الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على أشرف الأنبياء والمرسلين، نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين أما بعد
The Excellence of The Day of ‘Arafah
1. Allaah, The Most High states in His Book:
{وَالْيَوْمِ الْمَوْعُودِ} {وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ}
((And by the Promised Day, And by the witness and by what is witnessed)) (Al-Burooj: 2-3)
From Abee Hurairah (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) who said that the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
((The Promised Day is: The Day of Resurrection; and the day which is witnessed is: the day of ‘Arafah; and the witness is: the day of Friday. And the sun has not risen nor has it set upon a day that is better than it. In it is an hour in which a believing servant does not coincide supplicating to Allaah for good – except that Allaah will answer him; and nor does he seek refuge from anything except Allaah will grant him refuge from it.))
Reported by At-Tirmidhee and was declared Hasan (sound) by Al-‘Allaamah Al-Albaanee in his Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmidhee (no.3339).
Ibn Rajab (rahimahullaah) said in Lataa-if wal Ma’aarif (p.375): “upon this basis; if the day of ‘Arafah falls on a Friday – then there is incorporated into that day the witness and the witnessed.”
Some of the Fuqahaa (Jurists) hold that if the standing at ‘Arafah falls on a Friday; then that Hajj has a virtue over other than it.[1]
2. From ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) that a man from the Jews said to him: “O leader of the believers; there is an aayah in your Book which you read; if it had been revealed to the like of us Jews then we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid.” So he said: “which aayah is that?” he said:
{الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإسْلامَ دِينًا}
((This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion)) (Al-Maa-idah: 3)
So ‘Umar said: “Indeed we know of that day as well as the place in which it was revealed upon the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) – and he was standing at ‘Arafaat on a Friday.” Reported by Al-Bukhaaree (no.45) and Muslim (no.7443).
3. From ‘Aisha (radhiyallaahu ‘anhaa) who said that the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
((There is no day in which Allaah sets free more slaves from the Hell-Fire than He does on the Day of ‘Arafah))
– Reported by Muslim (no.1277).
Fasting On The Day of ‘Arafah For Those Not Performing The Hajj
The Fuqahaa (Jurists) are unanimous upon the recommendation of fasting on the day of ‘Arafah for the non-pilgrim; and it is on the ninth day of Dhil-Hijjah and fasting it expiates the sins of two years: that of the previous year as well as the following year. [2]
From Abee Qataadah (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) who said that the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was asked concerning fasting on the day of ‘Arafah so he said:
((It expiates sins of the previous year as well as the following year.))
– Reported by Muslim (no.1250).
The Supplication On The Day of ‘Arafah
From ‘Amr bin Shu’aib who said from his father who said from his grandfather that the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
((The best supplication is the supplication of the day of ‘Arafah; and the best of that which I and the Prophets before me said is:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Laa ilaaha illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer.
‘There is nothing worthy of worship except Allaah alone – without any partners for Him. Unto Him is the kingdom and for Him are all praises; and He has ability over all things’))
Reported by At-Tirmidhee and was declared Hasan (sound) by Al-‘Allaamah Al-Albaanee in his Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmidhee (no.3585) (see also: As-Saheehah no.1503 & Saheeh Al- Jaami’ As-Sagheer no.3274)
Is This Supplication Exclusive for The People Who Are At ‘Arafah or Can It Be Said by Those Who Are Not Performing the Hajj?
Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) replied:
“As we mentioned in the answer that this is general for the pilgrims as well as for other than them; except that the pilgrims are more assured than other than them. This is because the pilgrims – as we have mentioned are present in ‘Arafah and are dressed in the ihram; so they are more hoped for in the acceptance of supplication as well as more assured, and other than them also partake in that with them.
So it is from the Sunnah for the non-pilgrims that they fast on the day of ‘Arafah for those who are in distant lands and so they fast this day as it is a virtuous day and so they should busy themselves with remembrance of Allaah and making supplication and seeking forgiveness within it.”[3]
How Should A Person Supplicate on This Day?
Imaam An-Nawawee (rahimahullaah) said in Al-Adhkaar (p.236):
“Thus it is recommended that this dhikr and supplication be made plentifully and that one should strive in that. For this day is the best of the days of the year for supplication; and it is the main part of the Hajj – as well as its purpose and is dependent upon it. Therefore it befits that the individual should exert his ability in remembrance and in making supplication and in reciting the Qur’aan and to supplicate with an array of supplications and to come with a varying form of Adhkaar. One should also supplicate for himself and for his parents and his close relations and his Shuyookh and his companions and his friends and those beloved to him – in all those who have shown good to him as well as all of the Muslims.
One should be aware – very aware of falling short in all of that; for this day cannot be made up for – contrary to other than it, nor should one bother himself with rhymes in the supplication; for that busies the heart and causes broken heartedness and humble submission and neediness and destitution and lowliness and humility and attentiveness to go. There is no harm if he supplicates with supplications he has memorized with himself or other than that which are rhymed as long as they do not busy one with burdening himself with its order of sequence and the observance of its grammar.
The Sunnah is that one should lower ones voice when supplicating; and be plentiful in seeking forgiveness and the utterance of repentance from every violation whilst having belief in the heart and he implores/beseeches in the supplication and repeats it and does not be slow-paced in seeking a response. Likewise one should open his supplication and conclude it with praising Allaah, The Most High and laud and commend Him – The Glorified and Most High. Likewise one should send prayers (to extol and honour) as well as sending peace and security upon the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) – and should conclude it with that, he should also be ardent in facing the Ka’bah and should be in a state of purification.”
Ibn Rajab’s Advice To Those Unable To Perform The Hajj:
Ibn Rajab (rahimahullaah) said in Lataa-if (p.385):
“Whoever missed out on the standing at ‘Arafah; then let him stand for Allaah in regards to His rights in that which he is aware of.
Whoever was incapable from residing the night at Muzdalifah; then let his determination reside the nights upon obedience to Allaah – and indeed he will come close to Him and draw near to Him.
Whoever it was not possible for to stand in the vicinity of (Masjid) Al-Khaif (at Mina); then let him stand for Allaah with the right of hope and fear.
Whoever was unable to slaughter his sacrificial offering at Mina; then let him slaughter his desire right here – and indeed he would have attained the endurance of adversity.
Whoever was unable to reach the House (the Ka’bah) because he was far from it; then let him aspire to The Lord of the House, for indeed He is closer to the one who supplicates to Him and has hope in Him – than his jugular vein[4].”
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[1] See Mawsu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah vol 45 p.316 – the footnotes in this page contain the references for the books of the Scholars who hold this opinion.
[2] Mawsu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah vol 28 p.90.
[3] Source taken from an audio recording from the Shaikh’s website: http://alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/8979
[4] As He, The Most High states:
((And indeed We have created man, and We know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than his jugular vein)) (Qaaf: 16).
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