NAN
pilgrims from across the world congregated at Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for intense, daylong worship and reflection.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Arafat Day, the ninth Day of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, is significant in the Hajj rite and Muslim calendar.
The Day is for millions of pilgrims to converge on Mount Arafat, near Makkah, to perform the most important Hajj ritual, Wuqoof-e-Arafat.
Mount Arafat is where Prophet Muhammad delivered his final speech, the Farewell Sermon, 1,435 years ago.
The Day is considered the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage, with pilgrims spending the entire Day in prayer and supplication.
It is also the Day Muslims who are not performing the Hajj engage in voluntary fasting, repenting for their sins, and seeking God’s forgiveness.
This Arafat ritual involves pilgrims staying at the sacred place from midday until sunset, facing the Qiblah (the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah) and praying.
Speaking on the significance of Arafat Day, Sheikh Bashir Dahiru-Bauchi said it is when Allah shows the pilgrims to angels in their kingdom.
The cleric said, “Allah would say look at the generation and children of Prophet Adam glorifying my names.
“You predicted that they would come down to the earth and commit a lot of bloodshed and corruption, and here they are worshipping me, glorifying my name.
“See them, because of me, they cannot bathe with soap, and they can’t cut their nails, devoting this day-long glorifying my names.”
According to him, it is a day on which those who do not perform the Hajj fast seek Allah’s forgiveness.
Dahiru-Bauchi added that “the Prophet said on that Day, the sunset will never take place unless it wipes away the sins of the entire participants of the pilgrimage and non-participants who fast on that Day.
“So, all those non-pilgrims worldwide that fast on the Day of Arafat will have their sins forgiven, both outgoing and incoming year.
“That means that if one is consistent in fasting on the day of Arafat, definitely one will die as a forgiven and pardoned servant.”
Mahmud Muhammad, the Vice President’s personal assistant on domestic and northeast affairs, urged pilgrims and Muslims at home to use the Day to pray for the country.
Muhammad, who urged all to pray for unity and peaceful coexistence, lauded the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for achieving hitch-free operations.
He says every segment of this year’s Hajj is unique and laudable.