In a few hours, we welcome the Day of Arafah, the best day of the year after the Day of Sacrifice, and among the ten virtuous days of Dhul Hijjah. Some scholars have even said it is more preferred than the Day of Sacrifice while others said it is the greatest day of Hajj. Allah the Almighty has sworn by the Day of Arafah in His saying: “And [by] the witness and what is witnessed.” (Al-Buruj: 3) Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said about this ayah: “The day which is witnessed is the day of ‘Arafa, and the witness* is Friday.”
Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The promised day is the day of resurrection, the day which is witnessed is the day of ‘Arafa, and the witness* is Friday.”
A Jew came to 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: Commander of the Faithful, there is a verse in your Book, which you recite. Had it been revealed in connection with the Jews, we would have taken it as the day of rejoicing. Thereupon he said: Which verse do you mean? He replied: “This day I have perfected your religion for you and I have completed My favours upon you and I have chosen al-Islam as religion for you.” (Al-Maidah: 3) Umar said, I know the day when it was revealed and the place where it was revealed. It was revealed to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) at 'Arafat on Friday.
‘A’isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “There is no day when God sets free more servants from hell than the day of ‘Arafa. He draws near, then praises them (Literally, ‘boasts of them.’) to the angels saying, ‘What do these want?” (The reference is probably to their undertaking the vicissitudes of the Pilgrimage)
Talha ibn Ubaydullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Shaytan is not considered more abased or more cast out or more contemptible or more angry on any day than on the Day of Arafa. That is only because he sees the descent of the Mercy and Allah's disregard for great wrong actions. That is except from what he was shown on the Day of Badr.” Someone said, “What was he shown on the Day of Badr, Messenger of Allah?" He said, “Didn't he see Jibril arranging the ranks of the angels?”
Fasting on the Day of Arafah
There are many hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about the great reward of fasting on the Day of Arafah. Among them is a hadith narrated by Abu Qatada al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about fasting on the day of 'Arafa (9th of Dhu'I-Hijja), whereupon he said: “It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year.” (Narrated by Muslim, 1162, and Ahmad, 22537).
‘A’isha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “There is no day in the year that I love to fast more than the Day of Arafah.” Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Fasting the Day of Arafat expiates the sins of two years.” (Narrated by Abu Yaʻla, 7548, and At-Tabarani, 5923)
The Virtue of Dhikr and Du’a on the Day of Arafah
Talha ibn Ubaydullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The best dua is dua on the day of Arafa, and the best thing that I or the Prophets before me have said is 'There is no god but Allah, alone, without any partner' (La ilaha illa'llah, wahdahu la sharika lah).” (Reported by Malik in al-Muwatta, 500)
`Amr bin Shu`aib narrated from his father, from his grandfather, that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The best of supplication is the supplication of the Day of `Arafah. And the best of what I and the Prophets before me have said is: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, Alone, without partner, to Him belongs all that exists, and to Him belongs the Praise, and He is powerful over all things. (Lā ilāha illallāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, wa huwa `alā kulli shai’in qadīr).’” (Reported by at-Tirmidhi, 3585)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recommended takbeer (saying “Allahu Akbar”) on the Day of Arafah, and it has been reported in various forms, including: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Kabira, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah... Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil-hamd.”
A Muslim on the Day of Arafah should have good thoughts of Allah and should not despair of His mercy. Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “I came to Sufyan Ath-Thawri on the night of Arafah while he was sitting on his knees and weeping bitterly. He turned to me. I asked him, “Who is the worst in condition among this gathering?” He replied, “Whoever thinks that Allah will not forgive him.”
What Could You Do on the Day of Arafah?
- Sleep early on the night before Arafah to strengthen yourself for the worship of Allah during the day of Arafah.
- Wake up before Fajr to eat Suhoor and intend to fast on the Day of Arafah.
- Perform at least four rak’ah of salah and make du’a in sujood for the best of this world and the Hereafter.
- Dedicate time for Istighfar so that Allah may write you among those who seek forgiveness before dawn.
- Perform Fajr prayer then sit recite the post-prayer adhkar, and then read the morning supplications.
- Read the Qur’an until sunrise then pray Duha after to be rewarded as if you performed Hajj and Umrah with the Prophet (peace be upon him). Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “If anyone, prays the dawn prayer in a company, then sits making mention of God till the sun rises, then prays two rak'as, he will have a reward equivalent to that for a hajja* and an ‘umra. A perfect one, a perfect one, a perfect one.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi, 586)
- Take a short nap and intend in your sleep to gain strength for worshipping Allah throughout the day.
- Upon waking up, vary your acts of worship engage in dhikr, recitation of the Qur’an, and frequently say: “Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu ‘l-mulku walahu ‘l-ḥamd, wa huwa `alā kulli shay'in qadīr.” “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise and He is Able to do all things.”
- Pray Dhuhr and make takbeer, tasbeeh, and read some Qur’an. Take a short nap if you wish.
- Pray Asr: Make takbeer and read the evening supplications. Read the Qur’an until about an hour before Maghrib, then begin making du’a with humility, remembering your standing before Allah. Don’t forget to pray for the oppressed Muslims everywhere, especially the people of Gaza, and ask Allah not to let the sun set on the Day of Arafah before you are among those freed from the Fire.
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