which Allah frees more servants from the Fire than the day of 'Arafa" (Muslim 1348). • "The best supplication is that of the day of 'Arafa, and the best thing that I and the prophets before me have said is: Laa ilaaha illa llaah, waḥdahu laa shariika lah, lahu l-mulku wa lahu l-ḥamd, wa huwa 'alaa kulli shay'in qadiir" ("There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner; His is the dominion and the praise, and He is capable of all things") (At-Tirmidhi 3585) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro et degré]. • It was at 'Arafa, during the farewell pilgrimage, that this was revealed: "Today I have perfected your religion for you…" (5:3; Bukhari 45, Muslim 3017). • Prepare a list in advance: forgiveness, guidance, your parents, your spouse, your children, the sick, the deceased, the Montreal community, those who asked you to supplicate for them. Raise your hands, turn towards the qibla, with humility and insistence, in your own language.

Practical advice • Rest in the morning so as to be present in the afternoon, which is the heart of the day. • Drink a lot, stay in the shade, protect yourself from the heat. • Do not waste this time on moving around, photos or conversations. • Do not leave 'Arafa before sunset; then leave calmly: the Prophet ﷺ told people on the way to Muzdalifa: "Gently, O people, gently" (Muslim 1218).

Understanding the lesson

Explanation 'Arafa is the heart of Hajj, and yet there is almost nothing to "do" there: no circuits, no trips, no actions. Only standing before Allah, from midday until sunset, and calling upon Him. The most important pillar of Hajj is therefore an act of the heart. This immense crowd, dressed alike, under the same sun, recalls the great gathering of the Last Day. It also recalls that each person will stand alone before his Lord. The sermon of 'Arafa laid down principles for all humanity: the sanctity of life, property and honour, the rights of women, attachment to the Book of Allah. And it was on that day that the religion was declared perfected (5:3). Finally, the Prophet ﷺ showed simplicity: he did not require climbing the mount, he combined the prayers to leave more time for supplication, and he did not fast in order to keep his strength.

Lessons to draw from it • Prepare your list of supplications before the day of 'Arafa. • Rest in the morning so as to be fully present in the afternoon. • Check that you are indeed within the boundaries of 'Arafa. • The pilgrim does not fast that day; those who stay at home fast. • Stay until sunset, then leave calmly.

Key points to remember • The 8th: tarwiya, Minaa, prayers shortened without combining (Muslim 1218). • The 9th: "Hajj is 'Arafa" [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]; it is the main pillar. • Ẓuhr and 'Aṣr combined and shortened, then supplication until sunset. • "All of 'Arafa is a place of standing" (Muslim 1218). • The day on which Allah frees the most servants from the Fire (Muslim 1348).

The main message At 'Arafa, there are no more actions to perform: only a heart standing before Allah. Prepare for this moment, for it is the heart of the whole Hajj.

The text: Surah Al-Baqara (2), verses 198 to 199 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 2:198-199]

The text: Surah Al-Maa'ida (5), verse 3 (passage "Today I have perfected your religion for you") [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 5:3]

Meaning: 2:198-199: "It is no sin for you to seek a bounty from your Lord (through trade). Then, when you pour forth from 'Arafaat, remember Allah at al-Mash'ar al-Ḥaraam; and remember Him as He has guided you, whereas before you were among those astray. Then pour forth from where the people pour forth, and ask Allah for forgiveness: Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." 5:3 (passage): "Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and approved Islam for you as religion." Verse 2:199 asked everyone, including the Quraysh who used to stop short, to stand at 'Arafa like the rest of the people.

Arabic text: deliberately not typed, to avoid any error; it is to be copied from the centre's mushaf (or a verified source) at the place indicated.