On the second day of Hajj, known as Yawm al-Arafat (the Day of Arafat) or Yawm al-Wuquf (the Day of Standing), pilgrims travel to the plain of Arafat where they combine Dhuhr and Asr prayers and engage in Wuquf, the most solemn rite of the Hajj. After sunset, they leave for Muzdalifah without performing Maghrib salah.
Fajr in Mina
After spending the night in Mina, you will perform the Fajr prayer in the morning. As previously mentioned, wake up at least an hour before Fajr to use the washing facilities and avoid the crowds. You will now have offered five obligatory prayers at Mina before departing for Arafat.
Fasting
Although fasting on the Day of Arafat is very virtuous for non-pilgrims, it isn’t recommended for pilgrims. Ikrimah I narrates:
I entered upon Abu Hurairah in his house and asked him about fasting the Day of Arafat at Arafat. Abu Hurairah said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (SWT) forbade fasting the Day of Arafat at Arafat.’
Takbir al-Tashreeq
Starting immediately after Fajr salah on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, audibly recite Takbir al-Tashreeq at least once after every fardh salah, up to and including Asr salah on the 13th of Dhul Hijjah (a total of 23 fardh prayers).
Takbir al-Tashreeq is the recitation of the following:
Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, lā ilaha illa Llāhu wa Llāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, wa li Llāhi l-Hamd.
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no deity besides Allah and Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest and all praises are for Allah only.
Talbiyah is recited after Takbir al-Tashreeq.
Takbir al-Tashreeq is wajib (obligatory) for both men and women, according to the Hanafi Madhhab.
Men will recite it audibly, whilst women will recite it softly.
Virtues of the Day of Arafat
The Prophet (SAW)said in a Hadith:
Hajj is Arafat.
[Narrated in Sunan al-Tirmidhi] This saying of the Prophet (SAW)
indicates that standing on the plains of Arafat during Yawm al-Arafat is of such immense importance that without it, the entire Hajj is invalid.
The Prophet (SAW) said the following about this day:
There is no day on which Allah ransoms more slaves from the Fire than the Day of Arafat. He draws closer and closer, then He boasts about them before the angels and says: ‘What do these people want?’[Narrated in Sunan Ibn Majah]
Arrival in Arafat
The word “Arafat” is derived from the Arabic verb “Arafa”, which means “to know” or “to recognize”. Imam al-Qurtubi V, the famous Maliki scholar, said:
The area was named Arafat because it is there that people get to know one
another.
For your Hajj to be deemed valid, you must perform Wuquf in Arafat i.e. you must spend a portion of time in Arafat between midday and the beginning of Fajr on the following day. If you don’t reach Arafat during this period, your Hajj will be regarded as incomplete.
If you arrive early, take some time to rest and get some sleep, as the time of Arafat doesn’t begin until after midday. Some people erroneously start their du’a for Arafat before midday and rest in the evening; this is an incorrect practice and should be avoided.
During the course of the day, you should spend as much time in dhikr and ibadah (worship) as possible. It is perhaps a day that you will never experience again, so make the most of it.
Pilgrims praying outside Masjid
al-NamirahPilgrims praying outside Masjid Nimra
Dhuhr and Asr Salah in Arafat
After midday, if you haven’t already done so in Mina, perform ghusl.
You will then head towards Masjid Nimra, combining the Dhuhr and Asr prayers in Qasr mode, i.e., shorten them.
This is the location where the Prophet (saw) delivered his sermon during his final Hajj. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims will congregate here, so if you cannot get a space in or around the mosque, you can pray in your tent.
According to the Hanafi Madhhab, there are two opinions regarding combining Dhuhr and Asr salah:
Dhuhr and Asr can only be combined in Masjid Nimra behind the Imam. The two prayers cannot be combined in the tents, so they must be performed during their respective times in the tents if the masjid is inaccessible. This is the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah.
The two prayers can be combined in the tents at the time of Dhuhr. This is the opinion of Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad, the two foremost students of Imam Abu Hanifah
Both viewpoints are valid, so choose one that you wish to follow.
Thousands of pilgrims outside Masjid al-Namirah in ArafatThousands of pilgrims outside Masjid Nimra
The other three Sunni schools of thought state that combining the prayers in the tents is permissible.
Before the salah takes place in the mosque, there is a khutbah (sermon). Those who manage to get a space in the masjid or are within hearing distance should listen to the khutbah attentively.
The combined salah is then performed as follows:
There is one adhan.
Iqama (the call to prayer immediately
before the salah) is made for Dhuhr.
Takbir is made for Dhuhr fardh salah and two rak’ahs are performed.
After the prayer is completed, while standing, recite Takbir al-Tashreeq.
Iqama is made for Asr.
Takbir is made for Asr fardh salah and two rak’ahs are performed.
After the prayer is completed, recite Takbir al-Tashreeq and Talbiyah.
No additional nafl (optional) prayers are performed before or after these prayers.
If you’re not combining the two prayers, perform the sunnah and fardh of Dhuhr at the time of Dhuhr. When the time for Asr comes in, perform the fardh for Asr salah. Recite Takbir al-Tashreeq after the fardh for both of these prayers.
If you are too far from the masjid and have access to a radio, you can listen to the khutbah. The sermon will be in Arabic, so someone from your group will need to translate it.
Lunch is normally provided after salah. However, it is advised that you shouldn’t spend too much time eating, as the time after salah needs to be spent wisely.
Wuquf at Arafat
A pilgrim making du’aA pilgrim making du’a in Arafat.
After salah, you will stay in Arafat until sunset and perform Wuquf (standing). This period of time is extremely important, so full advantage must be taken. During your Wuquf, spend your time:
Reading the Quran.
Doing dhikr.
Sending Salawat upon the Prophet.
Reciting Talbiyah.
Offering your supplications.
If you can, stand in the open and raise your hands in supplication to Allah, facing the Kaaba, as the Prophet (saw) had done. It is recommended that you do Wuquf at the foot of Jabal al-Rahmah (the Mount of Mercy), although you can stand or sit outside your tent if you please.
During these sacred moments, you are alone with Allah, so use this time to repent
earnestly and supplicate in abundance.
It is a period where du’as are readily accepted, so make the most of the opportunity. You may supplicate in any language or recite masnoon du’as (du’as of the Prophet (saw) recorded in the sunnah). Ensure you know the meaning of what you’re reciting if you don’t understand Arabic.
Remember to supplicate for:
The Holy Prophet (saw).
Our pious predecessors M.
Yourself.
Your family and relatives.
The entire Muslim community,
especially those suffering around the world.
Those who have passed away.
It is a good idea to prepare a list of du’as beforehand and a list of all those who asked you to pray for them on your Hajj.
Source: hajjumrahplanner.com
