Day of Arafah is a very special day for Muslims around the world, celebrated on 9th Zulhijjah every year and currently the city of Mecca is packed with potential pilgrims who will gather at Padang Arafah to perform the wukuf worship.
Day of Arafah is known as the most successful time for prayer because that is when Prophet Muhammad SAW took a very long time to pray.
In Malaysia, many people take advantage of this day to fast to seize the reward of fasting on that day where its virtue can wipe out the sins of the year before and after.
Fasting on the Day of Arafah is Sunnah for those who do not perform Hajj. It is also a golden opportunity to cleanse themselves of sins that have been committed. On the Day of Arafah, the doors of heaven are wide open, and even sins are forgiven.
Specialities of Day of Arafah
According to the Federal Territory Mufti Office, Day of Arafah has various advantages including:
- Day of Arafah is a pillar of Hajj.
From Abdulrahman bin Ya’mur, that the Prophet SAW said:
الحَجُّ عَرَفَةُ
It means: ‘Hajj is Arafah.’ [Narrated by al-Tirmizi (814)]
- The Day of Arafah is the day when this religion has been perfected.
From Umar bin al-Khattab RA that a man asked him:
يَا أَمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ, ايَةٌ فِي كِتَابِكُمْ تَكْرَءُونَاَا, لَوْ عَلَينَا مَشَرَ اليَهُودِ نَزَلْ, لَتَّخَذنَا ذَلِكَ اليَوْمَ عِيدًا. قَالَ: أَيُّ آيَةٍ? قَالَ: “اليَوْمَ اَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتَمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِيْمِي وَرضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإُسْلَمَ دِينً” [المایدة: 3] قَالَ عُمَرُ: قَدْ عَرَفْنَا ذَلِكَ اليَوْمَ, وَالمَكَانَ الَّذِي نَزَلِتْ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, وَحَ قَائِمٌ بِعَرَفَةَ يَومَ جُمُعَةٍ
It means: “Oh Amir al-Mu’minin, there is a verse in your book (the Quran) that you recite. If it were upon us Jews, we would have taken that day as a celebration. Umar asked: What is that verse? He said: “I have perfected your religion for you, and completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” Umar said: We knew the day and the place where it was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he stood at Arafat on Friday.” [Narrated by al-Bukhari (43) and Muslim (5334)]
- Day of Arafah is a holiday for Muslims
From Uqbah bin Amir RA, that the Prophet SAW said:
يَوْمُ عَرَفَةَ, وَيَوْمُ النَّحْرِ, وَأَيَّامُ التَّشْريقِ عِيدُنَا عَهْلَ الْيِسْلَامِ, وَهِيَ اَيَّاُ اَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ
Meaning: “The day of Arafah, the day of Sacrifice and the days of Tasyriq (11, 12 and 13 Zulhijjah) are our Muslim holidays and it is a day of eating and drinking”. [Narrated by Abu Daud (20660), Tirmidhi (704) and al-Nasa’ie (2954)]
- The Day of Arafah is the Day of Witnessing
From Abu Hurairah RA, that the Prophet SAW said:
اليَوْمُ المَوْعُودُ يَوْمُ القِيَامَةِ، وَاليَوْمُ المَشْهُودُ يَوْمُ عَرَفَةَ، وَالشَِّدُ يَوْمُ عَرَفَة
It means: “The Promised Day is the Day of Judgment, the Day of Mayshud is the Day of Arafah and the Martyr is Friday”. [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (3262)]
5. The greatness of supplication on the day of Arafah
From Abdullah bin ‘Amr, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
The best supplication is supplication on the day of Arafah
This means: “The best supplication is supplication on the day of Arafah”. [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (3509)]
- Fasting on the day of Arafah expiates the sins of the year before and after
From Abu Qatadah RA, that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said when asked about fasting on the day of Arafah:
It expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year This means: “Fasting on that day expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year”. [Narrated by Muslim (1977)]
- The day of forgiveness and freedom from hellfire
From Aisha RA, that the Prophet SAW said: ”There is no day on which Allah frees more of His servants from the fire than the Day of Arafah”
This means: ‘There is no day on which Allah frees more of His servants from the fire than the Day of Arafah.’ [Narrated by Muslim (2402)]
Actions that can be done
Among the acts that can be done on the Day of Arafah are:
1-Doubling acts of worship
2-Doubling charity
3-Doubling remembrance
4-Doubling istighfar
5-Trying to double the prayers – It is the time of prayer that is most answered and the most closest to be granted. Make the most of this time by praying and asking ALLAH for forgiveness. For Muslims who do not perform the Hajj, take the opportunity and advantage of this day of standing in Arafah to pray in their respective places without limiting the duration of prayer to a certain hour or time.
6- Fasting the Day of Arafah -mFasting the Day of Arafah was highly recommended by the Prophet Muhammad SAW because it has great virtues.
From Abu Qatadah RA, that the Messenger of Allah SAW said, When asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah:
“Fasting on that day (the Day of Arafah) will erase the sins of the past year and the coming year.’
