HALTING PLACE III: MAS AA
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ. Surely, the Safa and the Marwa are among the signs appointed by Allah. (The Holy Quran; 2:158)� ( 95 ) After the completion of the circumambulating the Kaaba and the Tawaf Prayer, a pilgrim must perfo
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ.
Surely, the Safa and the Marwa are among the signs appointed by Allah. (The Holy Quran; 2:158)�
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After the completion of the circumambulating the Kaaba and the Tawaf Prayer, a pilgrim must perform Sa'y, that is, he has to walk between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa for seven times starting from Mount Safa and ending with Mount Marwa. By this cat, a pilgrim reveals his spiritual worry that he cannot abandon the Beloved's House. Hence, he leaves it and returns. Standing on the top of Mount Safa, he eagerly looks at the Kaaba and sheds tears, has communion with God and comes down for Mount Marwa with special sincerity, join the crowd whose supplication fills the Mas'a. He traverses this distance with Harwala (fast pace), which is praiseworthy act. Every time he goes forward and returns, he becomes more purified. Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: مَا للهِ عزّ وجلّ مَنْسَكٌ أَحَبَُ إلى اللهِ تبارَكَ وتَعالى مِن مَوضِعِ السَّعْيِ وذلكَ أَنَّه يَذِلُّ فيهِ كُلُّ جَبّارٍ عَنيدٍ.
�There is no position more honorable to Allah than the Mas'a, for every arrogant and disobedient become humble there.�1
With this worrisome shuttle, a pilgrim is reminded of a worried mother who, four thousand years ago, shuttled seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa in search of water for her thirsty infant, supplicating to God until her prayer was answered, according to the Holy Quranic Verse: أَمَّنْ يُجِيبُ المُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ
�� or who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes the evil? (27:62)�
Hence, limpid water gushed out of that dead land and gave new life to Hagar �the mother- and Ismail �the child. The wonder is that the same water is gushing out to this date from the well known as Zamzam, giving a spiritual life to the pilgrims. To drink from it and pour upon one's head are praiseworthy acts. اَللّهُمّ اجْعَلْهُ عِلماً نافِعاً وَرِزْقاً واسِعاً مِن كُلِّ داءٍ وسُقْمٍ.
�O Lord, make it useful knowledge, abundant subsistence, and healing for every disease.�2
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1 See Ilal ush-Shara'ie; vol. 2 p.118 hadith 1
2 See al-Wafi; vol. 2
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If man reflects a little bit on this holy place, he will most probably go through a spiritual change and realize how gates of God's mercy are opened to the pure and devoted servants.
Supplication by a broken-hearted mother can cleave unshakable mountains causing gushing of water from dead land and opening the gates of favor and mercy from an invisible world. فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ حَسْبِيَ اللهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلاّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ العَرْشِ العَظِيمِ.
�But if they turn back, say: Allah is sufficient for me, there is no Allah but He; on Him do I rely and He is the Lord of mighty power. (The Holy Quran; 9:129)�
Man's call upon God is answered only if such a call is from the bottom of the heart. A spiritual change makes dried trees green and fruitful, and causes water to gush out of a hot desert. Virgin Mary (a.s) who had the pangs of childbirth and was moaning to God saying: �Oh, would that I had died before this and had been a thing quite forgotten. (The Holy Quran; 19:23),� heard God's voice through her infant: �Then (the child) called out to her from beneath her: Grieve not, surely your Lord has made a stream to flow beneath you; and shake towards you the trunk of the palm tree, it will drop on you fresh ripe dates. So, eat and drink and refresh the eye. (The Holy Quran; 19:24-6)� To defend his mother's innocence, the infant Jesus (a.s) spoke, �Surely, I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the Book and made me a prophet. (The Holy Quran; 19:30)�
Also, a Sura has taken the name of Virgin Mary so as to testify to her purity and innocence until the Day of Judgment.
Hagar, a faithful woman and wife of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) who has been abandoned in a burning desert according to God's order, relies on God alone and has set her hope in Him. What else can she do save supplicating to Him: إِلهَِي ورَبِّي مَن لي غَيرُكَ أسْألُهُ كَشْفَ ضُرّي والنَّظَرَ في أمْرِي.
�My Lord and Nourisher, have I anyone except You from Whom I can seek the dislodging of my evils and understanding of my problems?�1
The result of Hagar's supplication was that limpid water gushed out from under her infant's feet:
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1 This statement is quoted from Du'aa �the supplication of- Kumayl.
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وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ.
�� And whoever is careful of his duty to Allah, He will make for him an outlet and give him sustenance from whence he thinks not; and whoever trusts in Allah, He is sufficient for him. (The Holy Quran; 65:2-3)�
Hagar's act, which is a symbol of monotheism, reliance on God, and detachment from what is not godly, has become one of the pillars of the Hajj rites and a duty for the Hajj pilgrims. The act of Sa'y must be performed with the presence of heart and effort must be made not to miss the spiritual opportunity.
Those pilgrims who intend to perform Hajj at-Tamattu' have to stay in Mecca to perform Umrah first. Those intending to perform Hajj al-Qiran and Hajj al-Ifrad and those whose Hajj precedes Umrah enter Mecca in groups so as to put on Ihram, to say Labbayk, and to leave Mecca for Arafat. Umrah is an individual rite that does not need to be coordinated with others and can be performed on any day. However, Hajj, being a social event, must begin and end on a special day. Therefore, all those who intend to perform Hajj have to come to Mecca before the eighth of Dhu'l-Hijja and those who are late for an excuse have to join the pilgrims on the ninth of Dhu'l-Hijja before noon.
The huge caravan of the pilgrims moves towards Arafat in the afternoon of the eighth day. Heads are bare and bodies covered with two pieces of white unstitched clothes. Having with them provision for a few-day stay in the plain, and saying Labbayk whose spiritual echo is filling Mecca and the north-eastern plains, the pilgrims move in groups to gather in the plain of Arafat at noon of the ninth day.
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His guests. The banquet is in Mount Mercy so that all guests can enjoy God's infinite blessings each according to his capacity.
�O Ahmed, beware of being like a child who is deceived when looking at something green and yellow or tasting something sour and sweet.�1
God's address is aimed to make man aware of his grave position. In the plain of Arafat, a pilgrim is like a dead man who has been detached from everything and wearing a shroud and waiting for God's mercy. It is in this state that man can have communion with God and say from the bottom of his heart: عَمِيَتْ عَينٌ لا تَراكَ علَيها رَقِيباً وخَسِرَت صَفْقَةُ عَبدٍ لم تجعَلْ لهُ مِن حُبِّكَ نصِيباً
�Let those eyes which do not see You as Watching be blind and let the asset (life) of a servant who has no share of Your love lead to loss.�2
The rite of staying in Arafat begins at the noon of the ninth of Dhu'l-Hijja and ends at the sunset of the same day. The time of this religious act is short but its divine blessings are great. Hearing a beggar asking people for something, Imam Sajjad (a.s) said: وَيحَكَ، أغَيرَ اللهِ تسأَلُ في هَذا المقامِ؟ إنّه ليُرجَى لمِا في بُطونِ الجِبالِ في هذا اليَومِ أن يَكونَ سَعِيداً
�Woe to you! Are you asking people for help in this place while Allah's mercy today is so comprehensive that what is in mountains is hoped to receive His general mercy and become prosperous.�3
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1 See Ad-Deilami's Irshad ul-Quloub; hadith: Mi'raj
2 This statement is part of Imam al-Hussein's Du'aa on the Day of Arafat; the ninth of Dhu'l-Hijja.
3 See al-Wafi; vol. 2 Section: Hajj p.42
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By 'what is in mountains' the Imam (a.s) perhaps meant plants growing on the mountains as a result of whose transformation a prosperous man would be born. A man in the Sacred Mosque asked Imam Sadiq (a.s): �Whose sin is greater than others?� The Imam (a.s) answered: مَن يقِفْ بهَذَينِ المَوقِفَينِ؛ عَرَفَةَ والمُزدَلِفَةِ، وسَعى بَينَ هذَينِ الجَبَلَينِ ثمّ طَافَ بهذا البَيتِ وصَلّى خَلفَ مَقامِ إبْراهِيمَ ثُمّ قالَ في نَفْسِهِ أو ظَنَّ أنَّ الله لم يَغفِرْ لهُ فَهوَ مِن أعظَمِ الناسِ وِزراً
�He who stays in Arafat and al-Muzdelifa, performs the Sa'y between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa, circumambulates the Kaaba, performs prayer in the standing-place of Ibrahim, and after completing all these acts says to himself or has the impression that Allah has not forgiven him is the biggest sinner.�1
Imam Baqir (a.s) says: مَا يَقِفُ أحَدٌ على تِلكَ الجِبالِ بَرٌّ ولا فاجِرٌ إلا استَجابَ اللهُ لهُ. فأَمّا البَرُّ فيُستَجابُ لهُ في آخِرتِهِ ودُنياهُ، وأَمّا الفاجِرُ فَيُستَجابُ له في دُنياهُ.
�The duaas �supplications- of every pious or impious man who stays in Arafat and al-Mash'ar will be absolutely answered. The duaas of a pious man will be fulfilled in matters regarding this world and the Hereafter but the duaas of an impious man will be fulfilled only in matters regarding this world.�2
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: مَا مِن رَجُلٍ مِن أهْلِ كُورَةٍ وقفَ بِعَرَفَةَ مِن المُؤمِنينَ إلا غَفَرَ اللهُ لأَهلِ تِلكَ الكُورَةِ مِن المُؤمِنينَ. ومَا مِن رَجُلٍ وقفَ بَعَرَفَةَ مِن أهْلِ بيتٍ مِن المُؤمِنينَ إلا غَفَرَ اللهُ لأهلِ ذلكَ البَيتِ مِن المُؤمِنينَ
�For a believing man of any village who stays in Arafat, Allah will forgive all the believing people of that village, and for a single man of a believing family who stays in
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1 See al-Wafi; vol. 2 Section: Hajj p.42
2 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p. 262 hadith 38
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Arafat, Allah will forgive all the believing members of that family.�1
Ibn-Fahd Hilli, in his book titled Oddatol Daee, quotes the prayer book of Mohammad ibn Saffar on the authority of the Holy Prophet (saw) as saying: لَتَسْأَلُنَّ اللهَ أَو لَيُعْطِيَنَّ عَليكُم. إنَّ للهِ عِباداً يَعمَلونَ فَيُعْطيهِمْ وآخَرينَ يَسألونَهُ صادِقِينَ فَيُعطِيهِم ثُمّ يجمَعُهُم في الجَنَّةِ فيَقولُ الّذين عَمِلوا: رَبَّنا عَمِلْنا فَأعْطَيتَنا، فَبِما أَعطَيتَ هَؤلاءِ؟ فَيقولُ: عِبادِي أعطَيتُكُم أُجورَكُم ولم اَلِتْكُم مِن أعْمالِكُم شَيئاً وسَأَلَني هَؤلاءِ فَأَعطَيتُهُم وهُو فَضلِي أُوتِيهِ مَن أَشاءُ.
�Request from Allah so that He will grant. Allah bestows blessing upon a group of His servants in return for their deeds, and to another group in return for their sincere supplications. Then He will gather both groups in Paradise. The first will say: Our Lord, We were men of good deeds and You granted our requests but how about these people? Allah will say: My servants, I gave you your rewards fully. Those people too requested from Me and I gave them a share of My abundant Grace and Mercy. I will give to anyone I wish.�2
Those who perform their religious duties and reach the highest degree of eternal prosperity enter Paradise through the gate of Deed according to the Quranic Verse:
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1 See al-Wafi; vol. 2 Section: Hajj p.42
2 See Sharhu Nahjil-Balagha; vol. 4 p.263 and Oddat ud-Daee; p.28
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جَزَاءً ِبمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ.
�(This is) a reward for what they used to do. (56:24)�
There is another gate by the name of Request or supplication. Not all people can enter through this gate. In the same way that practicing good deed is not easy, requesting from God is not easy either, for it requires a living heart, weeping eyes, and a spiritual state. God says: اُدْعُونِي اَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
�Call upon Me, I will answer you.(The Holy Quran; 40:60)� Let us now become unison with Imam Sajjad (a.s) and say: وَأنَا، يا إِلهِي، عَبدُكُ الذِي أَمَرتَهُ بِالدّعاءِ فَقالَ لَبّيكَ وسَعْدَيكَ، ها أنَا ذا يا رَبِّ مَطْروحٌ بَينَ يَديْكَ، أنا الّذِي أَوقَرَتِ الخَطايا ظَهرَهُ وأنا الّذي أفْنَتِ الذُّنوبُ عُمُرَهُ وأنا الّذي بجَهْلِهِ عَصاكَ ولم تَكُنْ أهْلاً مِنهُ لِذاكَ
�And I, my Allah, am Thy servant whom Thou commanded to supplicate and who said: I am at Thy service and disposal. Here I am, my Lord, thrown before Thee. I am he whose back offenses have weighed down! I am he whose lifetime sins have consumed! I am he who was disobedient in his ignorance, while Thou didst not deserve that from him!�1
Mohammad ibn Hasan Saffar, in his book of supplication, quotes the Holy Prophet (saw) as saying: يَدخُلُ الجَنَّةَ رَجُلانِ كَانا يَعمَلانِ عَمَلاً واحِداً، فَيَرى أَحَدُهُما صاحِبَهُ فَوقَهُ فَيقولُ: يا رَبِّ بمِا أَعطَيتَهُ وكَانَ عَمَلُنا واحِداً؟ فيقولُ اللهُ تَباركَ وتَعالى: سَأَلني ولم تَسألْنِي. (ثمّ قالَ رسولُ اللهِ صَلى اللهُ عليهِ وآلِهِ) إِسأَلوا اللهَ وأَجزِلوا فَإنّهُ لا يَتعاظَمُهُ شَيءٌ.
Two persons whose deeds were the same will enter Paradise. But one of the two will see the other superior. Hence, he will say: 'My Lord, we have done the same deeds. What is his superior position for?' Allah will say: 'He requested from Me but you did not.' (Then the Holy Prophet (saw) said:) �Request from Allah as much as you can, for your request is not great for Allah.�
Moyasser, a narrator, quotes Imam Sadiq (a.s) as saying:
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1 See as-Sahifat al-Kamilat al-Sajjadiyya, Supplication 16
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يا مُيسّر، أُدْعُ ولا تَقُلْ إِنَّ الأمْرَ قَد فُرِغَ مِنهُ. إنَّ عِندَ اللهِ عَزّ وجَلّ مَنزِلَةٌ لا تُنالُ إِلا بمَسأَلَةٍ، ولَو أنَّ عَبداً سَدَّ فاهُ ولم يَسأَلْ لم يُعطَ شَيئاً، فَسَلْ تُعْطَ. يا مُيَسّر، إنّهُ لَيس مِن بابٍ يُقرَعُ إلا يوشَكُ أنْ يَنفَتِحَ لِصاحِبِه.
�O Moyasser, call upon Allah and do not say what is destined will happen. There is with Allah a position you will not attain save through supplication. If a servant shuts his mouth and does not request anything from Allah, he will be given nothing. Therefore, request so that you will be given. O Moyesser, every door that is knocked will be opened.�1
Addressing Jesus (a.s), God says: يا عِيسى، كَم أُطِيلُ النَّظَرَ وأُحسِنُ الطَّلَب َوالقومُ لا يَرجِعونَ!
�O Jesus, how long should I wait and show well wish for the people to turn to Me?�2
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 2 p.466 hadith 3
2 See al-Muraqabaat; the introduction p.6
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A Hadith Qudsi says: لو عَلِمَ المُدْبِرونَ عَنِّي كيفَ انتِظارِي بِهِم وشَوقِي إلى تَوبَتِهِم لمَاتوا شَوقاً إِليّ ولَتَفَرَّقَت أوصالُهُم
�If they who turn their backs to Me know how eager I am for their turning to Me, they will certainly die out of eagerness to Me and their body joints will fall apart.�1 فَيا مَنْ هوَ عَلى المُقبِلينَ عليهَ مُقبِلٌ وبالعَطفِ عليهِم عائِدٌ مُفْضِلٌ وبالغافِلينَ عَن ذِكْرِهِ رَحيمٌ رَؤوفٌ ويجذِبُهُم إلى بابهِ وَدودٌ عَطوفٌ
�O, He who comes toward those who come towards Him and grants gifts and bestows bounty upon them through tenderness! He is Compassionate and Clement toward those heedless of His remembrance and loving and tender in drawing them to His door!�2 وَهُوَ الّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئاتِ
�And He it is Who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons the evil deeds. (The Holy Quran; 42:25)�
Calling upon God and saying, 'O Lord' from the bottom of heart is sufficient to be answered. وإِنَّ الرَّاحِلَ إلَيكَ قَريبُ المَسافَةِ
�I know well that for the travelers who set out onto Thee, the destination is very near.�3
Not only is God Forgiving but also, �Allah changes the evil deeds to good ones. (The Holy Quran; 25:70)� Imam Sajjad (a.s) words: يا مُبدِّلَ السَّيِّئاتِ بأضْعافِها مِن الحَسَناتِ
�O' He Who changes the evil deeds into manifold good deeds.�4
Since repentance is good deed, it has a tenfold reward:
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1 See al-Muraqabaat; the introduction p.6
2 See as-Sahifat al-Kamilat al-Sajjadiyya
3 Du'aa of Abu-Hamza Thamali
4 See as-Sahifat al-Kamilat al-Sajjadiyya; 2nd Duaa
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مَنْ جَاءَ بِالحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثالِها
�Whoever brings a good deed, he shall have ten like it. (The Holy Quran; 6:160)�
As long as we are in Arafat, we can do nothing except requesting from Him.
A mystic was asked, 'What have you brought to this door?' He answered: �A beggar who comes to the House of the King is not asked, what have you brought, rather he is asked: What do you need, beggar?�
It is said that a Dervish1 set out for a king's palace. They said to him: Take off your tattered clothes and put on new ones, for they do not fit the occasion. The Dervish said: What shall I do, for I have no other clothes? There is no blame in going to the royal palace in tatters, but there is blame if one comes out of the palace in tatters.
Likewise, if a man with sins goes to God's House, he is in no way to be blamed, but if he returns from His House with the same sins and ashamed of his sins, it is contrary to God's dignity and expectation.
Ubaid ibn Zurara quotes Imam Sadiq (a.s) as saying: يَفقِدُ الناسُ إمامَهُم فَيَشهَدُ المَوسِمَ فَيَراهُم ولا يَرَونَهُ
�People will miss their Imam, but he will witness every season of Hajj. Yet, he can see them but they cannot.�2 واللهِ إنَّ صاحِبَ هذا الأمرِ يحضُرُ المَوسِمَ كُلَّ سَنةٍ فَيَرى الناسَ وَيعرِفُهُم ويَرَونَهُ ولا يَعرِفونهُ.
�By Allah I swear, Imam Mahdi witnesses the season of Hajj every year. He can see and know people and they can see him but cannot know him.�3
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1 Dervish is any member of an Islamic mystic fraternity.
2 See Kemal ud-Din; p. 346 hadith 33
3 See Mahdi Mau'ood; p. 750
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O God, we, pilgrims, turn to You and raise our hands in begging through the grace of Imam Mahdi (a.s) who has blessed this plain and has raised his hands in duaa in front of our gathering. We are sure the Imam's honor is so great that whoever turns to You under his shelter and raises his hand in supplication under the shelter of his hands will not be deprived of God's mercy.
The Holy Prophet (saw) is quoted by Selman the Persian as saying: إنّ اللهَ عزّ وجَلّ يقولُ: يا عِبادِي، أَوَلَيسَ مَن لهُ إلَيكُمْ حَوَائِجُ كِبارٌ ولا تجُودُونَ بِها إِلاّ أنْ يَحْتَمِلَ عَليكُم بِأحَبِّ الخَلقِ إليكُم تَقضُونَها كَرامَةً لِشَفيعِهِم؟ أَلا فَاعلَموا أنَّ اَكرَمَ الخَلقِ عَلَيَّ وأفْضَلَهُم لَدَيَّ محَمّدٌ وأَخوهُ عَلِيٌّ ومِن بَعدِهِمُ الأئِمَّةُ عَليهِم السلامُ الذِينَ همُ الوسائِلُ إِلَيَّ. ألا فَلْيَدْعُني مَن أَهَمَّتْهُ حاجَةٌ يُريدُ نَفعَها أوْ دَهَتْهُ داهِيَةٌ يُريدُ كَفَّ ضَرَرِها بمُحَمَّدٍ وآلِهِ الطّيّبينَ الطّاهِرينَ أَقْضِيها لهُ أَحسَنَ ما يَقضيها مَن تَستَشفِعونَ إليهِ بِأعَزِّ الخَلقِ عَليهِ.
�Allah says: O My servant, has it not happened that someone requests something great from you but you will not fulfill his desire unless he brings an intercessor who is dear to you? Let it be known to you that the most honorable and respectable men to Me are Mohammad (saw), his brother Ali (a.s), and the Imams (a.s) who are the media of nearness to Me. Therefore, if you have a desire for a profit or removing of a loss, call Me through Mohammad (saw) and his pure household. Then I will fulfill the desire in the best manner.�1
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1 See Collection of Waram; vol. 2 p. 100 and Oddatol Daee; p. 122
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After the completion of the circumambulating the Kaaba and the Tawaf Prayer, a pilgrim must perform Sa'y, that is, he has to walk between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa for seven times starting from Mount Safa and ending with Mount Marwa. By this cat, a pilgrim reveals his spiritual worry that he cannot abandon the Beloved's House. Hence, he leaves it and returns. Standing on the top of Mount Safa, he eagerly looks at the Kaaba and sheds tears, has communion with God and comes down for Mount Marwa with special sincerity, join the crowd whose supplication fills the Mas'a. He traverses this distance with Harwala (fast pace), which is praiseworthy act. Every time he goes forward and returns, he becomes more purified. Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: مَا للهِ عزّ وجلّ مَنْسَكٌ أَحَبَُ إلى اللهِ تبارَكَ وتَعالى مِن مَوضِعِ السَّعْيِ وذلكَ أَنَّه يَذِلُّ فيهِ كُلُّ جَبّارٍ عَنيدٍ.
�There is no position more honorable to Allah than the Mas'a, for every arrogant and disobedient become humble there.�1
With this worrisome shuttle, a pilgrim is reminded of a worried mother who, four thousand years ago, shuttled seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa in search of water for her thirsty infant, supplicating to God until her prayer was answered, according to the Holy Quranic Verse: أَمَّنْ يُجِيبُ المُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ
�� or who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes the evil? (27:62)�
Hence, limpid water gushed out of that dead land and gave new life to Hagar �the mother- and Ismail �the child. The wonder is that the same water is gushing out to this date from the well known as Zamzam, giving a spiritual life to the pilgrims. To drink from it and pour upon one's head are praiseworthy acts. اَللّهُمّ اجْعَلْهُ عِلماً نافِعاً وَرِزْقاً واسِعاً مِن كُلِّ داءٍ وسُقْمٍ.
�O Lord, make it useful knowledge, abundant subsistence, and healing for every disease.�2
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1 See Ilal ush-Shara'ie; vol. 2 p.118 hadith 1
2 See al-Wafi; vol. 2
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If man reflects a little bit on this holy place, he will most probably go through a spiritual change and realize how gates of God's mercy are opened to the pure and devoted servants.
Supplication by a broken-hearted mother can cleave unshakable mountains causing gushing of water from dead land and opening the gates of favor and mercy from an invisible world. فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ حَسْبِيَ اللهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلاّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ العَرْشِ العَظِيمِ.
�But if they turn back, say: Allah is sufficient for me, there is no Allah but He; on Him do I rely and He is the Lord of mighty power. (The Holy Quran; 9:129)�
Man's call upon God is answered only if such a call is from the bottom of the heart. A spiritual change makes dried trees green and fruitful, and causes water to gush out of a hot desert. Virgin Mary (a.s) who had the pangs of childbirth and was moaning to God saying: �Oh, would that I had died before this and had been a thing quite forgotten. (The Holy Quran; 19:23),� heard God's voice through her infant: �Then (the child) called out to her from beneath her: Grieve not, surely your Lord has made a stream to flow beneath you; and shake towards you the trunk of the palm tree, it will drop on you fresh ripe dates. So, eat and drink and refresh the eye. (The Holy Quran; 19:24-6)� To defend his mother's innocence, the infant Jesus (a.s) spoke, �Surely, I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the Book and made me a prophet. (The Holy Quran; 19:30)�
Also, a Sura has taken the name of Virgin Mary so as to testify to her purity and innocence until the Day of Judgment.
Hagar, a faithful woman and wife of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) who has been abandoned in a burning desert according to God's order, relies on God alone and has set her hope in Him. What else can she do save supplicating to Him: إِلهَِي ورَبِّي مَن لي غَيرُكَ أسْألُهُ كَشْفَ ضُرّي والنَّظَرَ في أمْرِي.
�My Lord and Nourisher, have I anyone except You from Whom I can seek the dislodging of my evils and understanding of my problems?�1
The result of Hagar's supplication was that limpid water gushed out from under her infant's feet:
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1 This statement is quoted from Du'aa �the supplication of- Kumayl.
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وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ.
�� And whoever is careful of his duty to Allah, He will make for him an outlet and give him sustenance from whence he thinks not; and whoever trusts in Allah, He is sufficient for him. (The Holy Quran; 65:2-3)�
Hagar's act, which is a symbol of monotheism, reliance on God, and detachment from what is not godly, has become one of the pillars of the Hajj rites and a duty for the Hajj pilgrims. The act of Sa'y must be performed with the presence of heart and effort must be made not to miss the spiritual opportunity.
HALTING PLACE IV: MOUNT ARAFAT
The first days of Dhu'l-Hijja are full of tumult in Mecca. Like a kind mother, this holy city opens her arms to the pilgrims. Thanks to the blessing God has bestowed on Mecca, pilgrims are not in strait in terms of accommodations. They all feel comfortable and have peace of mind.Those pilgrims who intend to perform Hajj at-Tamattu' have to stay in Mecca to perform Umrah first. Those intending to perform Hajj al-Qiran and Hajj al-Ifrad and those whose Hajj precedes Umrah enter Mecca in groups so as to put on Ihram, to say Labbayk, and to leave Mecca for Arafat. Umrah is an individual rite that does not need to be coordinated with others and can be performed on any day. However, Hajj, being a social event, must begin and end on a special day. Therefore, all those who intend to perform Hajj have to come to Mecca before the eighth of Dhu'l-Hijja and those who are late for an excuse have to join the pilgrims on the ninth of Dhu'l-Hijja before noon.
The huge caravan of the pilgrims moves towards Arafat in the afternoon of the eighth day. Heads are bare and bodies covered with two pieces of white unstitched clothes. Having with them provision for a few-day stay in the plain, and saying Labbayk whose spiritual echo is filling Mecca and the north-eastern plains, the pilgrims move in groups to gather in the plain of Arafat at noon of the ninth day.
WHERE IS ARAFAT?
Arafat is a smooth and flat plain about twenty-four kilometers away from Northern Mecca in the lap of Jabal ur-Rahmah (literally meaning, Mount of Mercy). Arafat is a holy place God has appointed to receive
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His guests. The banquet is in Mount Mercy so that all guests can enjoy God's infinite blessings each according to his capacity.
MAN WILL NOT BECOME FAMILIAR WITH GOD AS LONG AS
HE IS ATTACHED TO THE WORLD
If man is left to himself, like children who have no power of distinction, he is attracted towards colorful toys. During Prophet Mohammad's Midnight Ascension, God said to him: يَا أَحمَدُ، إحْذَر أنْ تَكونَ مِثلَ هذا الصَّبِيِّ إذا نَظَر إلى الأخضَرِ والأصفَرِ وإِذا أُعطِيَ شَيئاً مِن الحُلوِ والحامِضِ اِغتَرَّ بهِ.HE IS ATTACHED TO THE WORLD
�O Ahmed, beware of being like a child who is deceived when looking at something green and yellow or tasting something sour and sweet.�1
God's address is aimed to make man aware of his grave position. In the plain of Arafat, a pilgrim is like a dead man who has been detached from everything and wearing a shroud and waiting for God's mercy. It is in this state that man can have communion with God and say from the bottom of his heart: عَمِيَتْ عَينٌ لا تَراكَ علَيها رَقِيباً وخَسِرَت صَفْقَةُ عَبدٍ لم تجعَلْ لهُ مِن حُبِّكَ نصِيباً
�Let those eyes which do not see You as Watching be blind and let the asset (life) of a servant who has no share of Your love lead to loss.�2
The rite of staying in Arafat begins at the noon of the ninth of Dhu'l-Hijja and ends at the sunset of the same day. The time of this religious act is short but its divine blessings are great. Hearing a beggar asking people for something, Imam Sajjad (a.s) said: وَيحَكَ، أغَيرَ اللهِ تسأَلُ في هَذا المقامِ؟ إنّه ليُرجَى لمِا في بُطونِ الجِبالِ في هذا اليَومِ أن يَكونَ سَعِيداً
�Woe to you! Are you asking people for help in this place while Allah's mercy today is so comprehensive that what is in mountains is hoped to receive His general mercy and become prosperous.�3
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1 See Ad-Deilami's Irshad ul-Quloub; hadith: Mi'raj
2 This statement is part of Imam al-Hussein's Du'aa on the Day of Arafat; the ninth of Dhu'l-Hijja.
3 See al-Wafi; vol. 2 Section: Hajj p.42
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By 'what is in mountains' the Imam (a.s) perhaps meant plants growing on the mountains as a result of whose transformation a prosperous man would be born. A man in the Sacred Mosque asked Imam Sadiq (a.s): �Whose sin is greater than others?� The Imam (a.s) answered: مَن يقِفْ بهَذَينِ المَوقِفَينِ؛ عَرَفَةَ والمُزدَلِفَةِ، وسَعى بَينَ هذَينِ الجَبَلَينِ ثمّ طَافَ بهذا البَيتِ وصَلّى خَلفَ مَقامِ إبْراهِيمَ ثُمّ قالَ في نَفْسِهِ أو ظَنَّ أنَّ الله لم يَغفِرْ لهُ فَهوَ مِن أعظَمِ الناسِ وِزراً
�He who stays in Arafat and al-Muzdelifa, performs the Sa'y between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa, circumambulates the Kaaba, performs prayer in the standing-place of Ibrahim, and after completing all these acts says to himself or has the impression that Allah has not forgiven him is the biggest sinner.�1
Imam Baqir (a.s) says: مَا يَقِفُ أحَدٌ على تِلكَ الجِبالِ بَرٌّ ولا فاجِرٌ إلا استَجابَ اللهُ لهُ. فأَمّا البَرُّ فيُستَجابُ لهُ في آخِرتِهِ ودُنياهُ، وأَمّا الفاجِرُ فَيُستَجابُ له في دُنياهُ.
�The duaas �supplications- of every pious or impious man who stays in Arafat and al-Mash'ar will be absolutely answered. The duaas of a pious man will be fulfilled in matters regarding this world and the Hereafter but the duaas of an impious man will be fulfilled only in matters regarding this world.�2
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: مَا مِن رَجُلٍ مِن أهْلِ كُورَةٍ وقفَ بِعَرَفَةَ مِن المُؤمِنينَ إلا غَفَرَ اللهُ لأَهلِ تِلكَ الكُورَةِ مِن المُؤمِنينَ. ومَا مِن رَجُلٍ وقفَ بَعَرَفَةَ مِن أهْلِ بيتٍ مِن المُؤمِنينَ إلا غَفَرَ اللهُ لأهلِ ذلكَ البَيتِ مِن المُؤمِنينَ
�For a believing man of any village who stays in Arafat, Allah will forgive all the believing people of that village, and for a single man of a believing family who stays in
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1 See al-Wafi; vol. 2 Section: Hajj p.42
2 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p. 262 hadith 38
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Arafat, Allah will forgive all the believing members of that family.�1
DAY OF ARAFAT IS THE DAY OF SUPPLICATION TO GOD
The Day of Arafat among all the days of the year has a special advantage for duaas�supplication to God. Duaas and asking for settlement of the needs of this world and the Hereafter are some of the most important acts of today. Fasting on such a day with all its virtues, if it leads to weakness in supplication will become blameworthy. Duaa opens the gates of God's mercy to His servants.DUAA HAS ITS OWN EFFECT
The Immaculate Imams (a.s) say that there are two ways to win God's mercy: deed and duaa. Those who practice good deeds enter through the gate of justice and are rewarded, but those who resort to duaa enter through the gate of grace and receive mercy.Ibn-Fahd Hilli, in his book titled Oddatol Daee, quotes the prayer book of Mohammad ibn Saffar on the authority of the Holy Prophet (saw) as saying: لَتَسْأَلُنَّ اللهَ أَو لَيُعْطِيَنَّ عَليكُم. إنَّ للهِ عِباداً يَعمَلونَ فَيُعْطيهِمْ وآخَرينَ يَسألونَهُ صادِقِينَ فَيُعطِيهِم ثُمّ يجمَعُهُم في الجَنَّةِ فيَقولُ الّذين عَمِلوا: رَبَّنا عَمِلْنا فَأعْطَيتَنا، فَبِما أَعطَيتَ هَؤلاءِ؟ فَيقولُ: عِبادِي أعطَيتُكُم أُجورَكُم ولم اَلِتْكُم مِن أعْمالِكُم شَيئاً وسَأَلَني هَؤلاءِ فَأَعطَيتُهُم وهُو فَضلِي أُوتِيهِ مَن أَشاءُ.
�Request from Allah so that He will grant. Allah bestows blessing upon a group of His servants in return for their deeds, and to another group in return for their sincere supplications. Then He will gather both groups in Paradise. The first will say: Our Lord, We were men of good deeds and You granted our requests but how about these people? Allah will say: My servants, I gave you your rewards fully. Those people too requested from Me and I gave them a share of My abundant Grace and Mercy. I will give to anyone I wish.�2
Those who perform their religious duties and reach the highest degree of eternal prosperity enter Paradise through the gate of Deed according to the Quranic Verse:
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1 See al-Wafi; vol. 2 Section: Hajj p.42
2 See Sharhu Nahjil-Balagha; vol. 4 p.263 and Oddat ud-Daee; p.28
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جَزَاءً ِبمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ.
�(This is) a reward for what they used to do. (56:24)�
There is another gate by the name of Request or supplication. Not all people can enter through this gate. In the same way that practicing good deed is not easy, requesting from God is not easy either, for it requires a living heart, weeping eyes, and a spiritual state. God says: اُدْعُونِي اَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
�Call upon Me, I will answer you.(The Holy Quran; 40:60)� Let us now become unison with Imam Sajjad (a.s) and say: وَأنَا، يا إِلهِي، عَبدُكُ الذِي أَمَرتَهُ بِالدّعاءِ فَقالَ لَبّيكَ وسَعْدَيكَ، ها أنَا ذا يا رَبِّ مَطْروحٌ بَينَ يَديْكَ، أنا الّذِي أَوقَرَتِ الخَطايا ظَهرَهُ وأنا الّذي أفْنَتِ الذُّنوبُ عُمُرَهُ وأنا الّذي بجَهْلِهِ عَصاكَ ولم تَكُنْ أهْلاً مِنهُ لِذاكَ
�And I, my Allah, am Thy servant whom Thou commanded to supplicate and who said: I am at Thy service and disposal. Here I am, my Lord, thrown before Thee. I am he whose back offenses have weighed down! I am he whose lifetime sins have consumed! I am he who was disobedient in his ignorance, while Thou didst not deserve that from him!�1
Mohammad ibn Hasan Saffar, in his book of supplication, quotes the Holy Prophet (saw) as saying: يَدخُلُ الجَنَّةَ رَجُلانِ كَانا يَعمَلانِ عَمَلاً واحِداً، فَيَرى أَحَدُهُما صاحِبَهُ فَوقَهُ فَيقولُ: يا رَبِّ بمِا أَعطَيتَهُ وكَانَ عَمَلُنا واحِداً؟ فيقولُ اللهُ تَباركَ وتَعالى: سَأَلني ولم تَسألْنِي. (ثمّ قالَ رسولُ اللهِ صَلى اللهُ عليهِ وآلِهِ) إِسأَلوا اللهَ وأَجزِلوا فَإنّهُ لا يَتعاظَمُهُ شَيءٌ.
Two persons whose deeds were the same will enter Paradise. But one of the two will see the other superior. Hence, he will say: 'My Lord, we have done the same deeds. What is his superior position for?' Allah will say: 'He requested from Me but you did not.' (Then the Holy Prophet (saw) said:) �Request from Allah as much as you can, for your request is not great for Allah.�
Moyasser, a narrator, quotes Imam Sadiq (a.s) as saying:
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1 See as-Sahifat al-Kamilat al-Sajjadiyya, Supplication 16
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يا مُيسّر، أُدْعُ ولا تَقُلْ إِنَّ الأمْرَ قَد فُرِغَ مِنهُ. إنَّ عِندَ اللهِ عَزّ وجَلّ مَنزِلَةٌ لا تُنالُ إِلا بمَسأَلَةٍ، ولَو أنَّ عَبداً سَدَّ فاهُ ولم يَسأَلْ لم يُعطَ شَيئاً، فَسَلْ تُعْطَ. يا مُيَسّر، إنّهُ لَيس مِن بابٍ يُقرَعُ إلا يوشَكُ أنْ يَنفَتِحَ لِصاحِبِه.
�O Moyasser, call upon Allah and do not say what is destined will happen. There is with Allah a position you will not attain save through supplication. If a servant shuts his mouth and does not request anything from Allah, he will be given nothing. Therefore, request so that you will be given. O Moyesser, every door that is knocked will be opened.�1
BEWARE! HERE IS ARAFAT
Here is the plain of Arafat, resembling the Day of Judgment. What a tumult! Millions of pilgrims from different nations have converged on this plain. Wearing shrouds and bareheaded, all the pilgrims have raised their hands in supplication in this hot plain. What incentive has brought them to this wasteland from their homes? Have they come here under any force or allure of anything? They have come here to give positive response to God's call. They have come here to enjoy the divine banquet to win God's pleasure. It is the day of benefaction. O Lord, this edifice is the same place where Adam confessed his sin and was forgiven. It is the place where Ibrahim supplicated to God and won His favor. All messengers of God prostrated themselves in this place. The Holy Prophet (saw), too, expressed his servitude to God here. Accompanied by his friends, Imam Hussein (a.s), too, raised his hands in supplication to God in this place. The sun on the day of Arafat set amidst the moaning and weeping of Imam Hussein (a.s) and his companions. Can a person not be moved to tears in this place where God does not withhold His generosity and forgiveness? It is said that the biggest sin belongs to one who returns from Arafat thinking that he has not been forgiven; that is, he is disappointed with God's mercy.Addressing Jesus (a.s), God says: يا عِيسى، كَم أُطِيلُ النَّظَرَ وأُحسِنُ الطَّلَب َوالقومُ لا يَرجِعونَ!
�O Jesus, how long should I wait and show well wish for the people to turn to Me?�2
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 2 p.466 hadith 3
2 See al-Muraqabaat; the introduction p.6
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A Hadith Qudsi says: لو عَلِمَ المُدْبِرونَ عَنِّي كيفَ انتِظارِي بِهِم وشَوقِي إلى تَوبَتِهِم لمَاتوا شَوقاً إِليّ ولَتَفَرَّقَت أوصالُهُم
�If they who turn their backs to Me know how eager I am for their turning to Me, they will certainly die out of eagerness to Me and their body joints will fall apart.�1 فَيا مَنْ هوَ عَلى المُقبِلينَ عليهَ مُقبِلٌ وبالعَطفِ عليهِم عائِدٌ مُفْضِلٌ وبالغافِلينَ عَن ذِكْرِهِ رَحيمٌ رَؤوفٌ ويجذِبُهُم إلى بابهِ وَدودٌ عَطوفٌ
�O, He who comes toward those who come towards Him and grants gifts and bestows bounty upon them through tenderness! He is Compassionate and Clement toward those heedless of His remembrance and loving and tender in drawing them to His door!�2 وَهُوَ الّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئاتِ
�And He it is Who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons the evil deeds. (The Holy Quran; 42:25)�
Calling upon God and saying, 'O Lord' from the bottom of heart is sufficient to be answered. وإِنَّ الرَّاحِلَ إلَيكَ قَريبُ المَسافَةِ
�I know well that for the travelers who set out onto Thee, the destination is very near.�3
Not only is God Forgiving but also, �Allah changes the evil deeds to good ones. (The Holy Quran; 25:70)� Imam Sajjad (a.s) words: يا مُبدِّلَ السَّيِّئاتِ بأضْعافِها مِن الحَسَناتِ
�O' He Who changes the evil deeds into manifold good deeds.�4
Since repentance is good deed, it has a tenfold reward:
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1 See al-Muraqabaat; the introduction p.6
2 See as-Sahifat al-Kamilat al-Sajjadiyya
3 Du'aa of Abu-Hamza Thamali
4 See as-Sahifat al-Kamilat al-Sajjadiyya; 2nd Duaa
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مَنْ جَاءَ بِالحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثالِها
�Whoever brings a good deed, he shall have ten like it. (The Holy Quran; 6:160)�
As long as we are in Arafat, we can do nothing except requesting from Him.
A mystic was asked, 'What have you brought to this door?' He answered: �A beggar who comes to the House of the King is not asked, what have you brought, rather he is asked: What do you need, beggar?�
It is said that a Dervish1 set out for a king's palace. They said to him: Take off your tattered clothes and put on new ones, for they do not fit the occasion. The Dervish said: What shall I do, for I have no other clothes? There is no blame in going to the royal palace in tatters, but there is blame if one comes out of the palace in tatters.
Likewise, if a man with sins goes to God's House, he is in no way to be blamed, but if he returns from His House with the same sins and ashamed of his sins, it is contrary to God's dignity and expectation.
GOOD TIDINGS: IMAM MAHDI (a.s) IS PRESENT IN ARAFAT
A great source of happiness and hope for forgiveness of those staying in Arafat is the presence of Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) in the plain of Arafat every Hajj season; hence, Arafat becomes dignified and descending place for the angels and a source of blessings for those staying there.Ubaid ibn Zurara quotes Imam Sadiq (a.s) as saying: يَفقِدُ الناسُ إمامَهُم فَيَشهَدُ المَوسِمَ فَيَراهُم ولا يَرَونَهُ
�People will miss their Imam, but he will witness every season of Hajj. Yet, he can see them but they cannot.�2 واللهِ إنَّ صاحِبَ هذا الأمرِ يحضُرُ المَوسِمَ كُلَّ سَنةٍ فَيَرى الناسَ وَيعرِفُهُم ويَرَونَهُ ولا يَعرِفونهُ.
�By Allah I swear, Imam Mahdi witnesses the season of Hajj every year. He can see and know people and they can see him but cannot know him.�3
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1 Dervish is any member of an Islamic mystic fraternity.
2 See Kemal ud-Din; p. 346 hadith 33
3 See Mahdi Mau'ood; p. 750
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O God, we, pilgrims, turn to You and raise our hands in begging through the grace of Imam Mahdi (a.s) who has blessed this plain and has raised his hands in duaa in front of our gathering. We are sure the Imam's honor is so great that whoever turns to You under his shelter and raises his hand in supplication under the shelter of his hands will not be deprived of God's mercy.
The Holy Prophet (saw) is quoted by Selman the Persian as saying: إنّ اللهَ عزّ وجَلّ يقولُ: يا عِبادِي، أَوَلَيسَ مَن لهُ إلَيكُمْ حَوَائِجُ كِبارٌ ولا تجُودُونَ بِها إِلاّ أنْ يَحْتَمِلَ عَليكُم بِأحَبِّ الخَلقِ إليكُم تَقضُونَها كَرامَةً لِشَفيعِهِم؟ أَلا فَاعلَموا أنَّ اَكرَمَ الخَلقِ عَلَيَّ وأفْضَلَهُم لَدَيَّ محَمّدٌ وأَخوهُ عَلِيٌّ ومِن بَعدِهِمُ الأئِمَّةُ عَليهِم السلامُ الذِينَ همُ الوسائِلُ إِلَيَّ. ألا فَلْيَدْعُني مَن أَهَمَّتْهُ حاجَةٌ يُريدُ نَفعَها أوْ دَهَتْهُ داهِيَةٌ يُريدُ كَفَّ ضَرَرِها بمُحَمَّدٍ وآلِهِ الطّيّبينَ الطّاهِرينَ أَقْضِيها لهُ أَحسَنَ ما يَقضيها مَن تَستَشفِعونَ إليهِ بِأعَزِّ الخَلقِ عَليهِ.
�Allah says: O My servant, has it not happened that someone requests something great from you but you will not fulfill his desire unless he brings an intercessor who is dear to you? Let it be known to you that the most honorable and respectable men to Me are Mohammad (saw), his brother Ali (a.s), and the Imams (a.s) who are the media of nearness to Me. Therefore, if you have a desire for a profit or removing of a loss, call Me through Mohammad (saw) and his pure household. Then I will fulfill the desire in the best manner.�1
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1 See Collection of Waram; vol. 2 p. 100 and Oddatol Daee; p. 122