Mount Arafat

Coordinates: 21°21′17″N 39°59′02″E / 21.35472°N 39.98389°E / 21.35472; 39.98389
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the mountain. For the Islamic day of fasting prior to Eid-al-Adha, see Day of Arafah.
Not to be confused with Mount Ararat.
Mount Arafat
Arabic)
Geography
Mount Arafat is located in Saudi Arabia
Mount Arafat
Mount Arafat
Location of Mount Arafat within Saudi Arabia
Mount Arafat is located in Middle East
Mount Arafat
Mount Arafat
Mount Arafat (Middle East)
LocationNear
Grandiorite hill[1]

Mount Arafat (

province of the same name in Saudi Arabia.[3]
The mountain is approximately 70 m (230 ft) in height, with its highest point sitting at an elevation of 454 metres (1,490 ft).

According to Islamic traditions, the hill is the place where the

Hawa) reunited on Earth after falling from Heaven
, believing the mountain to be the place where they were forgiven, hence giving it the name Jabal ar-Rahmah, meaning "Mountain of Mercy". A pillar is erected on top of the mountain to show where this event is believed to have taken place.

The mountain is especially important during the Hajj, with the 9th day of the

Dhu al-Hijjah, also known as the Day of 'Arafah after the mountain itself, being the day when Hajj pilgrims leave Mina for Arafat; this day is considered to be the most important day of the Hajj. The khutbah (sermon) is delivered and Zuhr and Asr prayers are prayed together in the valley. The pilgrims spend the whole day on the mountain invoking Allah to forgive their sins.[5]

Geology and radiology

A 2012 study classified Mount Arafat as a

primordial radionuclides.[1]

The study yielded fission track age of 9.13 ± 1.05 Ma of the Mount Arafat granodiorite. In addition, the study reported that rifting, magmatism, volcanism and seafloor spreading that resulted in the formation of Red Sea seems to have altered the original age of the Arafat granodiorite under study to 9.13 ± 1.05 Ma. Measured radioactivity concentrations due to 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found to not pose any radiological health hazard to the general public.[1]

Hajj

Arafat rituals end at sunset and pilgrims then move to Muzdalifah for Maghrib prayer and a shortened Isha prayer and for a short rest.[6]

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. Failure to be present in the plain of Arafat on the required day invalidates the pilgrimage.[7]

Since late 2010, this place is served by Mecca Metro. On a normal Hajj, it would be around 21 km (13 mi) to walk.[citation needed]

In literature

The hill is referenced in James Joyce's novel Finnegans Wake.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^
    S2CID 95942060
    .
  2. ^ "Saudi Arabia Hajj: Millions at Mount Arafat for ceremonies". BBC News. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
  3. ^ "خرائط Google".
  4. ISBN 978-1-4381-2680-7
    . Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  5. ^ "More than 2 million pilgrims complete journey to Mount Arafat for second day of Hajj". Arab News. 2018-08-20. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
  6. ^ Peters, F.E., 1996. The Hajj: The Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and the holy places. Princeton University Press.
  7. PMID 14929743
  8. ^ "Finnegans Wake". www.finwake.com. Retrieved 2016-07-18.

External links

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