Arafat Day

Mount Arafat

Mount Arafat or Mount Arafah (Arabic: جبل عرفات; transliterated Jabal 'Arafat) is a granite hill east of Mecca. It is also known as the Mountain of Mercy (Jabal ar-Rahmah). The hill is the place Muhammad delivered the Farewell Sermon to the Muslims who had accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life. It reaches about 70 m in height.The level area surrounding the hill is called the Plain of Arafat. The term Mount Arafat is sometimes applied to this entire area. It is an important place in Islam because during the Hajj, pilgrims spend the afternoon there on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah (ذو الحجة). Failure to be present in the plain of Arafat on the required day invalidates the pilgrimage. Many pilgrims stay here all night in vigil.[1]

Muslims believe Adam and his wife Eve were reunited on the hill and forgiven by God (اﷲ) after 200 years of separation on account of their disobedience in deference to the suggestion of Satan.[citations needed]. God was very angry with Adam and Eve, he was furious.Today, this is the place from where a khutba (sermon) addressed to the entire Muslim world is delivered.[2]

The former Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat was named after this hill.After Arafat, pilgrims of the Hajj head to Muzdalifa.

Day of Arafat

The Day of Arafat is an Islamic Holy Day, in which it is said that the religion had been perfected. The original day was on a Friday, but now the Day falls on the 9th day of Dhul Hijja (ذو الحجة) of the lunar Islamic Calendar. This happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan. It is the final day of the Hajj pilgrimmage and the day after it is the major Islamic Holiday of Eid ul-Adha. At dawn of this day, Muslim pilgrims will make their way from Mecca to a nearby hillside and plain called Mount Arafat and the Plain of Arafat. It was from this site that Muhammad gave his famous Farewell Sermon in his final year of life.It is said that a believer who fasts on this day expiates for the past year's sins and the sins for the year coming. It is thus a day of forgiveness from sins, similar to the Jewish day of Yom Kippur.

Official name Arabic: ى

Also called the Day of Repentance

Type Islamic

Significance Commemoration of Muhammad's final sermon

And completion of the message of Islam. Marks

The final day of the Pilgrimage or Hajj

For the millions of Muslims who make the trip

To Mecca each year. A day where many Muslims

Fast to repent for their sins.

Ends 9 Dhu al-Hijjah

2006 date December 29

2007 date December 19