Historical Sites - Arafat (Mount Arafat)
Arafat.
The most important ritual of Hajj, known as the Standing at Arafat, takes place here, where pilgrims stand on the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah. The Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said, “Hajj is Arafat.”
Arafat was named as such because people come to know each other there. The mountain of Arafat is known by the name “Arafat,” and it is mentioned in the Holy Quran: “There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord [during pilgrimage]. But when you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at Al-Mash’ar Al-Haram. And remember Him, as He has guided you, for indeed, you were before that among those astray.”
Arafat refers to the farthest of Hajj sites and is the only one located outside the boundaries of the Holy Mosque.
Arafat is situated on the road between Makkah and Taif, approximately 18 km to the east of the Holy Mosque, 10 km2 from Mina, and 6 km2 from Muzdalifah. Arafat spans about two miles in length and width and is a flat plain surrounded by a semicircular mountain range
Al-Namirah Mosque
Namirah (with a fatḥah on the letter "noun" (ن) and a kasrah on the letter "meem" (م)) is a place on the edge of Arafat, situated before it and before Aranah. The current Namirah Mosque is not entirely within Arafat; its northern part is within Arafat, while its southern part is outside of it, as it is in Aranah.
Namirah Mosque is considered one of the most important landmarks in the Arafat ritual. Thousands of pilgrims pray the combined and shortened Dhuhr and Asr prayers there on the Day of Arafat, following the example of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It is one of the most significant historical landmarks in Arafat and is known in many historical books by several names, such as the Mosque of Prophet Ibrahim, the Mosque of Arafat, the Mosque of Aranah, and the Mosque of Al-Khalil.
The mosque was built in the early Abbasid Caliphate era, in the middle of the second century AH (Islamic calendar), at the location where the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered his sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage (the last Haj).
- 1. Namirah Mosque underwent its largest expansion in history during the Saudi era. It now has a length of 340 meters from east to west and a width of 240 meters from north to south, with an area of more than 110,000 square meters. Behind the mosque, there is a shaded area that covers approximately 8,000 square meters.
- 2. The mosque can accommodate about 350,000 worshippers. It has six minarets, each 60 meters high, three domes, and ten main entrances with a total of 64 doors. The mosque also features a room for external broadcasting, equipped to transmit the sermon and the Dhuhr and Asr prayers of the Day of Arafat live via satellite.
Mount Ar-Rahmah
A high hill located in a part of the Arafat monument, which is one of the sites of the pilgrimage ritual, in Makkah, and it is 17 kilometers away from the Holy Mosque (Al-Haram). Mount Ar-Rahmah is another well-known name for Mount Arafat. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) stood at its base near the rocks while riding his mount during the Farewell Pilgrimage. These rocks still exist today and are the most famous location within Arafat.
It is known by several names, including: Mount Ar-Rahmah: It was also known as "Ilaal": As in "Hilal", its old name from the pre-Islamic era. Mount of Dua': For many Muslim pilgrims make supplications there on that great day. Al-Qurayn: With "qaf" (ق) pronounced with a "dammah" (ضم), it is a diminutive form of "Al-Qarin". Mount Al-Nabit An uncommon name for it. Mount Al-Mawqef: For the place where the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) stood during the Farewell Pilgrimage.
Khaserat Ain Zubaydah
- 1. Ain Zubaydah was once a source of fresh water and is one of the remarkable endowments of Muslims. It was commissioned for construction by Zubaydah bint Ja'far Al-Mansur, the wife of the Abbasid Caliph Harun Al-Rashid. She implemented it after her pilgrimage in the year 186 AH. During her pilgrimage, she realized the difficulties faced by pilgrims on their way to the holy sites in Makkah due to a lack of water and the exhaustion from carrying water containers. The purpose of Ain Zubaydah construction was to facilitate the provision of water for pilgrims, Umrah performers, and residents.
- 2. This spring remained prominent and solid for over 1,200 years until recently, when it was replaced by seawater from large desalination plants, owing to the scarcity of water and the deterioration of most of its channels as a result of urban development in Makkah. The course of the spring extends for 30 kilometers from Noman Valley to Makkah.
- 3. It is located east of Makkah, starting from Noman Valley and extending to Al-Jummayzah, which is about 2 kilometers from the Holy Mosque (Al-Haram).
Aranah Valley
- 1. Aranah Valley is one of the most famous valleys in Makkah. It is located west of Arafat, crossing the land of Al-Mughamis. It runs through the western part of Arafat near Namirah Mosque, then joins with Noman Valley. It flows south of Makkah, along the borders of Al-Haram, and continues westward until it empties into the sea, approximately 30 square kilometers south of Jeddah.
- 2. Aranah Valley is considered one of the major valleys with torrential floods. However, agriculture in the area is limited. Historians mentioned that this place has a historical story due to the lament of the elephants of Abraha al-Habashi in Al-Mughamis Valley.
