Rasheyd
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A TERRACE ON THE
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Sins, and repentance from them, are basic themes in most of the world’s religions. Islam is no exception. The foundational hope of a devout Muslim is to be forgiven their sins and be allowed, by a Most Compassionate and Merciful God, entrance into life eternal.
The character
However, the focus of this side-story is the pilgrim’s visitation, on the ninth day of the month of the Hajj, to Mount Arafat, or Jabal al-Rahma (Mountain of Mercy), a granite hill to the east of Mecca. It is believed that here, the prophet Muhammed delivered his farewell sermon.2
Up until, and throughout the day on Mount Arafat (which includes the immediate plain surrounding the actual mount), the Hajj pilgrims have been in daily fasting and abstinence from bodily adornment, cleansing, and sexual intimacy. The main point of this is preparation for a sincere repentance before God that will take place upon the mount. Some Islamic scholars believe that the fasting alone brings about the forgiveness of minor sins; but major sins, Kabaair, are only forgiven through sincere repentance to Allah3, and no better time there is to seek it but on Arafat.
“During the entire day [on the mount], from dawn until sunset, Muslim pilgrims stand in earnest supplication and devotion, praying for God's abundant forgiveness. Tears are shed readily as those who gather make repentance and seek God's mercy, recite words of prayer and remembrance, and gather together as equals before their Lord. Muslims around the world who are not participating in the pilgrimage often spend this day in fasting and devotion.”4
Usually the daily Dhuhr, the just-after-noon prayer time, and the Asr, the late afternoon prayer time, are observed combined during the Dhuhr on Arafat.5
This way the pilgrim can spend the rest of their time upon the mount glorifying and supplicating Allah for forgiveness.
According to Islamic lore, the repentance of Adam and Eve after their fall from Paradise was accepted by God on Mount Arafat, which name literally means Knowledge and Science. It is also told that the Archangel Gabriel united the pair in marriage on that spot. So traditionally, it is a place where one receives their desired recognition from God. But perhaps points made in the sayings of the Farewell Sermon of Muhammed are the most oft alluded to in the supplications of the pilgrims. These themes include prayers for peace among brethren. The narrated words and deeds of Muhammed are known as Hadith.
Despite great controversy between Hadith scholars, whether Sunni or Shi’a, of the Bukhari, the Hanbali, or other schools, over the exact words - or perhaps most accurately - the meaning of the words of Mohammed, the vast majority agree that one of the precepts the prophet laid forth was the idea of the equality of all men before God.
Dr. Shawqi Dayf, from the online University of Islam, provides the following transliteration: “O people! Your God is one, and your father is one. You are all Adam’s children, and Adam has been created from dust. The most honourable among you in the eyes of God is the most pious. No Arab has an advantage over a non-Arab except on account of their piety.”6 The most commonly cited version of this appears modernized by contrast: “All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.”7
Regardless, devout pilgrims, in addition to seeking forgiveness, also pray for Muslim unity and world peace. The recent Islamonline.net article “Pilgrims Mount ‘Arafat” cites Nasser Abu Ahmed, and Egyptian pilgrim: “We are now going to pray to beg for God's forgiveness and mercy, for the good of our children and of all Muslims."
Another pilgrim, from Indonesia, discussing a reprieve from recent disastrous rains said of the good weather: “It shows His immense clemency.”8
The seriousness of the devout pilgrim’s approach to their time on Arafat can be summed up in the words of Mohammed Khaku: “If one takes a journey through this supplication with understanding and pondering [they] will realize what divine Lord and His Lordship is all about and how dare one commit any sins. The most trembling state of this dua [prayer] comes, when he utters the statements, whereby he say “O’ Allah, if you do fulfill this one desire of mine, then all other needs which have fulfilled is of no benefit to me, and whatever you have not given me will not do any damage to me. And that one desire is that you relieve my neck from the fire of Hell”. This verse of this Dua, tell us that whether my worldly desires are fulfilled or not, it won’t make any difference if at the end I cannot free myself from the fire of hell.”9
To find out what all of this and more means to the stories of
Bibliography:
The character
Rasheyd Abdul-Aliyy Ibn Sharif al-Muktaar
, being Saudi Arabian by birth and raised in the Muslim faith, would know much of this. He would also know the significance these matters have in the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina that most Muslims strive to make at least once in their lifetime. Along with the profession of faith, Shahadah, prayer, Salat, charity, Zakat, and fasting, Sawm, the Hajj is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith.1 The exact steps of the pilgrimage and their protocols and meanings could contain volumes, and further information can be found at any of the sources cited herein.However, the focus of this side-story is the pilgrim’s visitation, on the ninth day of the month of the Hajj, to Mount Arafat, or Jabal al-Rahma (Mountain of Mercy), a granite hill to the east of Mecca. It is believed that here, the prophet Muhammed delivered his farewell sermon.2Up until, and throughout the day on Mount Arafat (which includes the immediate plain surrounding the actual mount), the Hajj pilgrims have been in daily fasting and abstinence from bodily adornment, cleansing, and sexual intimacy. The main point of this is preparation for a sincere repentance before God that will take place upon the mount. Some Islamic scholars believe that the fasting alone brings about the forgiveness of minor sins; but major sins, Kabaair, are only forgiven through sincere repentance to Allah3, and no better time there is to seek it but on Arafat.
“During the entire day [on the mount], from dawn until sunset, Muslim pilgrims stand in earnest supplication and devotion, praying for God's abundant forgiveness. Tears are shed readily as those who gather make repentance and seek God's mercy, recite words of prayer and remembrance, and gather together as equals before their Lord. Muslims around the world who are not participating in the pilgrimage often spend this day in fasting and devotion.”4
Usually the daily Dhuhr, the just-after-noon prayer time, and the Asr, the late afternoon prayer time, are observed combined during the Dhuhr on Arafat.5
This way the pilgrim can spend the rest of their time upon the mount glorifying and supplicating Allah for forgiveness.According to Islamic lore, the repentance of Adam and Eve after their fall from Paradise was accepted by God on Mount Arafat, which name literally means Knowledge and Science. It is also told that the Archangel Gabriel united the pair in marriage on that spot. So traditionally, it is a place where one receives their desired recognition from God. But perhaps points made in the sayings of the Farewell Sermon of Muhammed are the most oft alluded to in the supplications of the pilgrims. These themes include prayers for peace among brethren. The narrated words and deeds of Muhammed are known as Hadith.
Despite great controversy between Hadith scholars, whether Sunni or Shi’a, of the Bukhari, the Hanbali, or other schools, over the exact words - or perhaps most accurately - the meaning of the words of Mohammed, the vast majority agree that one of the precepts the prophet laid forth was the idea of the equality of all men before God.
Dr. Shawqi Dayf, from the online University of Islam, provides the following transliteration: “O people! Your God is one, and your father is one. You are all Adam’s children, and Adam has been created from dust. The most honourable among you in the eyes of God is the most pious. No Arab has an advantage over a non-Arab except on account of their piety.”6 The most commonly cited version of this appears modernized by contrast: “All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.”7
Regardless, devout pilgrims, in addition to seeking forgiveness, also pray for Muslim unity and world peace. The recent Islamonline.net article “Pilgrims Mount ‘Arafat” cites Nasser Abu Ahmed, and Egyptian pilgrim: “We are now going to pray to beg for God's forgiveness and mercy, for the good of our children and of all Muslims."
Another pilgrim, from Indonesia, discussing a reprieve from recent disastrous rains said of the good weather: “It shows His immense clemency.”8The seriousness of the devout pilgrim’s approach to their time on Arafat can be summed up in the words of Mohammed Khaku: “If one takes a journey through this supplication with understanding and pondering [they] will realize what divine Lord and His Lordship is all about and how dare one commit any sins. The most trembling state of this dua [prayer] comes, when he utters the statements, whereby he say “O’ Allah, if you do fulfill this one desire of mine, then all other needs which have fulfilled is of no benefit to me, and whatever you have not given me will not do any damage to me. And that one desire is that you relieve my neck from the fire of Hell”. This verse of this Dua, tell us that whether my worldly desires are fulfilled or not, it won’t make any difference if at the end I cannot free myself from the fire of hell.”9
To find out what all of this and more means to the stories of
Rasheyd
and other characters, read Nelson Caldwell’s: A TERRACE ON THE TOWER OF BABEL.Bibliography:
- Understanding Islam and the Muslims: http://www.islamiccity.com
- Hajj Step 2: Mount Arafat and Muzdalifah: http://www.themeaningofislam.org
- http://www.topix.com/forum/religion/islam/TFTI8FSMQ93PTA548; posting: haha
- Etiquette of Standing and Supplicating on the Day of `Arafah, December 2006, Sheikh Sayyed Sabiq: Fiqh As-Sunnah: http://www.islamonline.net
- http://www.islamcity.com/mosque/hajj/journey: Bukhari
- http://www.isesco.org.ma; The University of Islam, Dr. Shawqi Dayf, Chapter VIII, “Equality”
- The Prophet Muhammed’s (PBUH) Farewell Sermon; http://www.islamiccity.com
- Pilgrims Mount ‘Arafat: http://www.Islamonline.net
- Arafat, Mohammed Khaku: http://tsmmedia.net
