The Day of Arafah (or Day of Arafat) is the single most important day of the Islamic year, falling on the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It marks the absolute pinnacle of the Hajj.
Key virtues
- Expiation of sins: fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year
- Day in which Allah frees more people from the Fire
- Best of du’a is du’a on the day of ‘Arafah
- It Is also the day on which our Deen was perfected
- It is the day on which Allah took the covenant from all the progeny of Adam. That is all of the Humans that we
- It is also and Eid for the Muslims
- Allah swore an oath by this day
Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, What do these people want?” Saheeh Muslim
Fasting on day of Arafah
It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah. He said, It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year. Narrated by Muslim.
It was reported from Ibn Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah expresses His pride to His angels at the time of Isha on the Day of Arafah, about the people of Arafah. He says, Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and dusty.” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.
It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah. He said, It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year. Narrated by Muslim.
Narrated by Um Al-Fadl
That the people were in doubt whether the Prophet was fasting on the Day of ‘Arafat or not, so a (wooden) drinking vessel full of milk was sent to him, and he drank it. (Bhukhari Volume 7, Book 69, Number 540 )
Thus those Muslims who are not on Hajj are encouraged to fast of the day of Arafah but those Muslims who are on Hajj are forbidden to fast on this day.
Making Dua
‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best of du’a is du’a on the day of ‘Arafah, and the best that I and the Prophets before me said is ‘La ilaha ill-Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir (There is no god but Allah Alone, with no partner or associate; His is the dominion, to Him be praise, and He has power over all things).” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (3585)’ classed as hasan by al-Albani in Sahih al-Targhib (1536)
Talhah ibn ‘Ubayd ibn Kurayz narrated in a mursal report: “The best of du’a is du’a on the day of ‘Arafah.” (Narrated by Malik in al-Muwatta’ (500); classed as hasan by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’ (1102)
Allah swore an oath by this day
Another importance of this day is that Allah swore an oath by this day
Allah says
“By the witnessing day [Friday] and by the witnessed day [the Day of Arafaah].”[al-Burooj 85:3].
It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:” The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of Arafah, and the witnessing day is Friday.”Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.
Allah says “And by the even and the odd” [al-Fajr 89:3].
Ibn Abbaas said: “The even is the Day of al-Adhaa [i.e., 10th Dhool-Hijjah] and the odd is the Day of Arafah [i.e., 9th Dhool-Hijjah] This is also the view of Ikrimah and al-Dahhaak.
Perfection of the Deen and and Eid
It Is also the day on which our Deen was perfected and it is an Eid for those at that place
In Al-Saheehayn it was reported from Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) that a Jewish man said to him, “O Ameer al-Mumineen, there is an aayah in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an Eid (festival).” Umar said, “Which aayah? “He said: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”[al-Maaidah 5:3 ]. Umar said, “We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It was when he was standing in Arafah on a Friday. “
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Yawm Arafah (the day of Arafah), Yawm al-Nahr (the Day of Sacrifice) and Ayyaam al-Tashreeq (the 3 days following Yawm al-Nahr) are Eid (festival) for us, the people of Islam. These are days of eating and drinking. This was narrated by the authors of al-Sunan.
It was reported that Umar ibn al-Khattaab said: “It i.e., the ayah This day I have perfected was revealed on a Friday, the Day of Arafaah, both of which praise be to Allah are Eids for us.”
Some people claim that if Arafah falls on Jummah (Friday) then that years hajj is equivalent to seventy Hajjs. This is false as there is no authentic hadith of the Prophet peace be upon him saying this nor is it a saying of the Prophet’s companions.
People should be grateful for the mercy of Allah and realise why we were put on earth and the covenant.
MuslimConverts Admin
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