The 9th day of Dhul-Hijja (the Month of Hajj) is called the Day of Arafah. It is the day during which Hajj pilgrims gather at the mount of Arafat praying and supplicating to the Almighty.
Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for two years:
It is highly recommended (mustahabb) for non-pilgrims to fast during this day for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah, so he said, “It expiates the sins (Minor) of the past year and the coming year.”(Muslim)
Allah frees slaves from the fire on Arafat more than any other day:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on ’Arafah), and then He revels before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.” (Tirmidhee).
Forgiveness of the Sins even if they are like the foam on the Sea:
As for you staying till the evening in Arafah, then Allah descends to the sky of the Duniya and He boasts about you to the Angels, and says: ‘My slaves have come to Me, looking rough, from every deep valley hoping for My mercy, so if your sins were equivalent to the amount of sand or the drops of rain or like the foam on the sea I will forgive them. So go forth My slaves! Having forgiveness and for what or who you have interceded for.’
(Reported by at-Tabarani in his book “al-Kabeer” and by al-Bazaar. Shaykh Al-Albani graded it Hassan. Taken from ‘Saheeh al-Targheeb wa Tarheeb’. Volume 2, Page 9-10, hadeeth no. 1112)
(Source : Ahadith regarding the benefits and blessings of Hajj – Translated by Abbas Abu Yahya Taken from ‘Saheeh al-Targheeb wa Tarheeb’ By the Shaykh Muhammad Nasr ud-Deen al-Albaani).
It is the day on which Islam was perfected and the Almighty’s Favour was accomplished:
It was reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) that a Jewish man said to him, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is an aayah in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid (festival).” ‘Umar said, “Which aayah?” 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.” (Al- Al-Maeda :3) . Umar said, “We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It was when he was standing in Arafah on a Friday.”
Allaah expresses His pride to His angels:
It was reported from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah expresses His pride to His angels at the time of ‘Ishaa’ on the Day of Arafah, about the people of Arafah. He says, ‘Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and dusty.’” (Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani).
The Almighty Swears by these 10 Days:
Allah , the Almighty, swears by these days.
- By the dawn
- By the ten nights (i.e. the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijja)
- And by the even and the odd (of all the creations of Allah). (Al-Fajr 1-3)
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘ The ten are the ten days of Dhul- Hijja and the odd is the Day of Arafah and the even is the Eid ( Ahmed 3/ 327 and Bazzar 2286) Ibn Rajab graded the isnad of this hadeeth as being Hasan.
(Source: Taken from Laýtaif al Maýrif and Tafseer ibn Katheer , Translated and compiled by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle ).
Wuquf Arafah (The standing at Arafat):
The standing at Arafat praying and seeking forgiveness is of paramount significance. The standing huge crowds remind us of the Day of Resurrection, of how we will all stand equal before Allah on the Day of Judgment.
May Allah forgive our sins
May Allah guide us all the right path
