An Easy Step By Step Method On Hajj. by Shaykh Mufti Afzal and Hossen Elias

On this day, the greatest rite of Haj is carried out, that is the stay at Arafaat or "Wuqoof e Arafaat". Without this stay, the Haj is invalid and will not be redeemed through penalty.

After sunrise, when the sun has spread a little, leave Mina and proceed to Arafaat. Arafaat is about six miles from Mina. Some elders have recorded the reading of the following duaa when proceeding to Arafaat.

"Yaa Allaah, I turn towards You and rely on You and have intended to please You. Thus forgive my sins and make my Haj Mabroor (accepted), and have Mercy on me and do not deprive me and make my journey a blessed one and fulfill my needs in Arafaat. Definitely, You have Power (control) over all things. Yaa Allaah, make my moving in this morning a cause for obtaining Your Pleasure and a means of removing Your Displeasure. I move towards You and rely upon You and I have intended for Your Pleasure, so make me amongst those in front of whom You will boast, in front of those who are better and more superior than me. I ask of You, permanent forgiveness and security in this world and in the Aakhirat and send Durood upon the best of creations, Muhammed r and upon his household and upon his companions." On sighting the Jable Rahmat (which is a mountain in Arafaat)

recite "Alhamdulillah, Subhaanallah, Allahu Akbar." and make whatever duaa you desire or else make the following duaa.

"Yaa Allaah, I turn to You and relied upon You and have intended to please You. Yaa Allaah, forgive me and accept my repentance and fulfill my requests and wherever I turn let there be good. I mention Your Purity and All Praise is for Allaah and there is no One worthy of worship but Allaah and Allaah is the greatest." The time for the stay in Arafaat is anytime between zawaal on the 9th of Zil Haj upto predawn on the 9th. To be in Arafaat in the state of Ihraam during this time, even for a a little while, or while passing through means that one has fulfilled the Fardh obligation of Wuqoof e Arafaat. If, on the other hand, one misses an opportunity to spend even a little while in Arafaat, then the Haj is not made.

It is Waajib to stay in Arafaat from after Zawwal till sunset. If one does not reach during this time but later in the night then Haj will still be made.

It is Mustahab to take ghusl after Zawwal and if no opportunity arises for this, then make wudhu, perform Zuhr at it's first time and commence the Wuqoof.

The Sunnat method is to perform Zuhr and Asr Salaats together with the Ameer of Haj (i.e. to perform Asr during the time of Zuhr.).There is a big Masjid called Masjid e Namarah,wherein the Imaam performs these two Salaats together.However,because all people cannot get there and all cannot fit into this Masjid and the reading of the two Salaats together without an Ameer is not proven the Hanafi Ulemaah of Indo Pak have granted a Fataawaa that these two Salaats should be read at their normal times in the tents with Jamaat. The Zuhr should be read on its time and the Asr on its time.

The remaining time should be spent making Zikr and reciting the Talbiyaah and making duaa.

One can make Wuqoof in any place in the field of Arafaat, from after Zawwal until sunset. The best place to perform the Wuqoof is the Jabl e Rahmat, which is the famous mountain near which Rasulullaah r made Wuqoof. If one cannot find the specific location, then the nearer one gets to it the better. However, if one has difficulty in going to Jabl e Rahmat or fears that he will find it difficult to find his tent, then one may perform the Wuqoof in the tent.

The best and most superior thing to do is to stand facing the Qibla until Maghrib with raised hands making duaa. If one cannot stand for the whole duration, then one may sit for a while and when one's strength returns, stand again. For the whole duration, one should be engaged in Zikr, Tilaawat of the Qur'aan, Durood Shareef and Istighfaar. This must be done with utter humility, sincerity and in a pleading manner. At intervals one should recite the Talbiyaah. Make duaa for both Deeni and worldly needs and for your acquaintances, friends and for those who had specifically requested for duaas from you and for all the Muslims in general. This is a special time for the acceptance of duaas and should not be missed. On this day one should not engage in unnecessary talk but should spend all one's time in Zikr and duaa.

In Tirmidhi, it is written that Rasulullaah r said that the best duaa is the duaa of the Day of Arafaat and the best that I and the Ambiyaaa before me prayed is:

"There is no one worthy of worship but Allaah. He is Alone. He has no partner. For Him is the Kingdom and for Him is the Praise and He has Power over all things." In Manasikh, Mulla Ali Qari t reports from Tibrani that amongst the duaas of Nabi r during the time at Arafaat, is this one:

"Yaa Allaah, definitely You see my place and are listening to my words and You Know that which is outside of me and that which is inside me and nothing is hidden from You about my affairs. I am steeped in restrictions (difficulty).I am dependent. I am in need, seeking refuge, admitting to the fearful sins and acknowledging it. I ask of You like one who is destitute. I plead humbly in front of You like a humiliated sinner and I call You like one who calls in fearful calamity and like one who calls You bowing his neck and whose tears are rolling and whose body is thin for You and whose nose is soiled by dust. Oh my Rabb, do not deprive me and be a great Aid and a great Mercy. Oh One Who is the best of Answerers(of requests),and Oh the best One Who gives Generously." Imaam Bayhiqi t has written in Shu'batul Imaan, that Hadhrat Jabir t narrates from Rasulullaah r, that whichever Muslim, on the day of Arafaat, after Zawwal, while facing the Qibla says:

A hundred times Then, a hundred times Surah Ikhlaas.

Then, a hundred times the following Durood:

Then Allaah says: "Oh my angels, what is the reward for my servant. He has made My Tasbeeh and My Tahleel and mentioned My Greatness and Dignity and obtained My (Ma'rifat)

Knowledge,and has mentioned My Status, and has sent Durood upon My Nabi. Oh, my angels, You be witness that I have Forgiven him, and accepted his own intercession and if My servant seeks My intercession for all those in Arafaat, then I will accept his intercession." Hadhrat Ali (May Allaah Honour his face), narrates that Rasulullaah r said that he and the previous Ambiyaaa made the following duaa:

"There is no one worthy of worship but Allaah. He is Alone. He has no partner. For Him is the Kingdom and for Him is the Praise and He has Power (Control) over everything. Yaa Allaah, create celestial light in my heart and light in my ears and light in my eyes. Yaa Allaah, open my chest and make my affairs easy and I seek refuge in You from the whispers of the chest and from the disorganisation and from the trials of the grave. Yaa Allaah, I seek refuge in You from the evils of those things that enter the night and from those things that enter the day and from the evil of those things which the wind takes and moves and from those difficulties which are created in these times." It is reported of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Umar t that in Arafaat, after Asr salaat, he used to raise his hands and be engaged in Wuqoof. He used to say:

And this duaa:

"Yaa Allaah, Keep me steadfast on Hidaayaat (Guidance), and purify me through Taqwa (piety) and forgive me in this world in the Aakhirat." Thereafter, he let his hands loose and stood silently for as long as it took one to recite Surah Fatiha, then he raised his hands once more and repeated the above procedure. (Hisn Haseen).

Make the above mentioned duaa and any other duaa one desires to make, and in whichever language one prefers. Pray with utmost attention, sincerity and humility. Duaa is actually that which comes from the heart. Particularly those duaas which have been proven for this occasion from the ahadith such as those mentioned above, should be read. The Talbiyaah should be recited in between duaas.

Many duaas have been reported from Rasululllah r which are not restricted to any time or place. These duaas can be prayed at all times. These have been gathered in the "Al Hizbul A'zam" and "Munajaat e Maqbool". One may read as much as one desires from these books in Arafaat. There is alot of time (in Arafaat) ,so one can read a great deal and ask in abundance. Some elders from here have also drawn up duaas which may be read. There is no harm in reciting these as well. It is, however important to recognise those duaas which are sunnat and which are proven to be so.

The movements by both walk and bus have been explained.

Whether you walk to Arafaat or go by bus, rest and sleep.

Remember that the Wuqoof time is after Zawwaal, do not make yourself tired before that. After Zuhr have your lunch and then try to stand in the open and make duaa, if you cannot do that, then do it in your tent. If you cannot do that then sit, if you are weak, then lie down and make duaa. Deen is easy, do not make it difficult.

Do not venture to leave your tent in Arafaat alone, you will get lost.

If you want to move around, go in groups who understand the roads and have a sense of direction. It is not necessary to go to Jabal e Rahmat in Arafaat. Generally there are water tanks on the roadside, there are water outlets by way of hose systems. Use that to take a Sunnat ghusl in Arafaat.

Writing someone’s name on the sands of Arafaat in the hope that that person is going to come to Arafaat or writing a person’s name on a paper, then tying it in a cloth then hanging it on a branch of some tree in Arafaat or to greet Arafaat on behalf of someone, these actions are acts of Bid’at with no proofs, avoid them. Similarly, to map out along side another grave in Jannatul Baqi, thinking that by so doing one is going to be buried there is an act of sheer ignorance and Bid’at. To embrace and shake the hands of a na- mahram (one whom you can marry) in Arafaat or anywhere else is Haraam (prohibited). Do not end your Arafaat stay with a Haraam act.

In Arafaat the toilet/ wudhu facilities are not so good, have patience.

Do not leave your tent immediately after sunset, when the official permission is given to do so. Generally there is such a rush of people departing for Muzdalifah that it is highly possible you will get hurt.

Wait your turn and board the bus. Make sure you are left in Muzdalifah, anywhere, it does not matter.

The big Masjid in Mina is called Masjid e Khaif. The big Masjid in Arafaat in called Masjid e Nameera. The big Masjid in Muzdalifah is called Masjid e Mahshar al Haram. If all the busses have moved or due to some reason your transport fails, then have a vehicle, set the price, be certain of it, then go to Muzdalifah. If you are going to walk to Muzdalifah, let the others go, the later you leave the better.

According to other Mazhabs, pelting of Satan in Mina can start after Midnight, thus they will leave Muzdalifah by 11 pm to reach Mina by 12 pm midnight, in order to pelt. Thus if you make a late entry into Muzdalifah you will find space in Muzdalifah. Make wudhu on the road just before Muzdalifah. Then as is the case with both the Harams, the outsides are full but there is place on the inside. So we enter and the first space we get perform Maghrib and Esha with one Azaan, one Iqaamat. We generally find space after a little patience and a lot of duaa for 300 people to make Jamaat. When you walk into Muzdalifah you will walk 5 in a row, then within a few minutes, you will walk 3 in a row, then within a few more minutes, you will be in single file. Just keeps sight of your group markers etc.

After performing your Maghrib and Esha, do not stop; proceed to the Muzdalifah/Mina border as far as possible. The facilities in Muzdalifah have greatly improved (2002). They have pitched an overflow of tents of Mina into Muzdalifah. Generally not occupied on the night of Eid, which is the night of Muzdalifah. These tents have similar facilities as those tents in Mina. One may be lucky at times to use them if it not pre-occupied by others.

On reaching Muzdalifah/ Mina border pick up pebbles. It is called ‘Mabeet’ in Arabic. 49/70 pebbles, date pit size, wash them and you may require the use of a small torch. Generally food outlets in Muzdalifah are not many. But road side vendors provide the necessary tea/coffee and biscuits. It is now moving towards winter (2002), so expect cold in Muzdalifah. This makes walking easy for one is doing so in the dark and in winter. The rest/sleep in Muzdalifah is miraculous in nature. A little sleep makes one fresh for the next day - which is full of activity.

The error made in Muzdalifah is many make Fajr before time.

Adhaan is given during Tahajjud time and Fajr is also performed before its time, just to get away from Muzdalifah. Do not do this. At the first time of Fajr, Adhaan should be given, Fajr performed and then Wuqoof (stay) is made. This is Waajib for Hanafis. After Wuqoof proceed to Mina, by the time one crosses the Muzdalifah/ Mina border it is always the preferred time, sunrise.

One can also send off the ladies in the night of Muzdalifah to Mina with guides, mostly mahrams. This is what Nabi r did. Nabi r sent off his ladies due to congestion in Muzdalifah. The guides must come back to Muzdalifah to spend the night therein. Go through the shed which extends from one end of Mina to the other. While walking in the shed try to keep in the centre beam. Hujjaj usually camp on the sides of the shed because their tents are in a distance.

They generally spend the next few days here, under the sheds. Food is available, toilet/ shower facilities are available and the jamaraats are accessible via the sheds.