The Day of Arafah
The Day of Arafah
Another outstanding merit of the month of Dhul Hijjah is that the blessed day of Arafah falls in this month within the first 10 days.
This day which is the 9th of Dhul Hijjah is extremely great and virtuous and the Messenger of Allah (S.A.S) has spoken highly of its virtues.
In this regard, the Prophet (S.A.S) is reported to have said,
مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهِ، عَبْدًا مِنَ النَّارِ، مِنْ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيَدْنُو عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، ثُمَّ يُبَاهِي بِهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ، فَيَقُولُ: مَا أَرَادَ هَؤُلَاءِ
“There is no day in which Allah sets free more souls from the fire of hell than on the day of Arafah. On that day, Allah draws near to the earth, and by way of exhibiting His greatness and grandeur, says to the angels, “What is the desire of these servants of mine?”[1]
In another tradition, the Messenger of Allah (S.A.S) is reported to have said, ‘Besides the day on which the battle of Badr occurred, there is no other day on which Satan is seen more humiliated, rejected, depressed and more enraged (angered) than on the day of Arafah. All of this occurs only because of the abundance of Allah’s mercy and His forgiveness to His servants which descend on this day.’[2]
With respect to the day of Arafah, the Prophet (S.A.S) also spoke highly of the virtue of observing the fast of this day (for non-pilgrims).
About this, he said,
صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ، إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ
‘The fast of Arafah expiates the sins of two years, the past and the coming year.’[3]
Sa’eed bin Jubair has also narrated that,
سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ؟ فَقَالَ: كُنَّا وَنَحْنُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَعْدِلُهُ بِصَوْمِ سَنَتَيْنِ
A man asked Abdullah bin Umar (R.A) about fasting on the day of Arafah. He replied, ‘While we were still with the Messenger of Allah (S.A.S), we used to consider it to be equivalent to fasting for two years.’[4]
In another tradition, Abu Sa’eed Al Kudri (R.A) stated that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.S) said,
مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمَ عَرَفَةَ غُفِرَ لَهُ سَنَةٌ أَمَامَهُ وَسَنَةٌ خَلْفَهُ، وَمَنْ صَامَ عَاشُورَاءَ غُفِرَ لَهُ سَنَةٌ
‘He who fast on the day of Arafah, his sins for the year ahead of him and the year behind him are forgiven. And he who fast on the day of Ashura, his sins for a year are forgiven.’[5]
It is therefore recommended that one should observe the fast of Arafah.
[1] Muslim, Hadith No.3288, Pg.568, Darussalam
[2] Muatta Imam Malik, Hadith No.944, Pg.575, Vol.3, Maktaba Bushra / Kanzul Ummal, Hadith No.12104, Pg.72, Vol.5, Muassasah Rayaan
[3] Tirmidhi, Hadith No.749, Pg.354, Vol.1, Altaf and Sons / Ibn Majah, Pg.551, Vol.1, Maktaba Tijariya / Similar narration in Muslim, Hadith No.2746, Pg.476, Darussalam
[4] Majma o Zawaaid, Hadith No.5145, Pg.437, Vol.3, Darul Fikr
[5] Majma o Zawaaid, Hadith No.5142, Pg.436, Vol.3, Darul Fikr