Allah swore by the day of Arafat, which points to its greatness. Allah said:
*”And [by] the promised Day. And [by] the witness and what is witnessed.”*
(The Holy Quran, Surah 85. “The Mansions Of The Stars, Constellations”, verses 2-3)
The Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of Arafat, and the witnessing day is Friday.” [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi]
* * * * *
*On the day of Arafat Allah frees His servants from hell and forgive them their sins*
It was narrated that Aisha (RadiAllahu anha) said: The Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
“There is no day on which Allah ransoms more of His slaves from the Fire than the day of ‘Arafah. He draws close then He boasts about them before the angels and says: “What do these people want?”
[Narrated by Muslim 1348]
It was also narrated from Anas (r.a.) that the Prophet (sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said on the day of Arafat:
*”O Bilal! Ask the people to be quiet and listen to me.”* Bilal stood up and asked the people to be quiet and listen to the Prophet (sallellahu alaihi wa sallam). When the people were quiet, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:
*”O People! A little while ago Gabriel (alaihis salaam) came to me. Gave me salutations from Allah, and informed me that Allah has forgiven those who spend the Day at Arafat, and those who stop at Mash’ar al-Haram, and that He has guaranteed their debts!”*
“At this ‘Umar bin al-Khattab (r.a.) stood up and asked, ‘O Allah’s Messenger, is this for us only?’
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: *”This is for you, and for all those who will come after you until the Day of judgement.”*
*The best supplication (du’a) – is a supplication on the day of Arafat*
Reported from Abdullah ibn Amr that the Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
“The best supplication is that of the Day of Arafat, and the best thing that I and other Prophets before me said, is: *’La ilaha illa allahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa `ala kulli shai’in qadeer’* (There is no god but Allah alone. He has no partners. To Him belong the sovereignty and all praise. He has power over all things)”
[Al-Tirmidhi]
*What are the virtues of the Day of Arafat?*
“Praise be to Allah!”
*1. It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allah’s Favor was completed. *
In Al-Saheehayn it was reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (RadiyAllahu anhu) that a Jewish man said to him, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is an ayah in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid (festival). ‘Umar (r.a.) said, “Which ayah?” 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.”* [The Holy Quran, Surah 5, verse 3].
‘Umar (r.a.) said, “”We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam). It was when he was standing in Arafat on a Friday.”
* * *
*2. It is a day of Eid for the people who are in that place. *
The Prophet (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “”Yawm al-Arafat (the day of Arafat), Yawm al-Nahr (the Day of Sacrifice) and Ayyaam al-Tashreeq (the 3 days ffollowing 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 (r.a.) said:
“”It – i.e., the ayah ‘This day I have perfected…’ was revealed on a Friday, the Day of Arafat, both of which – praise be to Allah – are Eids for us.””
* * *
*3. It is a day by which Allah swore an oath.*
The Almighty cannot swear by anything except that which is mighty. Yawm Arafat is the “witnessed day” mentioned in the ayah (interpretation of the meaning):
“”By the witnessing day [Friday] and by the witnessed day [the Day of Arafat].””
(The Holy Quran, Surah 85. “The Mansions Of The Stars, Constellations”, verse 3)
It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (RadiAllahu anhu) that the Prophet (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of Arafat, and the witnessing day is Friday”.”
[Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as saheeh by al-Albani]
* It is the “odd” [i.e., odd-numbered, Witr] by which Allah swore in the ayah (interpretation of the meaning):
“And by the even and the odd”.” (The Holy Quran, Surah 89. “The Dawn, Daybreak”, verse 3)
Ibn ‘Abbaas (r.a.) said: “”The even is the Day of al-Adhaa [i.e., 10th Dhu’l-Hijjah] and the odd is the Day of Arafat [i.e., 9th Dhu’l-Hijjah] This is also the view of ‘Ikrimah and al-Dahhaak (r.a).
* * *
*4. Fasting on this day is an expiation for two years. *
It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (RadiyAllahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafat. He said, “”It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year.”
[Narrated by Muslim]
This (fasting) is mustahabb for those who are not on Hajj. In the case of the one who is on Hajj, it is not Sunnah for him to fast on the Day of Arafat, because the Prophet (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) did not fast on this day in Arafat. It was narrated that he forbade fasting on the Day of Arafat in Arafat.
* * *
*5. It is the day on which Allah took the covenant from the progeny of Adam.*
It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas (RadiyAllahu anhuma) said: the Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “”Allah took the covenant from the loins of Adam in Na’maan, i.e., Arafat. He brought forth from his loins all his offspring and spread them before Him, then He addressed them, and said: “Am I not your Lord?” They said, ‘Yes, we testify,’
*”Lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Verily, we have been unaware of this.’ Or lest you should say: ‘It was only our fathers aforetime who took others as partners in worship along with Allah, and we were (merely their) descendants after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practiced Al-Baatil (i.e., polytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allah)?”*
[The Holy Quran, Surah 7. “The Heights”, verses 172-173]
(Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani. And there is no greater day than this and no greater covenant than this).
* * *
*6. It is the day of forgiveness of sins, freedom from the Fire and pride in the people who are there: *
In Saheeh Muslim it was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (RadiyAllahu anha) that the Prophet (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “”There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafat. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?'”
It was reported from Ibn ‘Umar (r.a.) that the Prophet (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “”Allah expresses His pride to His angels at the time of ‘Ishaa’ on the Day of Arafat, about the people of Arafat. He says, ‘Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and dusty.'”
[Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani].
And Allah knows best.
“By Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid”