Bismillah, Muslimah: Fasting on the day of ARAFAT

GOD said: "All deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except for fasting, which is for Me and I am The One Who will reward him for it." [BUKHARI]

The day of Arafat is on the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah. In this day millions of pilgrims gather on the mountain plain of Arafat, praying and supplicating to their Lord performing their Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). It is Highly recommended for those who are not in there fast tomorrow. Arafat is the day on which Allah took the covenant from the progeny of Adam (alaihis-salaam), it was reported that Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) related: “(When Allah created Adam (alaihis-salaam) Allah took covenant from him in a place Na'maan on the day of Arafat, then He extracted from him all the descendants who would be born until the end of the world, generation after generation, and spread them out in front of Him in order to take a covenant from them also. He spoke to them face to face saying: “Am I not your Lord?” and they all replied: “Yes, we testify to it.” Allah then explained why He had all of mankind bear witness that He was their Creator and only true God worthy of worship. He said: “That was in case you (mankind) should say on the Day of Resurrection, 'Surely, we were unaware of this. We had no idea that You, Allah, were our Lord. No one told us that we were only supposed to worship You.” …” [(Saheeh) by Shaikh al-Albanee in Silsilah al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah vol: 4, no: 1623]

Indeed, the day of Arafat is a blessed day and there is no other covenant greater than this covenant! Arafat is a day of Forgiveness from sins, freedom from the Hell-Fire for the people who are present in the plain of Arafat. Aa'ishah (radhi allahu anha) narrated the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) saying: “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 (the Hajis) want?'” [Saheeh Muslim]

This Haadeeth mentions forgiveness for the pilgrims. In addition to this, fasting on the day of Arafat is a Sunnah and an expiation of sins for the residents.

Hunaydah ibn Khaalid reported from his wife that some of the wives of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to fast on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, on the day of Aashoorah, on three days of each month, and on the first two Mondays and Thursdays of each month.” [(Saheeh) by Shaikh al-Albanee in Saheeh Abi Dawood vol: 2, no: 462]

It is reported in Saheeh Muslim that when the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) was asked about the fasting on the day of Arafat, he said: “It expiates the sins of the previous year and that of the following year.” [Saheeh Muslim] This fasting is Mustahabb only for the non-pilgrims and not for the Hajis (the pilgrims) because it was not the practice of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) to fast on the day of Arafat during pilgrimage and in a narration he also forbade doing so. Imaam at-Tirmidhee (rahimahullah) (d. 275H) said: “The People of Knowledge consider it recommended (Mustahabb) to fast on the day of Arafat, except for those at Arafat." [Jaami'ut-Tirmidhee (3/377)]

The Prophet (Sallalahu alayhi wa salam) said: The best invocation is that of the Day of Arafat, and the best that anyone can say is what I and the Prophets before me have said: Laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa Huwa 'alaa kulli shay'in Qadeer. (continue below)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. (At-Tirmithi. 3/184)

“..This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion..” [Quran 5:3 – interpretation of the meaning] This beautiful ayah was revealed to our BELOVED PROPHET MUHAMMAD, SALALAHU ALAIHI WA SALAAM on a Friday when he was standing on ARAFAH.

Narrated Aisha (radi Allah anha), Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

"There is no day when Allah sets free more servants from Hell than the Day of Arafah. He draws near, then praises them to the angels, saying: What do these want?'

[Book Number: 7, Hadith Number: 3126, Sahih Al Bukhari]

THE BEST DUA to make on Arafat:
"The best of supplications is the supplication on the day of AAarafah and the best which I and the Prophets before me have said (is):"

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ ، وهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

“None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs sovereignty and all praise and He is over all things omnipotent.”

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