THE NINTH OF Dhu l-Hijjah
Fasting on the Day of ^Arafah for pilgrims and non-pilgrims
والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن
Muslim narrated in his Sahih from ‘AbuQatadah, who said: A man asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what is the significance of fasting on the Day of ^Arafah?" He replied, "It will expiate for the sins of the previous year and the coming year."
“أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ”.
(‘ahtacibu ^ala l-Lahi ‘an yukaffira s-sanata l-lati qablahu was-sanata l-lati ba^dah)
The Ruling on Fasting on the Day of ^Arafah for Pilgrims and Non-Pilgrims
Fasting on this day is recommended for non-pilgrims. As for the pilgrim, it is recommended for him not to fast to strengthen himself for supplication, even if it does not weaken him from supplication and the other rituals of Hajj. However, if he knows he will reach ^Arafah at night and does not hold the status of a traveller, it is recommended for him to fast. It is also prudent to fast on the eighth of Dhu l-Hijjah along with the Day of ^Arafah for both pilgrims and non-pilgrims because, on the eighth, the pilgrim has not yet begun the rituals of Hajj.
Acts to Perform for Those Unable to Perform Hajj
Allah, the Exalted, has instilled a deep yearning in the hearts of believers to behold His Sacred House. Recognising that not everyone can visit it annually, He has designated the ten days of Dhu l-Hijjah as a special period for both travellers and those who remain at home. Therefore, whoever is unable to perform Hajj in a particular year can still partake in specific acts of worship within their own homes.
Among these acts are repentance, seeking forgiveness, supplication, returning to obedience to Allah, and restraining oneself from prohibitions. Therefore, beware of sinning, especially these days, as some righteous people have said: "Beware of sins, for they deprive one of forgiveness during the seasons of mercy."
Adherence to Obedience
طَاعَةُ اللهِ خَيْرُ مَا لَزِمَ العَبْـ ـدُ فَكُنْ طَائِعًا وَلَا تَعْصِيَنْهُ
Obeying Allah is the servant’s best way,
So stay obedient and never stray.
مَا هَلَاكُ النُّفُوسِ إِلَّا الْمَعَاصِي فَاجْتَنِبْ مَا نَهَاكَ ولَا تَقْرَبَنْهُ
The ruin of souls is from sin,
So heed what’s forbidden and don’t give in.
إِنَّ شَيْئًا هَلَاكُ نَفْسِكَ فِيْهِ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ تَصُونَ نَفْسَكَ عَنْهُ
Whatever ruins your soul, keep it at bay,
Guard yourself well, don’t let it sway.
Some said:
المعاصي سببُ البعدِ والطردِ كمَا أنَّ الطاعاتِ أسبابُ القُرَبِ والوُدِّ.
This means: "Sins cause distance and expulsion, just as obedience brings closeness and affection."
Seizing the Opportunity in These Great Days
In these days, the pilgrims have entered the state of Ihram and set out for the Sacred House, filling the air repeating the declaration of pilgrimage (Talbiyah), proclaiming the greatness of Allah (Takbir), declaring the Oneness of Allah (Tahlil), praising Allah (Tahmid), and exalting Him. They have journeyed while we have remained behind, drawing near as we stay distant. If we share in their blessings, we shall find true happiness.
Make the most of these auspicious days, for there is no replacement for them. Be prompt in your deeds, hasten before the attack of death, before the negligent one regrets what he has done, before one asks for a return to life to perform good deeds, and it is not granted, before death comes between the hopeful and the fulfilment of their hopes, before a person is confined in their grave with what they have sent ahead of their deeds.
Seize the opportunity in these magnificent days, for there is no substitute for them. Be prompt in your deeds and hasten before the end approaches, before the negligent one regrets what he has done before he pleads for a return to perform righteous acts but is denied his request before death comes between the hopeful and the fulfilment of his hopes before a person finds himself hinged in his grave on the deeds he has committed.
Acts on the Day of ^Arafah that lead to forgiveness and emancipation from the Fire
Whoever aspires to emancipation from the Fire and forgiveness of sins on the Day of ^Arafah should adhere to the means by which emancipation and forgiveness are sought:
- Fasting on that day: In the Sahih of Muslim, Abu Qatadah narrated that the Prophet said:
“صيامُ يومِ عرفةَ أحتسبُ علَى اللهِ أنْ يكفِّرَ السنةَ التِي قبلَهُ والتِي بعدَهُ”
This means: “Fasting on the Day of ^Arafah will expiate the sins of the previous year and the coming year.”
- Guarding his senses from prohibited acts on that day: In the Musnad of Imam ‘Ahmad, Ibnu ^Abbas, narrated that the Prophet said:
“يومُ عرفةَ هذَا يومٌ مَنْ مَلَكَ فيهِ سمعَهُ وبصَرَهُ ولسانَهُ غُفِرَ لَهُ”
This means: “The Day of ^Arafah is a day on which whoever restrains his hearing, sight, and tongue, his sins will be forgiven.”
- Abundantly proclaiming the testimony of monotheism with sincerity and honesty: This testimony is the foundation of the religion of Islam, which Allah perfected on this day. In the Musnad, ^Abdu l-Lah ibnu ^Umar said: “The most frequent supplication of the Prophet on the Day of ^Arafah was:
“لَا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ وحدَه لا شريكَ لهُ لهُ الملكُ ولهُ الحمدُ بيدِهِ الخيرُ وهوَ علَى كلِّ شيءٍ قديرٌ”
'There is no god except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion, and to Him belongs all praise, […] and He has power over all things.'”
At-Tirmidhiyy also narrated this with the wording:
“خيرُ الدعاءِ دعاءُ يومِ عرفةَ وخيرُ مَا قلتُ أنَا والنبيونَ مِنْ قبلِي: لَا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ وحدَه لَا شريكَ لَهُ، لهُ الملكُ ولهُ الحمدُ وهوَ علَى كلِّ شيءٍ قديرٌ”
“The best supplication is the supplication on the Day of ^Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said is: 'There is no god except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion, and to Him belongs all praise, and He has power over all things.'”
- The abundance of supplication for forgiveness and emancipation: It is hoped that supplications made on this day will be answered. Ibnu 'Abi Dunya narrated with his chain of transmission from ^Aliyy, who said: “There is no day on earth on which Allah does not free some people from the Fire, and there is no day on which He frees more people than the Day of ^Arafah. So, increase your supplications on this day: 'O Allah, free my neck from the Fire and widen my provision from the lawful sources, and avert from me the evil of the jinn and mankind.' Indeed, it is my general supplication on this day.”
- If you aspire to emancipation, sacrifice yourself for Allah's sake. Allah said:
﴿إِنَّ الله اشترى مِنَ المؤمنين أَنفُسَهُمْ وأموالهم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الجنة﴾
This means: ‘Indeed, Allah rewards the believers with Paradise for their sacrifice of themselves and their wealth’ [Suratu t-Tawbah: 111]. Whoever values his soul, everything he spends to redeem it from the Fire will seem insignificant."
Examples of Those Who Redeemed Themselves
- A righteous predecessor redeemed himself three or four times by donating an amount of silver equal to his own weight each time.
- ^Amir ibnu ^Abdi l-Lahi bni Zubayr redeemed himself by donating a blood money amount six times.
- Habib redeemed himself with forty thousand dirhams in charity.
- ‘Abu Hurayrah used to say ‘Subhana l-Lah’ twelve thousand times every day, equivalent to the blood money (diyah) he would pay to redeem himself.
Whoever knows what he is seeking will find every sacrifice easy. In this season, whoever restrains his hearing, sight, and tongue will be forgiven.
Sincere Repentance
Stand at the door of repentance with humility and submission, your remorse inscribed on your cheeks by your abundant tears, saying: ﴾رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ﴿ which means: 'Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.' (Suratu l-A^raf: 23)."
If we do not reach their lands, let us get their state of humility. If we cannot reach Arafat, let us compensate for what we have missed. Let every hard heart soften if we cannot reach the Hijr (the area next to the Ka^bah). Let's worship our Lord here if we cannot reach the night of gathering and Mina.
Where is the repentant who constantly returns to Allah? Where is the diligent one striving ahead? This is a day on which the sincere is shown mercy. Whoever does not repent this day, when will he repent? Whoever does not respond now, when will he respond? Whoever is not acknowledged for repentance is deprived, and whoever does not seek forgiveness will have no share.
Alas for a servant who is not forgiven that day for their sins. Whenever he intends to do good, his efforts are thwarted by his sins, undoing what he has built. He attends the seasons of profit but gains nothing. He enters the orchards of success but does not extend a hand to reap any fruits. How many have failed and how many have achieved their aspirations?
If we missed the opportunity to go to Mina, let us shed tears of regret here instead. How can we not weep when we do not know what is destined for us? How can we remain at peace when unaware of what lies ahead?
Acts of Pilgrims on This Day
For pilgrims, who have many acts of goodness crowding this day, among the most important acts are:
- Throwing the pebbles at Jamratu l-^Aqabah.
- Performing the Tawafu l-‘Ifadah.
- Shaving their heads.
- Sacrificing their animals.
- Remaining in Mina, praying the ^Id prayer, sacrificing their offerings, and glorifying and praising Allah.
