Prescene 7 - The Arafah Sky Opens Up For Doa Made By Muslim Pilgrims During Wukuf

As narrated by Imam Muslim and others, Prophet Mohamad SAW said, “There is no day on which Allah frees more of His slaves from the Fire than on the Day of Arafah, and He verily draws near, then boasts of them before the angels, saying: ‘What do they seek?’”.

Today, 9 Zulhijjah of the Muslim Calendar (7 December 2008) is the Day of Arafah.

The blessed and the selected few of our Muslim brothers and sisters are currently gathering at Arafah (a large plain to the south-east of Makkah) for Wukuf (Standing in Arafah), the main rite for Hajj.

For the pilgrims, it is sunnah to stand upon the rocks beneath the Mount of Mercy (Jabal ur-Rahmah) and if not then all of Arafah is a place of standing. It is sunnah to stand facing the Qiblah, raising hands making doa and reciting talbiyyah.

It is sunnah for the pilgrims to recite much “La ilaha illallah” as it is the best doa of the Day of Arafah as the Prophet SAW said: “The best thing that I and the Prophets have said on the evening of Arafah is ‘La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shareekalahu lahul mulk wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’ia qadeer’”, and occasionally adds in the talbiyyah: “Innamal khairul akhirati (All good is the good of the Hereafter)”.

And the pilgrims remain in that state, remembering Allah, reciting tarbiyah, making doa as they wish – hoping from Allah that He will make them of those whom He boasts of (those He frees from the Fire) to the Angels as occurs in the Hadeeth above. In another Hadeeth as narrated by Imam Ahmad and others, Prophet Mohamad SAW said: “Verily Allah boasts of the people of Arafah before the people of heaven (the angels), saying: ‘Look to my servants who have come to Me dishevelled and dusty.’”

It was said that on the Day of Arafah, at the time of Wukuf (from Zohor until Maghrib), Allah will grant the doa of the pilgrims. It was said that it is best for the pilgrims to stand on the plain of Arafah (preferably on top of a hill) facing the Qiblah and make doa to the Almighty. For it was said that the sky will open up, for Allah to directly hear the doa of the pilgrims, and grant them their doa.

For those who have had the privilege to perform the Hajj, they will testify that at the time of Wukuf, the sky surrounding the plain of Arafah will be very clear (blue) with minimal (or no) clouds at all. The occasion is so surreal. And yes, by the Will of Allah, their doa will be granted.

I have not heard of anybody experiencing rain in Arafah during Wukuf.

Another phenomenon that will be experienced by the pilgrims will be the strong winds going through the plain of Arafah after sunset (Maghrib) on the Day of Arafah, as if to clear the sins left by the pilgrims.

Ask your friends or relatives who had performed Hajj on the observations above (the clear sky and the wind gust on the Day of Arafah).

We should empirically test the observations above.