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It means reading the Ziarate at their doorstep in pure sight.
This occasion reflect the values of humanity such as allegiance, support, synergy, generosity, modesty, public service, kindness, tolerance and sponsorship. No doubt performing ziarate of Ahlulbayt treasures knowledge and teaching of truth. Arbaeen (Fortieth) is largest gathering of Muslims in the world.
It is participated by millions of different ethnic backgrounds and it’s a phenomenon that brings us together path towards the sanctuary of the saints of god – exalted be he. It is visit Imam Hussain Peace be upon him on the twentieth day of the month of safar the visit is according some people hearts tend to Abi Abdullah Al- Hussain may god bless him and gran him peace in remembrance.
World witnesses Largest Islamic gathering on foot walking towards Holy Karbala. The first person to perform Arbaeen was Jabir Ibn Abdullah Al Ansari the companion of the Holy prophet Muhhammad (SLWAT). It is important and value appear through its effects and results of preforming Arbaeen. The honourable visitor should pay attention to it enhancing the spirit.
The Significance of Visiting Imam Hussein's Tomb on the Day of Arafah
The Devotional Practice and Its Importance
Millions of Muslims, the majority of whom are Shiites, are preparing to commemorate the Day of Arafah in the holy city of Karbala at the tomb of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, in a “recommended” devotional practice that has become equivalent to obligatory duties based on the urging of the narrations contained in its virtue.
The Key Question: Arafat or Karbala?
The most important question arises: “Which is better? Standing in Arafat to perform Hajj rituals? Or visiting the grave of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him?”
However, the above question requires an answer to the following question: “Which is better, that of Mount Arafat? Or Imam Hussein?!”
When recalling the words of the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family, narrated in “Sunni” ways, the answer appears clear in his references.
The Prophet's Words on Sanctity
The narration published in the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram, quoted from Sahih Al-Bukhari, says: On the authority of Abdullah bin Omar, he said:
“I saw the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, circumambulating the Kaaba and saying: How good you are and how good your fragrance is! How great you are and how great your sanctity! By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the sanctity of a believer is more inviolable to God than you are his wealth and his blood, even if we think only good of it.” [Narrated by Ibn Majah].
The Shiite Perspective on Visiting Imam Hussein
Aside from this problem, the Shiites firmly believe that visiting Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, is one of the best recommended actions that a person can perform after performing the obligatory duties.
Visitor Hassan from Baghdad says:
“We love Hussein because he is the son and daughter of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and his family, and coming to his honorable shrine makes me feel that I am in the presence of the Prophet, whom I have not seen and have not been able to reach his shrine.”
He also says,
"Until now, God has not granted me the ability to perform Hajj to His House. If I had the opportunity to perform the Hajj rituals now, I would certainly do so by visiting Karbala, because Hajj is an obligatory obligation, and visiting Hussein is a recommended matter."
The Shiites’ adherence to visiting Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, in Arafat comes according to many authentic narrations that came to encourage it.
The "Great Urge" to Visit Imam Hussein on the Day of Arafat
The Center for Ideological Research, which is supervised by the office of His Eminence the Supreme Leader, Sayyed Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, believes that there is a “great urge” to visit Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, in particular on the Day of Arafat.
“there was no such urging to visit the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family, on that day,” in reference to the Day of Arafat.
But he goes on to say about this comparison:
“This does not mean that Al-Hussein, peace be upon him, is better than the Master of Beings, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family, and this is clear, for the Seal, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family, is the best of all human beings."
The Narrations on the Virtue of Visiting Imam Hussein
"For Those Who Missed Hajj"
The most famous narrations that talk about the visit of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, on the day of Arafat, say:
“God, Blessed and Most High, appears to the visitors of the grave of Hussein, may God’s prayers be upon him, before the people of Arafat, and fulfills their needs, forgives their sins, and intercedes for them in their questions. Then he praises the people of Arafat, and he does so on them.”
This narration and others come alongside many narrations whose context includes the following words:
“God looks at the visitors of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, on the day of Arafat....,” referring to the acceptance of work for those who missed the Hajj of the Sacred House of God.
The Teachings of Imam Al-Sadiq
It is also reported from Imam Al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, that he said,
“Whoever misses Arafat at Arafat and catches it at the grave of Al-Hussein, peace be upon him, does not miss it, and God, Blessed and Most High, begins with the people of the grave of Al-Hussein, peace be upon him, before the people of Arafat, and then addresses them himself.”
And also from him,
“When it was the day of Arafat, God, Blessed and Most High, looked at the visitors to the grave of Al-Hussein, peace be upon him, and said to them, ‘Resume, I have forgiven you.’ Then He would appoint His residence to the people of Arafat.”
The Rewards of Visiting Imam Hussein’s Grave on the Day of Arafah
Importance and Rewards
It was mentioned with a reliable chain of transmission on the authority of Bashir al-Dahhan, who said:
I said to al-Sadiq, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him: Perhaps I missed Hajj so that I could be known at the grave of al-Hussein (peace be upon him). He said: Well done, O Bashir, any believer who comes to the grave of al-Hussein, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, knowing his rights on a day other than a holiday, twenty Hajj are written for him, twenty Umrahs that are accepted and accepted, and twenty battles with a sent prophet or a just imam. Whoever comes to him on the day of Arafah knowing his rights, a thousand Hajj are written for him, a thousand Umrahs that are accepted and approved, and a thousand raids with a sent prophet or a just imam. He said: So I said to him: How can I be in a similar situation? He said: Then he looked at me almost angrily, then said: O Bashir, when a believer comes to the grave of Al-Hussein, may God’s prayers be upon him on the Day of Arafat, and washes himself with the Euphrates, and then goes to him, God Almighty records for him, for every step, a Hajj with its rites, and I do not know of him except that he said, “Umrah” (and it is said, “a battle”).
In many reliable hadiths, God Almighty looks upon the visitors of the grave of Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) with mercy on the day of Arafat before He looks at the people of Arafat.
Narration of Rifa’ah
In a reliable hadith on the authority of Rifa’ah, he said:
Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said to me: O Rifa’ah, did you perform Hajj this year? I said: May I be made your ransom, I did not have anything with which to perform Hajj, but I knew at the grave of Al-Hussein (peace be upon him), and he said to me: O Rifa’ah, I would not have neglected what the people of Mina were doing. If it were not that I hate for people to give up Hajj, I would have told you a hadith: Do not give up visiting the grave of Al-Hussein, may God’s prayers be upon him. Never, then he was silent for a long time and then said: My father told me. He said: Whoever goes out to the grave of Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) knowing his rights and not being arrogant, a thousand angels will accompany him on his right and a thousand angels on his left, and a thousand Hajj and a thousand Umrah will be written for him with a prophet or a prophet’s guardian.
Method of Visiting
As for the method of visiting him (peace be upon him), it is as stated by the most eminent scholars and leaders of the sect and religion, as follows:
Preparation
If you want to visit him on this day, wash yourself from the Euphrates if you are able, otherwise, from wherever you are able, and put on your purest clothes, and go to his honorable presence with tranquility and dignity. When you reach Bab al-Ha’ir, say “Allahu Akbar.”
Initial Prayers
God Almighty, and say: God is great, and say: God is great, and praise be to God abundantly, and Glory be to God in the morning and in the beginning, and praise be to God who has guided us to this, and we would not have been guided had it not been for that God has guided us. Indeed, the messengers of our Lord have come with the truth. Peace be upon the Messenger of God, may God bless him and his family, peace be upon the prince of The believers, peace be upon Fatima Al-Zahra, the mistress of the women of the worlds, peace be upon Al-Hasan and Al-Hussein, peace be upon Ali bin Al-Hussein, peace be upon Muhammad bin Ali, Peace be upon Jafar bin Muhammad, peace be upon Musa bin Jafar, peace be upon Ali bin Musa, peace be upon Muhammad bin Ali. Peace be upon Ali bin Muhammad, peace be upon Al-Hasan bin Ali, peace be upon the righteous and awaited successor, peace be upon you, O Abu Abdullah, peace be upon you, O son of the Messenger of God, your servant, the son of your servant, and the son of your female slave, who is loyal to your guardian and hostile to your enemy, took refuge in your scene and approached God with your intention. Praise be to God who guided me to your authority, made it possible for me to visit you, and made it easy for me to visit you.
Prayers at the Head of Imam Hussein
Then go in, stand from the one next to the head, and say:
Peace be upon you, O heir of Adam, God’s elite. Peace be upon you, O heir of Noah, God’s Prophet. Peace be upon you, O heir of Abraham, God’s friend. Peace be upon you, O heir of Moses, God’s Word. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Jesus, the Spirit of God. Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Muhammad, beloved of God. Peace be upon you. O heir of the Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon you, O heir of Fatima Al-Zahra, peace be upon you, O son of Muhammad the Chosen One, peace be upon you, O son of Ali Al-Murtada, peace be upon you, O son of Fatima Al-Zahra, peace be upon me O son of Khadija the Great, peace be upon you, O revolt of God and son of His revolt and the departed string. I bear witness that you have established prayer, paid zakat, enjoined what is right, forbidden what is wrong, and obeyed God until certainty came to you, so may God curse the nation that killed you May God curse the nation that wronged you, and may God curse the nation that heard that and accepted it. O my master, O Abu Abdullah, I call God, His angels, His prophets, and His messengers to witness. I am a believer and your clothes, and you are certain of my religion and the seductions of my work and my transfer to my Lord, so the prayers of God be upon you May God bless you, peace be upon you, Ibn Khatam, the Prophets, and the son of the master of the Chiefs, and the son of the imam of the righteous, and the son of the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the sake It will be so, and you are the door of guidance, the imam of piety, the most reliable handhold, the proof over the people of the world, and the fifth companion of the veil. The hand of mercy has nourished you, and you have been suckled by The breast of faith, and you were raised in the stone of Islam, the soul is not satisfied with your departure and has no doubt in your life. May God’s blessings be upon you and your fathers and children. Peace be upon you, O one who is learning the lesson, the calamity, and the censorship of the calamity, for the sake of the catastrophe, for the sacrifice God, upon him and his family with you, is a mud, and the book of God with your poor is abandoned, peace be upon you and your grandfather, your father, and your goodness, and your good And on the one who is martyred with you and the angels of the righteous and the two believers, the two believers in the acceptance of the acceptance You are my mother, O Bin, the Messenger of God, my father, you and my mother, O Aba Abdullah, for the sake of the reward, the misfortune of you, and the Lord, and the blessed God is a nation that has saddled and harnessed and prepared to fight you. O my master, Abu Abdullah, I have gone to your sanctuary and come to your scene. Ask God about the matter that is yours This, and by the blessing that you have with Him, may He bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and make me with you in this world and the hereafter through His blessings, His presence, and generosity.
Concluding Prayers
Then, before the shrine, pray two rak’ahs at the head, reciting whatever surahs you like, and when you have finished, say:
O God, I have prayed, bowed, and prostrated to You alone, without any partner, because prayer, bowing, and prostration are only for You. Because you are God, there is no god but You. O God, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and convey to them my best greetings and peace, and return their greetings and peace to me. O God, and these two rak’ahs are a gift from me to my master, my master, and my Imam Al-Hussi Ibn Ali, peace be upon them. O God, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and accept this from me, and reward me for that with the best of my hope and hope in you and in your guardian, O Most Merciful of the Merciful.
Then go to the feet of Al-Hussein and visit Ali bin Al-Hussein (peace be upon them) while his head is at the feet of Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) and say:
Peace be upon you, son of the Messenger of God, peace be upon you, son of the Prophet of God, peace be upon you, son of the Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon you, son of Hussein the martyr, peace be upon you O martyr, son of the martyr. Peace be upon you, O oppressed son of the oppressed. May God curse the nation that killed you, and may God curse the nation that wronged you, and may God curse the nation that heard of that and accepted it. Peace be upon you, my master. Peace be upon you, O guardian of God and son of His guardian. The calamity has been great and the Lord great Your disgrace to us and to all believers. May God curse the nation that killed you, and I disavow before God and to you from them in this world and the hereafter.
Visiting the Martyrs
Then go to the martyrs and visit them and say:
Peace be upon you, O friends of God and His beloved ones. Peace be upon you, O friends of God and His friends. Peace be upon you, O supporters of God’s religion and supporters of His Prophet Supporters of the Commander of the Faithful and supporters of Fatima, Lady of the Women of the Worlds. Peace be upon you, O supporters of Abu Muhammad al-Hasan, the guardian and adviser. Peace be upon you, O Supporters of Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein, the oppressed martyr, may God’s prayers be upon them all. May my father and mother be blessed, and the land in which you were buried was blessed, and you won, by God A great victory. I wish I were with you, so I would win with you in Paradise with the martyrs and the righteous, and the best of those are companions. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.
Then return to the head of Hussein, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, and pray more for yourself, your family, and your fellow believers.
Visiting the Shrine of Al-Abbas
Al-Sayyid Ibn Tawus and the martyr said: Then go to the scene of Al-Abbas (may God be pleased with him), and when you come to him, stand on his grave and say:
Peace be upon you, O Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas bin Commander of the Faithful. Peace be upon you, O son of the master of the guardians Praise be to you, O son of the first of the people to embrace Islam, the oldest of them in faith, and the most righteous of them. With the religion of God and their stomachs on Islam, I have witnessed to God and His Messenger, nor your brother As, and God cursed a nation that has been broken from you, the incest, and it was destroyed in the killing of the sanctity of Islam. To me Obedient to his Lord, who desires what others have abstained from, in terms of great reward and beautiful praise. May God grant you the rank of your fathers in the abode of bliss. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy and Glorious.
Then lean toward the grave and say:
O God, I came to You and intended for the visit of Your saints, desiring Your reward and hoping for Your forgiveness and the abundance of Your benevolence, so I ask You to bless Muhammad and his family Muhammad, and that You make my sustenance by them a home, and my living by them stable, and my visits with them accepted, and my sins through them forgiven, and make me prosperous, successful, and responsive to them My heart is as good as it turns By Your mercy, O Most Merciful of those who are merciful.
Then kiss the shrine and pray the visitation prayer and whatever you wish. If you want to bid farewell to him, say:
May God call you and take care of you, and read to you, peace be upon you. To him, the last of the era from my visit is the grave of my son, your Messenger, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family And make acquaintance between me and him and between Your Messenger and Your guardians. O God, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and cause me to die for believing in You and believing in Your Messenger and the guardianship of Ali bin Abu Talib and the Imams from his descendants, upon them be peace and disavowal of their enemy. Indeed, O my Lord, I am satisfied with that, and may God’s blessings and peace be upon Muhammad and his family.
Then pray for yourself, your parents, believers, and Muslims, and choose whatever supplication you want.
The Virtues of the Day of Arafah and the Significance of Visiting Imam Hussein’s Grave
Introduction
God Almighty said: "When you depart from Arafat, remember God at the Sacred Landmark."
When talking about the virtues of the Day of Arafah, we may not find more beautiful and sublime expressions than what was narrated from the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him:
"God frees His servants from Hell and boasts of them before the angels."
He also said:
"Indeed, the night of Arafat is the night of goodness in which one supplicates, and the one who obeys God Almighty receives the reward of seventy and one hundred years. It is the night of monologue, and in it, God repents to those who repent."
Spiritual and Psychological Integration
What a beautiful spiritual and psychological integration we enjoy on this day. God Almighty has given us an opportunity to obtain the divine bounties of forgiveness for sins, purification, and to obtain the highest degrees in the afterlife, the eternal resting place for man.
Perhaps here we will remind the believers of the virtues of the Day of Arafah, so that they may gain from them whatever means they are able to do so.
Fasting on the Day of Arafah
It was narrated on the authority of the Messenger of God (may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family) that:
"God expiates fasting on the day of Arafah for the year before."
In addition to the spiritual benefit of forgiving sins, fasting has great physical benefits, including getting rid of excess fines in the body and giving it a period of rest from food and gluttony.
Supplications and Prayers
The Day of Arafah contains many sweet supplications and supplications that cannot be mentioned here, and they are found in all books of visits and supplications. It involves praying under the sky after the evening prayer in a spiritual atmosphere that you cannot find on another day.
Visiting the Grave of Imam Hussein
The best place to obtain spiritual integration on the Day of Arafah is at the grave of Abu Al-Ahrar Al-Hussein, peace be upon him. It has been proven that being present on this holy day for Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) is greater in the sight of God than standing on Mount Arafat.
How can it not be, and is it equal to Al-Hussein? Of course, this does not mean that Hajj is not one of the pillars of religion and its performance is obligatory for those who are able. The superiority of Hussein over the worlds does not negate the obligation of Hajj for everyone, but whoever is unable to reach Mount Arafat, God Almighty has made for him a higher and more sublime place to obtain the blessings of this holy day.
Virtues of Visiting Hussein on the Day of Arafah
Equivalent to a Thousand Umrah and Hajj
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him):
"Any believer who comes to the grave of Hussein, peace be upon him, fulfilling his right on a day other than Eid, twenty Hajj and twenty Umrahs that are accepted and accepted, and twenty battles with a sent prophet or a just imam, and whoever comes to him on the day of Arafat, are recorded for him. Knowing his right, I wrote for him a thousand Hajj, a thousand Umrahs that are accepted and accepted, and a thousand battles with a sent prophet or a just imam."
On the authority of Bashir Al-Dahhan, he said:
"I heard Abu Abdullah, peace be upon him, while he was staying in Al-Hira, and he had a group of Shiites with him. He turned to me with his face and said, 'O Bashir, did you perform Hajj this year?' I said, 'May I be your ransom,' no, but I recognized by the grave the grave of Al-Hussein, peace be upon him. He said, 'O Bashir, by God, you did not miss anything.' - Of what the Companions of Mecca had in Mecca. I said, 'May I be your ransom. There is Arafat in it.' He explained it to me. He said, 'O Bashir, the man among you will wash on the shore of the Euphrates, then he will come to the grave of Hussein, peace be upon him, knowing his rights. So God will give him for every foot he raises or places, a hundred accepted Hajj, a hundred accepted Umrahs, and a hundred expeditions with the Prophet.'"
Divine Favor and Forgiveness
On the authority of Ali bin Asbat, on the authority of Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him):
"God, Blessed and Most High, begins by looking at the visitors to the grave of Hussein on the eve of Arafat."
On the authority of Dawud Al-Raqqi, he said:
"I heard Al-Sadiq, Al-Kadhim, and Al-Ridha, may God’s prayers be upon them, saying, 'Whoever comes to Al-Hussein, peace be upon him, on the day of Arafat, may God make his heart warm.' That is, he purified his heart until it became white and transparent like snow."
On the authority of Ibn Miskan, he said:
"Abu Abdullah, peace be upon him, said that God, Blessed and Most High, appears before the people of Arafat before the people of Al-Hussein, may God’s prayers be upon him, and fulfills their needs and forgives their sins and intercedes for them in their issues. Then he praises the people of Arafat and does that to them."
Equivalent to Visiting God
On the authority of Ammar, on the authority of Abu Abdullah, peace be upon him:
"Whoever misses Arafah at Arafat and catches it at the grave of Al-Hussein, peace be upon him, has not missed it, and God, Blessed and Most High, begins with the people of the grave of Al-Hussein, peace be upon him, before the people of Arafat, and then addresses them himself."
Purification and Forgiveness
On the authority of Hanan bin Sudair, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abu Abdullah, peace be upon him:
"If it was the day of Arafat, God, Blessed and Most High, looked at the visitors to the grave of Al-Hussein, peace be upon him, and said to them, 'Resume, I have forgiven you,' and then He makes his stay on the people of Arafat."
On the authority of Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Arzmi, on the authority of Abu Abdullah, peace be upon him:
"I heard him say, 'If it is the day of Arafat, God will look at the visitors to the grave of al-Hussein ibn Ali, peace be upon him, and say, ‘Return, forgiven for what you have passed,’ and no sin will be recorded on any of them for seventy days from the day he departs.'"
Alternative to Hajj for the Unable
On the authority of Yassar, on the authority of Abu Abdullah, peace be upon him:
"Whoever is in difficulty and has not prepared for the Hajj of Islam, let him come to the grave of Abu Abdullah, peace be upon him, to be known there, for that qualifies him as part of the Hajj of Islam, but I do not say that it suffices as part of the Hajj of Islam except for someone who is insolvent. As for the solvent, if he has performed the Hajj of Islam. So he wanted to perform Hajj or Umrah, and he was prevented from doing that by a worldly concern or an obstacle, so he came to Al-Hussein, peace be upon him, on the day of Arafat, and that sufficed him for performing his Hajj and Umrah, so God multiplied that many times over. He said, 'How much is a Hajj equivalent and how much is a Umrah equivalent?' He said, 'That cannot be counted.' I said a hundred. He said, 'And who can count that?' I said a thousand. He said, 'And more.' Then he said: 'And if you count the blessings of God, you will not count them. Indeed, God is Ample and Generous.'"
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The Significance and Rituals of the Day of Arafah
Introduction to the Day of Arafah
The Day of Arafah is one of the great holidays, even if it is not officially called a holiday. It is a day when God calls His servants to obedience and worship and spreads out for them the tables of His benevolence and presence. On this day, Satan is more humiliated, despicable, and angry than at any other time. It was narrated that Imam Zayn al-Abidin, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, heard a beggar asking people on the Day of Arafah and said to him:
"Woe to you. Should I ask anyone other than God on this day? It is a day in which it is hoped that the fetuses in the wombs will be filled with the grace of God Almighty and be happy."
This day has several significant deeds:
The First Deed: Washing
It is recommended to wash on the Day of Arafah as a preparation for the sacred activities and supplications of the day.
The Second Deed: Visiting Imam Hussein
Visiting Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) on this day is highly esteemed. It is equivalent to a thousand Hajj, a thousand Umrah, and a thousand jihads, and even surpasses them. The hadiths about the many virtues of visiting him on this day are frequent. Those who succeed in visiting him and being present under his holy dome will receive a reward no less than those who attend Arafat, and even surpass them. The description of his visit on this day is detailed in the section on visits, God Almighty willing.
The Third Deed: Praying and Confessing Sins
After the obligatory Asr prayer, before beginning the supplications of Arafat, one should pray two rak’ahs under the sky and confess their sins to God Almighty to gain the reward of Arafat and have their sins forgiven. Then, they should begin performing the deeds of Arafat and reciting the supplications transmitted from the pure proofs (may God’s prayers be upon them). These supplications are numerous, but we will mention as much as the book can accommodate.
Additional Recommendations
Al-Kafami mentioned in Al-Misbah that it is recommended to fast on the Day of Arafah for those who do not fail to supplicate and wash themselves before noon. Visiting Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) on this day and the night before is highly recommended. When the sun has set, one should rise under the sky, improve their bowing and prostration in the two noons prayer, and then pray two rak’ahs. In the first rak’ah, after reciting Al-Hamd, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas (Tawhid), and in the second rak’ah, after Al-Hamd, recite Surah Al-Kafirun. Then, pray four more rak’ahs, reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas fifty times in each rak’ah.
The Significance and Practices of the Day of Arafah
The Call to Hajj
The Quran states:
"And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass to witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor. Then let them end their untidiness and fulfill their vows and perform Tawaf around the ancient House." (Quran 22:27-29)
The Honor of Responding to God’s Call
What call is more honorable than this divine invitation to Hajj? What blessing is greater than this divine mercy when God Almighty invites His servants to His hospitality, showers them with His grace, and secures them in His sanctuary? Blessed is the servant who enjoys these blessings, responds to this invitation, and comes from afar, answering the call of God Almighty. Through this, he seeks closeness to Him, status with Him, and forgiveness in the Sacred House, which God has made a place of return, a blessed security, and a guidance for the worlds.
The Sublime Obedience in Hajj
Hajj represents the highest stage of monotheism, the denial of polytheism, and sincerity in servitude to God Almighty. It is filled with lessons that inspire Muslims to build the moral aspects of their lives. The sermon of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) clarifies these lessons:
"He made obligatory upon you the pilgrimage to His Sacred House, which He made a qibla for humankind. They come to it like the animals returning to their pasture and the pigeons returning to their nests. He, Glory be to Him, made it a sign of your humility before His greatness and your submission to His glory. He chose from among those He created those who listen to Him, respond to His call, believe His word, stand in the position of His prophets, and imitate His angels circumambulating His throne."
The Purpose of Hajj
Hajj strengthens the religion and unity of Muslims, giving them prestige in the hearts of their enemies. This unity and solidarity are achieved through the gatherings during Hajj, which bring together ranks and reject division. Lady Fatima al-Zahra (peace be upon her) emphasized that Hajj was imposed to establish religion, and Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said:
"The religion will continue to stand as long as the Kaaba stands."
The Importance of Hajj
The noble hadiths emphasize the importance of Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam. Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) stated:
"Abandoning Hajj when possible is equivalent to abandoning prayer, zakat, or fasting."
The Consequences of Abandoning Hajj
The Quran states:
"And for the people is the Hajj to the House, whoever is able to make a way to it. And whoever disbelieves - then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds." (Quran 3:97)
Imam Al-Kadhim (peace be upon him) explained that not performing Hajj, when able, is a form of disbelief. Many hadiths highlight the consequences of abandoning Hajj and the immense rewards of performing it.
Hajj: A Path to God’s Mercy
Hajj is one of the most important acts of worship, bringing a person closer to God. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:
"The pilgrims and the pilgrims are a delegation of God who gives them what they ask for, answers their prayers, and pays back their expenses."
The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) also stated:
"The Hajj and Umrah pilgrim is a delegation of God, and it is the duty of God Almighty to honor His delegation and bless them with forgiveness."
The Etiquette and Conditions of Hajj
Sincerity is crucial in Hajj. Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said:
"Hajj is of two kinds: a Hajj for God and a Hajj for the people. Whoever performs Hajj for God, his reward will be with God, and whoever performs Hajj for the people, his reward will be with the people on the Day of Resurrection."
Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and the Day of Arafah
Imam Hussein’s supplication on the Day of Arafah is a profound lesson in spirituality and devotion. It was reported that on the Day of Arafah, Imam Hussein, along with his family and followers, stood facing the Sacred House, raising his hands in supplication and humility, reciting a beautiful prayer of submission and gratitude to God Almighty.
Every year, believers strive to visit the shrine of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) in Karbala to repeat his supplication and perform the recommended acts of worship. The narrations from the pure Imams (peace be upon them) emphasize the virtue of attending the shrine of Imam Hussein on this day, attaining the reward of standing on Mount Arafat.
Conclusion
The Day of Arafah is a profound opportunity for believers to seek God’s mercy and forgiveness. Whether standing on Mount Arafat or visiting the shrine of Imam Hussein, the focus should be on sincere worship and reflection on the spiritual lessons imparted by these sacred practices.
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