Mount Arafat

Mount Arafat
Mount Arafat
	Pilgrims atop the mountain during the Hajj
Highest point
Listing	Mountains of Saudi Arabia
Coordinates	21°21′17″N 39°59′02″E / 21.35472°N 39.98389°E
Naming
Native name	Jabal ʿArafāt (Arabic); جَبَل عَرَفَات (Arabic); Jabal ar-Raḥmah (Arabic); جَبَل ٱلرَّحْمَة (Arabic);
Geography
	Mount Arafat Location of Mount Arafat within Saudi Arabia Mount Arafat Mount Arafat (Middle East) Mount Arafat Mount Arafat (Asia)
Location	Near Mecca City, Makkah Province, the Hejaz Saudi Arabia
Parent range	Hijaz Mountains
Geology
Age of rock	9.13 ± 1.05 Mya
Mountain type	Grandiorite hill

Mount Arafat (Arabic: جَبَل عَرَفَات, romanized: Jabal ʿArafāt), and by its other Arabic name, Jabal ar-Raḥmah (Arabic: جَبَل ٱلرَّحْمَة, lit. 'mountain of mercy'),^[2] is a granodiorite hill^[1] about 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Mecca, in the 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 Islamic prophet Muhammad stood and delivered the Farewell Sermon, also known as the Khutbat al-Wada',^[4] to his companions (Sahabah) who had accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life. Some Muslims also believe that Mount Arafat is the place where Adam and Eve (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 Islamic month of 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]

^ ^a ^b Qureshi, A. A.; Sultan, A.; Rashid, A.; Ali, M.; Waheed, A.; Manzoor, S.; Baloch, M. A.; Matiullah; Batool, S.; Khan, H. A. (September 2012). "Geological and radiological studies of the Mount Arafat, Mekkah, Saudi Arabia". Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry. 293 (3): 955–963. doi:10.1007/s10967-012-1776-0. ISSN 0236-5731. S2CID 95942060.
^ "Saudi Arabia Hajj: Millions at Mount Arafat for ceremonies". BBC News. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
^ "خرائط Google".
^ Burns, William E. (25 June 2010). Speeches in World History. Infobase Publishing. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-4381-2680-7. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
^ "More than 2 million pilgrims complete journey to Mount Arafat for second day of Hajj". Arab News. 2018-08-20. Retrieved 2019-04-14.

[:0-1] Qureshi, A. A.; Sultan, A.; Rashid, A.; Ali, M.; Waheed, A.; Manzoor, S.; Baloch, M. A.; Matiullah; Batool, S.; Khan, H. A. (September 2012). "Geological and radiological studies of the Mount Arafat, Mekkah, Saudi Arabia". Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry. 293 (3): 955–963. doi:10.1007/s10967-012-1776-0. ISSN 0236-5731. 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] Burns, William E. (25 June 2010). Speeches in World History. Infobase Publishing. p. 79. 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.

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