Jabal al-Rahma: Difference between revisions

[[File:جبل الرحمه در عرفات.JPG|thumbnail|In the past, at the time of 'Arafat rituals, they hung lamps and chandeliers on the white  column so that the pilgrims and caravans would find their way at night.]]

Jabal al-Rahma is the name of a mountain in north east of [['Arafat]], 10 km away from [[Mecca]], 340 meters or 372 meters above the sea level. This mountain is separate from other mountains surrounding the region and is made of rocks.

Above the mountain there is a white column with 4 meters height and 1.8 meters width, which could be seen from distance. In teh past lights would be placed on top of the column on the [['Arafa day]] for pilgrims to find the way at night.

Different names have been mentioned for this mountain such as 'Arafa, 'Arafat, Jabal Alal or Ilal due to seeing mirage in hot days above it or because [[hajj]] pilgrims rush upon seeing it until they arrive at mawqif; nabit, meaning what grows on Jabal al-Du'a because of reciting supplication around it and Qurayn meaning small horn.

In some travel logs, there are mentions of a mosque and a dome called Umm Salama in 6th/12th century at the top of this mountain. This mosque was later stone-laid in 1073/1662-3 in the rule of Sultan Muhammad 'Uthmani ([[1058]]/1648-9 ; [[1099]]/1687-8). This mosque was overlooking 'Arafat and there was a wall in the direction of [[Qibla]] wherein some mihrabs were built. On the left of this mountain toward the [[Ka'ba]], there was an old house attributed to [[Prophet Adam (a)]] and on the left of this house, there were rocks about which there reports of the [[the Prophet (s)|Prophet's (s)]] staying.

Staying of the hajj pilgrims near Jabal al-Rahma required bringing water to this place for hajj pilgrims in later periods. Zubayda (d. [[216]]/831-2), wife of [[Harun al-Rashid]], ordered digging of a subterranean aqueduct from Nu'man spring to [['Arafat]] and Jabal al-Rahma and from there, they opened a channel so that water reached 'Arafat basin. To climb this mountain easily, some stairs were built on its sides which were 17 on one side and 10 in other two sides.

Surur b. Musa'id, ruler of Mecca in [[1186]]/1772-3 built an elegant palace at the feet of the mountain which was unmatched before and after it and there are reports in [[1377]]/1957-8 about its ruins. Nasir Khusru mentioned an unknown person as son of Shad Dil, Emir of Aden and has mentioned building of a penthouse on top of this mountain which had many lamps and candles lit on its dome. According to his report, this building could be seen from two Farsangs (leagues) away.

At the feet of this mountain where later a small mosque called Masjid al-Sakhrat was built, the [[Prophet (s)]] stayed on the [[Day of 'Arafa]] ([[Dhu l-Hijja 9|Dhu l-Hijja 9th]]) and spent it in prayer and supplication until the sunset. Thus, to follow him, hajj pilgrims gather around this mountain on the Day of 'Arafa. This place has also been considered a staying place of other prophets (s) including [[Prophet Ibrahim (a)]].

According to one report, the Prophet (s) gave the sermon of [[Hajjat al-Wida']] on [[Dhu l-Hijja 9]], [[10]]/[[March 7]], 632 and later [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] recited the [[supplication of 'Arafa]] near this mountain.

From the viewpoint of [[Twelver Shia]], climbing mountain of 'Arafa at the time of staying in 'Arafat in the time of [[hajj]] is [[disliked]], but staying and reciting prayers and supplications there to imitate the Prophet (s) is recommended. Like Shia, Sunni people have considered climbing and staying at the top of this mountain opposite to tradition and have mentioned about the recommendation of staying at the place the Prophet (s) stayed and reciting supplication upon seeing this mountain. Only few historians such as al-Tabari and al-Mawardi have regarded climbing this mountain [[Mustahab|recommended]].

* Kātib Marākishī. (Moroccan unknown writer) ''Al-Istibṣār fī ʿajāʾib al-amṣār''. Edited by Saʿd Zaghlūl. Baghdad: Dār al-Shuʾūn al-Thiqāfīyya, 1976.

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