Virtues of the Day of ‘Arafaah

Praise be to Allah.

1. It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allah’s Favour was completed.

In Al Saheehayn it was reported from ‘Umar ibn al Khattaab (radiallahu 3anh) 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 Maa’idah:3 – interpretation of the meaning]. ‘Umar said, “We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam). It was when he was standing in ‘Arafaah on a Friday.”

2. It is a day of Eid for the people who are in that place.

The Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Yawm ‘Arafaah (the day of ‘Arafaah), Yawm al Nahr (the Day of Sacrifice) and Ayyaam al Tashreeq (the 3 days following Yawm al Nahr) are Eid (festival) for us, the people of Islam. These are days of eating and drinking.” This was narrated by the authors of al Sunan. It was reported that ‘Umar ibn al Khattaab said: “It – i.e., the aayah ‘This day I have perfected…’ was revealed on a Friday, the Day of ‘Arafaah, both of which – praise be to Allah – are Eids for us.”

3. It is a day by which Allah swore an oath.

The Almighty cannot swear by anything except that which is mighty. Yawm ‘Arafaah is the “witnessed day” mentioned in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“By the witnessing day [Friday] and by the witnessed day [the Day of ‘Arafaah].” [al Burooj:3].

It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (radiallahu 3anh) that the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of ‘Arafaah, and the witnessing day is Friday.” Narrated by al Tirmithi and classed as saheeh by al Albaani.

It is the “odd” [i.e., odd-numbered, Witr] by which Allah swore in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“And by the even and the odd” [al-Fajr:3]. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The even is the Day of al Adhaa [i.e., 10th Thul Hijjah] and the odd is the Day of ‘Arafaah [i.e., 9th Thul Hijjah] This is also the view of ‘Ikrimah and al Dahhaak.

4. Fasting on this day is an expiation for two years.

It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (radiallahu 3anh) that the Messenger of Allah (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) was asked about fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah. He said, “It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year.” Narrated by Muslim.

This (fasting) is mustahabb for those who are not on Hajj. In the case of the one who is on Hajj, it is not Sunnah for him to fast on the Day of ‘Arafaah, because the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) did not fast on this day in ‘Arafaah. It was narrated that he forbade fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah in ‘Arafaah.

5. It is the day on which Allah took the covenant from the progeny of Adam.

It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas (radiallahu 3anh) said: the Messenger of Allah (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Allah took the covenant from the loins of Adam in Na’maan, i.e., ‘Arafaah. He brought forth from his loins all his offspring and spread them before Him, then He addressed them, and said: ‘Am I not your Lord? They said, ‘Yes, we testify,’ let you should say on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Verily, we have been unaware of this.’ Or lest you should say: ‘It was only our fathers aforetime who took others as partners in worship along with Allah, and we were (merely their) descendents after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Baatil (i.e., ploytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allah)?’ [al A’raaf:172-173 – interpretation of the meaning].” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al Albaani. And there is no greater day than this and no greater covenant than this.

6. It is the day of forgiveness of sins, freedom from the Fire and pride in the people who are there:

In Saheeh Muslim it was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (radiallahu 3anhaa) that the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafaah. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?’”

It was reported from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Allah expresses His pride to His angels at the time of ‘Ishaa’ on the Day of ‘Arafaah, about the people of ‘Arafaah. He says, ‘Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and dusty.’” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al Albaani.

And Allah knows best.

Shaykh Mohammad Saalih al Munajjid

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