Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass -that they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the Name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor. Then let them end their untidiness and fulfill their vows and perform Tawaaf [circumambulation] around the ancient House."} [Quran 22: 27-29]
It is there that the cover is removed and the gates to the heavens are opened. Thus, pilgrims head towards Allah with hearts free from the darkness of desires and lusts and shining with light so that they are elevated; so they see the earth and those who are on it like a small atom carried by the power of Allah. They are then elevated till they hear the angels glorifying Allah with the tongues of obedience. Then, they are elevated till they reflect upon the Quran gently, as if it were revealed by inspiration just yesterday and heard the call from the near Al-Quds (Jerusalem) (which means): {O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.} [Quran 49:13] So, they replied, “Labbayk, Allahumma labbayk! (O Allah, I hasten to You).” Then, the valleys of ‘Arafaat, the corners of the Sacred House, the seven heavens and the seven earths all repeated, “Labbayk, Allahumma labbayk!”
It is there that humanity breathes after having being throttled by smoke, borders and the notion of master and slave. It is revived in ‘Arafaat where there is no old or young, great or mean, servant or prince or rich or poor.
It is there that the supreme values which were not known by the West, except in the heads of philosophers and in books, are achieved. Thus, evil and grudges are removed, equality spreads, peace prevails and people gather in spite of the difference in their languages and colors in the same place wearing the same clothes, addressing the same Lord, believing in the same Prophet, embracing the same religion and shouting with the same tongue, “Labbayk, Allahumma labbayk!”
There appears this everlasting miracle. The earth is folded from its sides to be put as a whole into ‘Arafaat. Then, the two shores of Africa meet with the coast of Asia, the cities of Europe with the huts of Sudan, the River Nile with the River King and the Mountains of Taurus with the Blue Mountains. Therefore, the Muslim knows that his homeland is broader than being limited on earth by mountains or rivers, divided by colors on maps or separated politically by some pieces of cloth or flags that differ from other flags.
This is because the homeland of the Muslim is in the Quran, not in dust or stone, lakes or rivers, or mountains or seas. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {The believers are but brothers} {Quran 49:10] not “the Egyptians”, “the people of Shaam” nor “the Iraqis”, but the believers.
It is there that brothers visit each other. The strong helps the weak, the rich gives to the poor; and the honorable supports the humiliated so that they do not leave Hajj until they too are strong, rich and honorable.
It is there that the Muslim remembers how the Master of Humanity (may Allah exalt his mention), passed through these valleys emigrating to Allah, leaving the country where he was raised and his people among whom he grew up, till he stood on the limit, looked at Makkah and said: "You are the most beloved land to Allah and the most beloved land to me. Had your people not caused me to leave, I would have not left you." He proceeded in this vast desert having nothing but a faithful friend with him. He looked backwards every now and then to have a look at Makkah till it disappeared from their sight, and then they headed towards the cave.
Did these valleys know that this single man would stand alone to face the whole world and defeat its falsehood with the strength of truth, face it with the light of Islam and guide it with the guidance of the Quran? He left Makkah secretly, and he would return with ten thousand heroes, and thus Makkah would open for him its doors and its masters would fall at his feet. The Peninsula was insolent to him; later, half the world adopted his religion.
Did these valleys know that those people who escaped from the authority and oppression of the Quraysh would rise until the Quraysh adopted their religion, and rise until they succeeded Chosroes and Caesar in their lands, and then rise until they inherited the earth and what is upon it, and that they would increase till they numbered four-hundred million and spread on the earth calling to Allah, fighting in His cause and conquering lands, and then gather in ‘Arafaat performing Hajj, returning to Allah and reciting the Talbiyah, "O Allah, I hasten to You!"
There stood the master of the world in the Farewell Hajj declaring human rights, establishing the principles of peace and spreading brotherhood, justice and equality among people a thousand years before France published its own:
"O people, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again.
O people, just as you regard this month, this day, and this city as sacred, then regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust.
Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed Your message!
O people, learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.
Nothing shall be lawful to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it is given freely and willingly.
Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed Your message!
O people, your Lord is one and your father is one. Your father is Aadam and Aadam was created from dust. The most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious of you. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab except by piety.
Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed Your message!"
There, he stood declaring the end of the great message by which Allah sent him to all people and reciting the verse in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.} [Quran 5:3] He sent his Companions to bear this message all over the earth and till the end of time. They bore it and therefore they established with it this civilization which shaded the whole east and the west.
In ‘Arafaat, the greatness of Islam appears; it is the religion of freedom, equality, knowledge and civilization. From ‘Arafaat, Muslims hear the caller to Allah calling, "Hayya ‘ala as-Salah (come to prayer) Hayya ‘ala al-Falaah (come to success)." Therefore, they answer, "Labbayk, Allahumma labbayk!" They work for the Hereafter as if they will die tomorrow and work for this life as if they will live forever.
Let the earth be corrupt, evil spread, iron and gunpowder explode and the world sink in a sea of vice. There is no fear for virtue, truth or peace as long as ‘Arafaat is on the earth and as long as this sacred voice exists repeating, "Labbayk, Allahumma labbayk!"