9 DhulHijjah 1433H | Arafah on the mind

Bismillah.

Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
lailahaillAllah wallahu akbar
Allahu Akbar
wa lillah hil hamd

We humbly observe the arrival of this auspicious day, the 9th of DhulHijjah. We had yesterday reflected on the one phrase we all long to profess: Labbaik Allah humma labbaik -  "Here I come to You, O Allah".

We were watching an excellent Malaysian TV program called Salam Baitullah last night. The learned presenters were saying, "Hajj mabrur is not up for grabs on the walls of kaabah. It [if indeed is earned or granted] is in your heart."

Still, many hearts lament for being left behind when millions of believers flock to Arafah on this day. We know not if or when our two feet get to stand on the bless field of Arafah. Oh...wait a minute. How dare we say so? We cannot exclude any of His honorable servants who are there now, who could be standing on his/her two hands. Yes, by Allah, we had some years ago witnessed an old man circumambulating the kaabah on his weary-looking palms. Subhanallah!

Perhaps on that day, we should be saying, 'Thank you, Allah, that I could stand on both feet. Thank you, Allah, that I could raise my two hands to make du'a. Thank you, Allah, that I could speak, not just speak but speak clearly. Thank you, Allah, for giving me two eyes with which I could see. But glory is to you O Allah, that you could make all eyes cry even if they can't see....'

Indeed, we know not if or when our eyes get to cry a river at Arafah. How we long for the times of nearness at Arafah, to linger in the sacred moments, moments of submission, of remorse, of hoping for His mercy.

Arafah is indeed a very special place. Its sacredness is made manifest very significantly on this day of wukuf. It can be a very surreal experience we imagine. But is it surprising that His servants would congregate before their Lord sooner or later, on one fine day? No. The day of Mahsyar will arrive for certainty. Just as the day of Arafah becomes a reality to the chosen ones, year after year.

Until that day, inshaAllah.
Bi-iznillah.