WUQUF-1: RIDHA AS A SERVANT OF ALLAH

Wuquf is the pinnacle of Hajj, even though all other rituals are also very meaningful and joyful. Hajj is an act of worship that combines the physical, emotional, spiritual, and movement aspects; uniting both dhikr and reflection; integrating focus with consciousness; both beta and alpha at once.
At Arafah during wuquf, all those dimensions come alive simultaneously. In addition to the prayers being granted, wherever we face or whatever we experience carries profound wisdom.

Total Surrender
At Arafah, in the state of ihram, the pilgrims performing wuquf enter into gardens of consciousness. They are presented with the scorching landscape, vast expanses, and an ocean of people flocking together, coming with feelings of reverence, chanting the talbiyah, dhikr, and prayers full of hope.
Here, the pilgrims are presented with an awareness, first, that all humans originate from one God, submitting and obeying the one God, reciting the same words, and gathering in one place. This clearly proves the certainty of the spiritual covenant between humans and Allah, made in the primordial realm before humans were born to earth, lived in the world, and will return again to the One God.
It is this covenant that makes humans sincere and willing to strive to perform the pilgrimage, enduring hardship, leaving behind their homeland, wealth, family, business, and job, and paying for everything related to Hajj, to surrender themselves to Allah, repent for their past, hope that their life is accepted by Allah, and wish for a better future for their life.
The second offering presented at Arafah is the great mission of the creation of humans on earth, as revealed in the story of Adam’s descent from Heaven. The pilgrims must understand this story of Adam, not just as knowledge but as a confirmation to themselves that this is their own story, created by Allah on earth.
Adam was sent down to earth, not only as a punishment for his mistake in approaching the forbidden tree — and on earth Adam’s repentance was accepted — but also as he was appointed as Allah’s khalifah. This assures all pilgrims that wuquf at Arafah is a moment for a servant to totally repent for all their mistakes, while also reassuring themselves that they are truly Allah’s khalifah during their life on earth.
In other words, the wuquf ritual at Arafah ensures that the pilgrims truly accept their status as servants of Allah, while also accepting their role as Allah’s khalifah. These are two qualities that must unite and grow in the life of every human being (to be continued in Wuquf-2).