`Arafah
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
222 |
| Khutbah Date: |
12/29/06 |
[b]فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللّهَ عِندَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ وَاذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَاكُمْ[/b][i]And when you surge downward in multitudes from `Arafah, remember Allah at the holy place, and remember Him as the One who guided you. [/i][b][Qur’an 2:198] [/b][b]This Day, This Week, This Month[/b]We are in the first ten days of the 12th month (Dhul Hijjah) of the Islamic lunar calendar. Allah swears by these days [b] وَالْفَجْرِ وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ [/b][Q89:2] It is the period of hajj, the days of which Allah says,
[b]وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَعْدُودَاتٍ[/b][i]Remember Allah increasingly on the appointed days[/i][Q2:203]The days of which the Prophet (pbuh) said,
[b]مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهِنَّ أَحَبُّ إلى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأَيَّامِ الْعَشْر[/b][i]These 10 days are when Allah most loves good deeds to be done. [/i]The Prophet (pbuh) that [i]Friday is the best day of the week and also stated that the best day of the year [/i][b]أفضل الأيام يوم عرفة [/b][i]is the Day of ‘Arafah.[/i]Today is both Friday as well as that 9th day of [i]Dhul Hijjah[/i]when pilgrims gather [Qur’an 2:198] from every part of the world on the plains of ‘Arafah, near the city of Abraham, Hagar, Ismail and Muhammad (peace be upon them). This gathering at ‘Arafah is the most significant part of the hajj/pilgrimage. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is reported to have said;[b]الحج عرفة [/b][i]Hajj is ‘Arafah[/i]Some reports suggest that Adam and Eve (pbut) were reconciled on earth on the Plains of ‘Arafah; ‘Arafah meaning getting “to know”; as in the saying of Imam Hasan al-Basri; [i]He who knows the self gets to know his Creator [/i][b]من عرف نفسه فقد عرف ربه [/b]Such is the significance of this day of ‘Arafah that the Prophet said,[b]صيام يوم عرفة أحتسب على اللهِ أن يُكَفِّر السَّنَةَ التي قبله والتي بعده[/b][i]Fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah will be considered by Allah as expiation for a year of sins before and after [/i] [b]Day of Farewell Sermon[/b]\Today, 1408 lunar calendar years ago, on the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah, 632 C.E / 10 A.H., the Prophet delivered his historic Farewell Sermon on Mount Arafat, in the 'Uranah valley near Makkah. In this sermon, the Prophet recapped the essential message of his mission ... I.Acknowledgement of the supremacy of the Creator [Q 1:1-4] II.Mission of Prophets - conveying the message [Q 33:45] III.Fulfillment of trusts and importance of individual accountability [Q 4:58] IV.Sanctity of human life, human integrity and human property [Q 5:32] V.Fulfillment of obligations [Q 2:283] VI.Avoiding of improper financial dealings [Q 2:267- 278] VII.Marital harmony [Q 30:21] ; [Q 2:236] ; [Q 4:19] VIII.Shunning all forms of evil [Q 35:6] IX.Fraternity of the Ummah (global community of Faith) [Q 49:10] X.Eradication of racial prejudice and equality of humanity [Q 49:13] XI.Imperative of obeying Allah and His messenger and those who perpetuate that mission [Q 4:159]; [Q 3:132] XII.Keeping up the pillars of Islam [Q 2:43] [Q 2:185] [Q 3:97] XIII.Rights of workers [Q 28:77] ; [Q 16:71] XIV.Finality of Prophethood [Q 33:40] XV.Duty of conveying the message [Q 5:67] ; [Q 16:125] [b]Day of Final Revelation[/b]It was on this day, that probably the last revelation from Allah to humanity was communicated.[i] This day have we perfected for you the universal way of life,[/i]
[b]الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا[/b][i]Completed our favors upon you and chosen Islam as your way of life.[/i][Q5:3] [b]Pilgrims Gather … in the footsteps of Abraham[/b]As the pilgrims gather on the plains of
‘Arafah on this auspicious day, we reflect on the lessons of the pilgrimage as well as the story of Ibrahim, Isma’il and Hajirah (pbut). In the test of sacrifice, Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) had to choose …Love of Allah or love of self? Prophethood or fatherhood? Loyalty to Allah or loyalty to family? Faith or emotion? Conscience or instinct? Responsibility or pleasure? Duty or right? Allah or Isma`il? Allah Himself testifies
[b]وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا[/b][i]Recall when the Sustainer tried Abraham by His commandments and Abraham passed the test with excellence. Allah said: "Behold, I shall make thee a leader of men.[/i]We emulate the example of Abraham in these coming days when we [i]pray and sacrifice[/i][b]فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ[/b][Q108:2 ] Abraham is considered the first known international personality; having been born in Ur/Urfa (iraq/Turkey), traveled throughout the Middle East, established in Jerusalem, ventured to Makkah and lies buried in Hebron, Palestine. Each of these places still of historic, religious and spiritual significance today. Abraham is referred to as …[i]inspired[/i]Qur'an 4:163], most truthful, a prophet [Qur'an 19:41], mild, imploring, penitent [Qur'an 11:75], soft-hearted and long-suffering [Qur'an 9:114], upright [Qur'an 3:67,95; 16:120,123]. Believers are called [i]"millat-Ibrahim"[/i]/the people/community of Abraham throughout the Qur'an [Qur'an 2:130, 135; 3:95; 4:125; 6:161; 12:37-38; 16:123; 21:73; 22:78]. Another verse in the Quran portrays Abraham as the ab/father of all believers. [i]“Strive in the way of God as you ought to strive with sincerity and discipline. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you any hardship in the observance of your faith - the faith of your father Abraham.”[/i][b][Qur'an 22:78] [/b][b]Abraham’s Legacy[/b]As we reflected last week on the unique legacy of Mary and her son, Jesus the Messiah, we today reflect on Abraham, Ismail and Hajirah; all models of excellence. We ponder over Abraham’s logical attitude in his search for truth [Qur'an 5:75-79]; his respectful debate with his unbelieving father [Qur'an 19:41-49] and his loving relationship with his son [Qur'an 37:102] are all timeless examples of excellence. True Believers are those who follow the way of Abraham [Qur'an 2:258; 16:123; 6:162-163]. Perchance in all this, we too could imbibe the Abrahamic spirit, those words we repeat in prayer …[i]Surely my prayers, my services of sacrifice, my life and even my death are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. [/i]
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