A Glimpse into the Prayers Recited by Our Ancestors on Arafat
As Muslims, we draw inspiration from the prayers of our pious predecessors, known as salaf-i salihin. Prayers offered on Arafat hold particular significance for repentance, seeking forgiveness, and drawing closer to Allah. Here are some prayers recited by our ancestors on Arafat:
Prayers of Our Ancestors
“O Lord! Who can praise You except Yourself? My tongue is bound with sins, and I have no deed worthy to be a means for me to Your presence, nor do I have an intercessor besides hoping for Your mercy! O Lord! I know that because of my shortcomings, I have neither status in Your presence nor the face to ask You for forgiveness! But You are the Most Generous of those who are generous! O Lord! Though I may not be worthy of Your compassion, Your mercy can reach me! For Your mercy is vast enough to encompass all things! O Lord! However great my fault may be, it diminishes in comparison to Your forgiveness! Forgive them, O Allah, the possessor of generosity!”
This prayer expresses a person’s own helplessness and need for Allah’s boundless mercy. It emphasizes the importance of disciplining oneself and being aware of one’s shortcomings when turning to Allah.
“My Lord! You only forgive those who obey You, so where do sinners go? My Lord! You only show mercy and compassion to those who possess righteousness, so from whom do wrongdoers seek help?”
This couplet conveys that Allah is the only refuge and that His forgiveness is eternal. It serves as a reminder that people must turn only to Allah to purify themselves of their sins.
“I am in need of You every moment! But you have no need for me! Only You, as my Creator, can forgive me! Return me from this place where I stand, having fulfilled all my needs, granted my requests, and realized my desires!”
This prayer expresses the servant’s dependence on his Lord and His grace. It demonstrates the importance of seeking refuge in Allah’s boundless power and mercy.
“O Allah, the possessor and master of the needs of those who ask! O Allah, who knows what passes through the minds of those who are silent! O Allah, there is no other Lord to whom help can be sought except You! O Allah, there is no other creator to be feared above Yourself! O Guardian to whom one may approach, and whose gate bribery cannot open! O Allah, whose generosity and grace increase with the abundance of requests; whose bounty and beneficence increase with the abundance of needs! O Allah! You welcome every guest! And we are Your guests! Welcome us in Your Paradise!”
This passage praises Allah’s attributes and power. It emphasizes the importance of intending to turn to Allah using His different names.
“O Allah! Gifts are given to every caravan, an endowment to every asker; a welcome is offered to every visitor! And reward is given to everyone who hopes for reward! We have come together to Your Sacred House! We have stood in devotion in these sacred places! We have been present in these blessed lands! Our hope is to attain the reward and recompense in the exalted presence! Do not disappoint our hope, O Allah!”[1]
These prayers express the importance of facing life with hopeful hearts through Allah’s grace and striving to gain His pleasure.
Source: Ghazali, Ihya Ulumi’d-Din, Beirut 1990, I, 337-338; Bayhaqi, Shuabu’l-Iman, II, 25-26.