SINCE early morning today, white-robed men and women, old and young, have been flooding into the plains of Arafat to share the most spiritual moment of the Haj. Lines of buses with pilgrims on the roofs can be seen packing highways leading into Arafat, while those on foot swarm between the vehicles —all chanting, “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik” — or “Here I am, God, answering your call.” The pilgrims know that the Standing at Arafat is the zenith of Haj and an unforgettable experience in the journey of a lifetime. There is a Prophetic saying to the effect that whoever has attended Arafat has performed Haj. The pilgrims will spend the afternoon at Arafat, praying to Allah for guidance and forgiveness. They will also beseech the Almighty to ease the travails the Islamic Ummah is facing. Perhaps most of all, they will pray for peace in our time — especially for those who find themselves trapped in lands beset with war or internal strife. We should pray too that God in His infinite Mercy will guide us to do good, avoid evil and shun intolerance and bigotry. We should pray that the deprived, the dispossessed, the sick and the poor will have their conditions alleviated. We should ask God to grant respite to all those living in abject misery. We should implore our Lord to allow children of all races, nations and creeds to enjoy life in its fullness. We should bow our heads to the All Powerful One and beg that freedom must dawn on those who are under occupation as in Palestine. They must be given the opportunity to live their lives with dignity. We should ask God to grant patience and fortitude to those who have lost their loved ones as a result of man's inhumanity to man. It is not a matter of prayers alone. We should resolve that as of this moment our actions and deeds will be in line with the teachings of our faith as prescribed by the Prophet Abraham and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them), who on this day gave his farewell sermon. Then only will this world be the one that God wanted it to be. Palestinians, Chechens and people in so many other places have been living in misery for years. After 9/11, Muslims around the world are facing persecution and harassment. From Afghanistan to the United States, Muslims live with the threat of violence on their doorsteps. The wickedness of enemies and the inertia of the Ummah have created an intolerable situation. There is no point in blaming others when you lack the will to act to remedy the situation. Muslim leaders need to be proactive. First, they should look inward to see whether as a community they need to do anything to allay the fears and deep suspicions harbored by some non-Muslims. Then an honest attempt should be made to reach out to non-Muslims. The interfaith dialogue initiated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will help promote understanding and peace in our world. Only we must take it seriously and implement it sincerely. Muslims have faced even worse situations in their history, so there is no room for despair. Only we should take the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions as our role models. Right now the pilgrims are standing at Arafat and beseeching Allah, “We beg for Your mercy and blessings.” But that is now. Tomorrow, most of us may return to the old ways and quarrel among ourselves. I call on my brothers and sisters to remember the example of our blessed Prophet (pbuh) and unite to save the Ummah. Ask yourself what you have done for humanity lately. If we face a potential debacle, it is only because we have abused our faith. Islam is the most misunderstood religion. It is the most abused religion too — abused by its own followers. We have allowed the voices of tolerance and moderation to be drowned by those who see enemies and conspiracies everywhere. Instead of searching for common goals, we quarrel on minor or trivial issues. This is a pity because the word “Muslim” denotes no race, ethnicity or national origin, as exemplified by the Haj. There are no whites or blacks, Arabs or non-Arabs in the multitudes now gathered in Arafat. They are all Muslims worshipping one God and following the teachings of His Prophet (pbuh). The essence of Arafat must become the foundation of our efforts to work toward peace and to end the suffering of the people, the world over. My best wishes to all our readers on this blessed occasion.
— The writer can be reached at [email protected] and followed at Twitter: @KhaledAlmaeena
