Mount Arafat

Plain of Arafat during the Hajj

Coordinates: 21°21′38″N, 39°59′56″E Mount Arafat or Mount Arafah (Arabic: جبل عرفات; transliterated Jabal 'Arafat) is a granite hill east of Mecca. It is also known as the Mountain of Mercy (Jabal ar-Rahmah). The hill is the place Muhammad delivered the Farewell Sermon to the Muslims who had accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life. It reaches about 70 m in height.

The level area surrounding the hill is called the Plain of Arafat. The term Mount Arafat is sometimes applied to this entire area. It is an important place in Islam because during the Hajj, pilgrims spend the afternoon there on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah (ذو الحجة). Failure to be present in the plain of Arafat on the required day invalidates the pilgrimage. Many pilgrims stay here all night in vigil.^[1]

Muslims believe Adam and his wife Eve were reunited on the hill and forgiven by God (اﷲ) after 200 years of separation on account of their disobedience in deference to the suggestion of Satan.

Today, this is the place from where a khutba (sermon) addressed to the entire Muslim world is delivered.^[2]

The former Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat was named after this hill.

After Arafat, pilgrims of the Hajj head to Muzdalifa.

References

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