The Day of Arafah

The Day of Arafah (9th Day of Dhul Hijjah) is a very important day in Islam. It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allah’s Favour was completed.

عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنَ الْيَهُودِ قَالَ لَهُ

يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، آيَةٌ فِي كِتَابِكُمْ تَقْرَءُونَهَا لَوْ عَلَيْنَا مَعْشَرَ الْيَهُودِ نَزَلَتْ لاَتَّخَذْنَا ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ عِيدًا‏.‏

قَالَ أَىُّ آيَةٍ

قَالَ ‏{‏الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا‏}‏‏.‏

قَالَ عُمَرُ قَدْ عَرَفْنَا ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ وَالْمَكَانَ الَّذِي نَزَلَتْ فِيهِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ بِعَرَفَةَ يَوْمَ جُمُعَةٍ‏.‏”

رواه البخاري ٤٥ و مسلم ٣٠١٧

Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab:
Once a Jew said to me,

“O the chief of believers! There is a verse in your Holy Book Which is read by all of you (Muslims), and had it been revealed to us, we would have taken that day (on which it was revealed as a day of celebration.”

‘Umar bin Al-Khattab asked, “Which is that verse?”

The Jew replied, “This day I have perfected your religion For you, completed My favor upon you, And have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (5:3)

‘Umar replied,”No doubt, we know when and where this verse was revealed to the Prophet. It was Friday and the Prophet (ﷺ) was standing at ‘Arafat (i.e. the Day of Hajj)”

Sahih al-Bukhari, 45 and Muslim, 3017

It is the day of forgiveness of sins, freedom from the Fire for the people who are there

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت : إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال

ما مِن يوم أكثر من أن يعتق الله فيه عبداً من النار من يوم عرفة وإنه ليدنو ثم يباهي بهم الملائكة فيقول : ما أراد هؤلاء
رواه مسلم ( 1348 )

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It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“There is no day on which Allaah ransoms more of His slaves from the Fire than the day of ‘Arafah. He draws close then He boasts about them before the angels and says, ‘What do these people want?’”

Narrated by Muslim (1348).

Fasting on this day expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year

عن أبي قتادة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال عن صوم يوم عرفة

يكفر السنة الماضية والسنة القابلة

رواه مسلم . ١١٦٢

It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was said about fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah:

It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year.

Narrated by Muslim, 1162

The Day of Arafah for this year (1444AH /2023) is tomorrow Tuesday 27th June. May Allah accept all our good deeds.

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