Mount Arafat. History of Mount Arafat

What associations do most people have when they hear the word "Arafat"? Correctly! Immediately, the image of one of the most famous and radical politicians of the second half of the last century - the leader of Palestine, Yasser Arafat, immediately appears. But very few people know that in the first place this is the name of the sacred mountain, where Muslim pilgrims from all over the world gather once a year to perform the Hajj. From this article you will learn the history of the shrine, and also how the Prophet Muhammad and Mount Arafat are related.

Ancient legend

In the Quran it is written that when Eve (Hava) and Adam succumbed to the temptation of Satan, they were driven out of paradise, they wandered the earth for a long time, experiencing all kinds of sorrows and sorrows. They lost not only God's mercy, but also each other. Their total loneliness and confusion continued until they realized the full essence of their sin and sincerely did not repent. Adam and Eve, having received forgiveness, met on the plain, in the midst of which there was a small hill Jabal al-Rahma, or Mount Arafat. Where is this place, so esteemed by all Muslims, read further.

Location

Twenty kilometers north-east of Mecca (Saudi Arabia) is the Arafat Valley. Its length is about 11, and its width is 6.5 km. In the middle of the valley rises the 70-meter mountain Arafat. The height, albeit small, but in these places it is considered quite serious, since from here all the surrounding terrain can be clearly seen. That is why this elevation was called the Arabic word "arafhe", which means "to get acquainted", "to know" (meaning with the terrain).

From the north side, the Arafat valley borders on a mountain range. Therefore, to get here, pilgrims need to go through the gorge called Mazamain.

Arafat Day

He is the most memorable of all the days of Allah. Believers who will do good deeds during these hours will be rewarded many times. At the same time, the weight of the committed sins will also increase several times. To redeem them, believers stand on the mountain from dawn to sunset, praying for their sins. In Saudi Arabia, it is believed that such mass rituals, as well as Mount Arafat itself (its photo is offered to your attention) should be visible even from outer space.

The Muslims believe that by seeking Allah with all their heart and performing pious deeds, they will be rewarded for them on the Day of Judgment. One of the most significant acts that maximally approximate believers to Allah is considered a strict fast on the day of Arafat. According to legend, when the prophet was asked about this, he replied that such a refusal of food is a cleansing of sins for both the previous one and the following year.

The Last Sermon

As you know, Mount Arafat, whose history goes back to ancient times, is highly revered by Muslims. It was here that the Prophet Muhammad uttered the words of his last sermon. In it he addressed not only to his followers, but also to humanity as a whole. The prophet called upon all people to accept Islam as the only correct teaching. In addition, Mohammed summed up his life on earth.

The last sermon was built on the dogmas of the holiness of human life and property. In this regard, the exploitation of people and usury was banned, and the rights and duties of Muslim women were also defined. According to them, the husband is obliged to patronize his wife and control her behavior. As we see, there can be no question of any equality between a man and a woman in this religion.

The Five Pillars of Islam

They were listed by Mohammed himself. These include five daily prayers (prayers), worship only before Allah (shahada), distribution of alms (zakat), compulsory fasting in the month of Ramadan and, finally, pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). After this, Mohammed proclaimed the equality that should be between all Muslims, regardless of their color and nationality, since the forefathers of the whole human race are Adam and Eve.

Mount Arafat was also a witness of how Muhammad declared that he was the last of the prophets of Allah and others would never again be. From him, Muslims inherited the Koran and the Sunnah. In the latter were recorded examples from the life of the prophet himself. According to him, the path of righteousness consisted only in strict adherence to the dogmas of the Koran and Sunnah.

His last sermon Mohammed said in 632, the 9th day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar, called Zul-Hijj. On this day, they make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Ritual standing on Mount Arafat is the end of the pilgrimage of believers.

The final rite

The last day of Hajj begins with the fact that the whole valley is filled with pilgrims waiting for preaching. The action takes place at noon. Mount Arafat itself is decorated with a minaret. To him lead 60 steps, cut straight in the rock. On the last of them an equal platform is made, with which a sermon is pronounced.

As stated above, standing on the holy mountain Arafat is considered the completion of the Hajj. At the end of the sermon, at sunset, all pilgrims rush to return to Mecca. On their way, in the valley of Mina, another ritual is held, during which every believer must throw 7 stones. These actions symbolize the beating of Satan. The first person who committed it was the prophet himself. This happened just on the day of Muhammad's farewell sermon.

Mount Arafat is a sacred place for believers. Therefore it is not surprising that millions of pilgrims aspire to get here. In this regard, it should be noted that this place is considered the most dangerous of all where the events of Hajj are taking place. Unfortunately, over the past few years, due to the poor organization of the festivities, there have repeatedly been strong pressures that invariably led to numerous victims.