THE DAY OF ARAFAH - ITS VIRTUES AND RULINGS

VIRTUES OF DAY OF ARAFAH & SOME RULINGS.

CONTENT :-

1) IT IS THE DAY ON WHICH THE RELIGION WAS PERFECTED AND ALLAH FAVOUR WAS COMPLETED.

2) IT IS A DAY OF EID FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THAT PLACE.

3) IT IS A DAY BY WHICH ALLAH SWORE AN OATH.

4) IT IS THE DAY ON WHICH ALLAH TOOK THE COVENANT FROM THE PROGENY OF ADAM.

5) THE STANDING ON ‘ARAFAAT IN THE HAJJ.

6) IT IS THE DAY OF FORGIVENESS OF SINS, FREEDOM FROM THE FIRE.

7) ALLAH EXPRESSES HIS PRIDE TO HIS ANGELS ON THIS DAY.

8) RULING ON FASTING ON THE DAY OF ARAFAAT (9th DHUL-HIJJAH) FOR HAJI,NON-HAJI.

9) FASTING ON THIS DAY IS AN EXPIATION FOR TWO YEARS.

10) RULING ON FASTING ON THE FIRST EIGHTS DAYS OF DHUL-HIJJAH FOR HAJI,NON-HAJI.

11) RULING ON IF COUNTRY DIFFERS WITH MAKKAH WITH REGARD TO SIGHTING THE NEW MOON.

12) PROPHET MUHAMMED (P.B.U.H) KHUTBAH ON DAY OF ARAFAT.

13) THE GATHERING AND THE RESURRECTION OF MANKIND WILL BE IN AL-SHAAM NOT IN ‘ARAFAAH.

14) The Best day for Du`a is the day of Arafah and the Best Dua of the prophets is ...

15) DAEEF HADITH REGARDING ARAFAAT.

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1) IT IS THE DAY ON WHICH THE RELIGION WAS PERFECTED AND ALLAH FAVOUR WAS COMPLETED. :-

Narrated Tariq bin Shibab:

Some Jews said, “Had this Verse been revealed to us, we would have taken that day as `Id (festival).” `Umar said, “What Verse?” They said:– “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 said, “I know the place where it was revealed; It was revealed while Allah’s Apostle was staying at `Arafat.”

SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 689)
SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 9, Book 92, Hadith 373)
SUNAN NASEEI (Vol. 6, Book 1, Hadith 5015)
SAHIH MUSLIM (Book 43, Hadith 7154)

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2) IT IS A DAY OF EID FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THAT PLACE. :-

Uqbah bin Amir narrated that :

The Messenger of Allah said: “The Day of Arafah, the Day of Nahr, and the Days of Tashriq are Eid for us. The people of Islam, and they are days of eating and drinking,” (Hasan)

SUNAN TIRMIDHI (Book 4, Hadith 92)

It was narrated from Uqbah bin Amir that the Messenger of Allah said:

“The day of Arafat and the day of sacrifice and the day of At-Tashriq are our Id, the people of Islam, and they are days of eating and drinking.” (Hasan)

SUNAN NASEEI (Vol. 3, Book 4, Hadith 3007)
ABU DAWOOD (Book 13, Hadith 2413)

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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].”

(SURAH AL BUROOJ 85 VERSE 3)

It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of ‘Arafaah, and the witnessing day is Friday.”

SUNAN TIRMIDHI (HADITH 1362)

VIEW OF IKRIMAH AND AL-DAHHAAK:-
“And by the even and the odd”

(SURAH FAJR 89 VERSE 3)

IBN ‘ABBAAS SAID:

“The even is the Day of al-Adhaa (i.e., 10th DHUL-HIJJAH) and the odd is the ay of ‘Arafaah (i.e., 9th DHUL-HIJJAH).

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4) IT IS THE DAY ON WHICH ALLAH TOOK THE COVENANT FROM THE PROGENY OF ADAM. :-

It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah 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 Allaah, 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., polytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allaah)?’

MUSNAD AHMAD

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5) THE STANDING ON ‘ARAFAAT IN THE HAJJ. :-

Abdur Rahman bin Yamur Ad-Daili said:

“I saw the prophet in Arafat when some people from Najd came to him. They told a man to ask him about Hajj. He said: “Hajj is Arafat. Whoever comes on the night of Jam (Al-Muzdalifah) before Subh prayer, then he has caught up with Hajj.

SUNAN NASEEI (Vol. 3, Book 4, Hadith 3047)

It was narrated that Abdur-Rahman bin Yamur said:

“I saw the Messenger of Allah when people came to him and asked him about Hajj. The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Hajj is Arafat. Whoever catches up with the night of Arafat before dawn comes on the night of Jam (Al-Muzdalifah), his Hajj is complete.’” (Sahih)

SUNAN NASEEI (Vol. 3, Book 4, Hadith 3019)
MUWATTA MALIK (Book 20, Hadith 178)

NOTE :-

IBN ‘UTHAYMEEN SAID :-
What is meant by the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), “Hajj is ‘Arafah” is that in Hajj it is essential to stand in ‘Arafah. Whoever does not stand in ‘Arafah has missed out on Hajj. It does not mean that the one who stands in ‘Arafah no longer has to do any of the actions of Hajj, according to scholarly consensus, because if a person stands in ‘Arafah, he still has to do some actions of Hajj, such as staying overnight in Muzdalifah, tawaaf al-ifaadah, sa‘i between as-Safa and al-Marwah, stoning the Jamaraat and staying overnight in Mina. Rather what is meant is that standing in ‘Arafah is an essential part of Hajj and if he does not stand in ‘Arafah then there is no Hajj for him. Hence the scholars said: Whoever misses the standing (in ‘Arafah) has missed Hajj. End quote.

(MAJMOO’ FATAAWA IBN ‘UTHAYMEEN, 23/24)

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6) IT IS THE DAY OF FORGIVENESS OF SINS, FREEDOM FROM THE FIRE. :-

‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There is no day when God sets free more servants from Hell than the Day of ‘Arafa. He draws near, then praises them to the angels, saying: What do these want?

SAHIH MUSLIM (Book 7, Hadith 3126)

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7) ALLAH EXPRESSES HIS PRIDE TO HIS ANGELS ON THIS DAY. :-

It was reported from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah 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.’”

MUSNAD AHMAD (HADITH 6914)

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8) RULING ON FASTING ON THE DAY OF ARAFAAT (9th DHUL-HIJJAH) FOR HAJI,NON-HAJI. :-

Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah is a confirmed Sunnah for those who are not performing Hajj.

Narrated Abu Qutaadah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafa (9th of Dhu’I-Hijja), whereupon he said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year.

SAHIH MUSLIM (Book 6, Hadith 2603)
ABU DAWOOD (Book 13, Hadith 2419)

It was narrated from Hunaidah bin Khalid, from his wife, from one of the wives of the Prophet, that:the Messenger of Allah used to fast nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of ‘Ashura’, and three days of each month: The first Monday of the month, and two Thursday. (Sahih)

SUNAN NASEEI (Vol. 3, Book 2, Hadith 2419)
ABU DAWOOD (Book 13, Hadith 2431)

RESPONSE :-

Narrated AbuHurayrah:

Ikrimah said: We were with AbuHurayrah in his house when he narrated to us: The Apostle of Allah () prohibited fasting on the day of Arafah at Arafah.

ABU DAWOOD (Book 13, Hadith 2434)

Narrated Maimuna:

The people doubted whether the Prophet was fasting on the day of `Arafat or not, so I sent milk while he was standing at `Arafat, he drank it and the people were looking at him.

SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 3, Book 31, Hadith 210)
SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 7, Book 69, Hadith 522)
SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 7, Book 69, Hadith 509)
SAHIH MUSLIM (Book 13, Hadith 2413)

AL-NAWAWI SAID :-

With regard to the ruling on this matter, al-Shaafa’i and his companions said: It is mustahabb to fast on the day of ‘Arafah for the one who is not in ‘Arafah. As for the pilgrim who is present in ‘Arafah, al-Shaafa’i said in al-Mukhtasar and his companions said: It is mustahabb for him not to fast, because of the hadeeth of Umm al-Fadl. A number of our companions said: It is makrooh for him to fast this day. Among those who stated that it is makrooh were al-Daarimi, al-Bandaneeji, al-Muhaamili in al-Majmoo’ and al-Musannaf fi’l-Tanbeeh, and others.

(AL-MAJMOO 6/428).

AL-KASAANI SAID :-

With regard to fasting the day of ‘Arafah, for people other than those who are performing Hajj it is mustahabb, because of the many ahaadeeth which recommended fasting on this day, and because it is superior to other days. That also applies to the pilgrim if it will not make him too weak to stand in ‘Arafah and say du’aa’, because this is combining two acts of worship. But if it will make him too weak, then it is makrooh, because the virtue of fasting on this day is something that may be made up in some other year, whereas the virtue of standing in ‘Arafah and making du’aa’ is something that is not attainable for most people, except once in a lifetimes, therefore attaining that virtue (of standing in ‘Arafah and making du’aa’) takes precedence.

(BADAAI AL-SANAAI 2/76)

AL-KHURASHI SAID :-

“Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah, for one who is not doing Hajj, and the ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah,” what is meant is that fasting on the day of ‘Arafah is mustahabb for the one who is not doing Hajj. As for the pilgrim, it is mustahabb for him not to fast this day, so as to strengthen himself for supplicating (du’aa’), and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not fast during Hajj.

(SHARH MUKHTASAR KHALEEL 6/499)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: What is the ruling on fasting the day of ‘Arafah for non-pilgrims and pilgrims?

He replied:-
Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah for non-pilgrims is a confirmed Sunnah. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah and he said: “I ask Allaah that it may expiate for (the sins of) the year that comes before it and the year that comes after it.” According to another report he said: “It expiates for the past and coming years.As for the pilgrim, it is not Sunnah for him to fast on the day of ‘Arafah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not fast on the day of ‘Arafah during the Farewell Pilgrimage. In Saheeh al-Bukhaari it is narrated from Maymoonah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the people were not sure whether the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was fasting on the day of ‘Arafah, so she sent him some milk when he was standing in ‘Arafah, and he drank it whilst the people were looking on.

(MAJMOO’ FATAAWA IBN ‘UTHAYMEEN PART 20, QUESTION NO. 404)

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9) FASTING ON THIS DAY IS AN EXPIATION FOR TWO YEARS. :-

Narrated Abu Qutaadah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafa (9th of Dhu’I-Hijja), whereupon he said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year.

SAHIH MUSLIM (Book 6, Hadith 2603)
ABU DAWOOD (Book 13, Hadith 2419)

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10) RULING ON FASTING ON THE FIRST EIGHTS DAYS OF DHUL-HIJJAH FOR HAJI,NON-HAJI. :-

Fasting on the first eight days of Dhu’l-Hijjah is mustahabb for pilgrims and others, because

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

The Prophet said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja).” Then some companions of the Prophet said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.”

SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 2, Book 15, Hadith 86)
SUNAN TIRMIDHI (Book 4, Hadith 76)
ABU DAWOOD (Book 13, Hadith 2432)

The fuqaha’ are unanimously agreed that it is mustahabb to fast during the first eight days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, before the day of ‘Arafah. The Maalikis and Shaafa’is stated that it is Sunnah to fast on these days for the pilgrim too.

(AL-MAWSOO’AH AL-FIQHIYYAH 28/91)

It is Sunnah to fast the eight days before the day of ‘Arafah, as is stated in al-Rawdah, and that applies equally to pilgrims and others, but it is not Sunnah for the pilgrim to fast on the day of ‘Arafah, rather it is mustahabb for him not to fast then, even if he is able for it, following the example of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and so that he will have more strength for du’aa’.

(NIHAAYAT AL-MUHTAAJ 3/207)

It was narrated from Hunaidah bin Khalid, from his wife, from one of the wives of the Prophet, that:the Messenger of Allah used to fast nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of ‘Ashura’, and three days of each month: The first Monday of the month, and two Thursday. (Sahih)

SUNAN NASEEI (Vol. 3, Book 2, Hadith 2419)
ABU DAWOOD (Book 13, Hadith 2431)

NOTE :-

This (fasting) on 8 days of Dhul-Hijjah is mustahabb for Both Haji & Non-Haji.In the case of the one who is on Hajj, it is not Sunnah for him to fast on the Day of ‘Arafaah (9Th DHUL-HIJJAH), because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not fast on this day in ‘Arafaah. It was narrated that he forbade fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah in ‘Arafaah. As we have explained in Point Num 8.

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11) RULING ON IF COUNTRY DIFFERS WITH MAKKAH WITH REGARD TO SIGHTING THE NEW MOON. :-

SHAYKH IBN UTHAYMEEN SAID :-

What if the day of ‘Arafah is different because of the moon being sighted at different times in different countries? Should we fast according to the moon sighting in the country where we are or according to the moon sighting in al-Haramayn (the two Holy Sanctuaries)?

He replied: This is based on a difference of opinion among the scholars: Is there only one moon sighting for the whole world or does it vary according to when the moon rises in different places?

The correct view is that it varies according to when the moon rises in different places. For example, if the moon is sighted in Makkah, and today is the ninth, and it is sighted elsewhere one day before Makkah, and the day of ‘Arafah in Makkah is the tenth for them, it is not permissible for them to fast on this day because it is Eid. Similarly if it so happens that they sight the moon after Makkah, and the 9th in Makkah is the 8th for them, then they should fast the day that is the 9th for them, which is the 10th in Makkah. This is the correct view, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When you see it (the new moon) fast and when you see it break your fast.” Those who did not see the moon in their own location have not seen it. Just as people are unanimously agreed that the times for dawn and sunset vary according to their own location, so too the months are also worked out by location, just like the daily timings.

(MAJMOO’ AL-FATAAWA, 20)

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12) PROPHET MUHAMMED (P.B.U.H) KHUTBAH ON DAY OF ARAFAT. :-

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

I heard the Prophet delivering a sermon at `Arafat.

SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 2, Book 26, Hadith 796)

Ja’far b Muhammad reported on the authority of his father:- ……………..The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), however, passed on till he came to ‘Arafa and he found that the tent had been pitched for him at Namira. There he got down till the sun had passed the meridian; he commanded that al-Qaswa should be brought and saddled for him. Then he came to the bottom of the valley, and addressed the people saying: Verily your blood, your property are as sacred and inviolable as the sacredness of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this town of yours. Behold! Everything pertaining to the Days of Ignorance is under my feet completely abolished. Abolished are also the blood-revenges of the Days of Ignorance. The first claim of ours on blood-revenge which I abolish is that of the son of Rabi’a b. al-Harith, who was nursed among the tribe of Sa’d and killed by Hudhail. And theusury of she pre-Islamic period is abolished, and the first of our usury I abolish is that of ‘Abbas b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib, for it is all abolished. Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have right over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. Their rights upon you are that you should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner. I have left among you the Book of Allah, and if you hold fast to it, you would never go astray. And you would be asked about me (on the Day of Resurrection), (now tell me) what would you say? They (the audience) said: We will bear witness that you have conveyed (the message), discharged (the ministry of Prophethood) and given wise (sincere) counsel. He (the narrator) said: He (the Holy Prophet) then raised his forefinger towards the sky and pointing it at the people (said):” O Allah, be witness. 0 Allah, be witness,” saying it thrice. (Bilal then) pronounced Adhan and later on Iqama and he (the Holy Prophet) led the noon prayer. He (Bilal) then uttered Iqama and he (the Holy Prophet) led the afternoon prayer and he observed no other prayer in between the two…………………………..

SAHIH MUSLIM (Book 7, Hadith 2803)

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13) THE GATHERING AND THE RESURRECTION OF MANKIND WILL BE IN AL-SHAAM NOT IN ‘ARAFAAH. :-

There is no saheeh evidence to indicate that.

SHAYKH SA’D AL-HUMAYD SAID :-
Rather it is proven in the saheeh hadeeth that the gathering will be in al-Shaam (Greater Syria, including Palestine).

It was narrated from Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Al-Shaam is the land of the gathering and the resurrection.”

(MUSNAD AL BAZAAR No. 3965)

AL-MANAAWI SAID :-

It is the place where the people will be gathered for the Reckoning. They will be resurrected from their graves then they will be driven to that land. It has been singled out for this because it is the land of which Allaah said (interpretation of the meaning): ‘the land which We have blessed for the ‘Aalameen (mankind and jinn)’ [al-Anbiya’ 21:71]. Most of the Prophets were sent from that land and their laws spread throughout the world, so it is appropriate that it should be the land of the gathering and the resurrection.”

(FAYD AL-QADEER BY AL-MANAAWI VOL. 4 PAGE 171)

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14) The Best day for Du`a is the day of Arafah and the Best Dua of the prophets is ...

On the authority of ‘Amroo bin Shu’aib from his father [Muhammad] from his grandfather [Abdul-llah bin 'Amroo bin Al-'Aas-Allah is pleased with them-] that the Messenger of Allah peace is upon him said: “The best supplication offered is on day of ‘Arafah. And the best that I and the Prophets before me uttered is Laa Ilaaha Ilal-llaah, Wahdahu Laa Shareeka Lahu, Lahul-Mulk Wa Lahul-Hamd Wa Huwa ‘Alaa Kulli Shay’in Qadeer”.

This hadeeth is in Jaami’ut-Tirmithee no 3585 and Al-Albaanee graded it as sound inSahihul-Jaami’ no 3274 and Sahihut-Targheeb no 1536.

Ibn Abdil-Barr said: in this hadeeth a proof that some du’a is more virtuous than other du’a, and some days are more virtuous than others. And it proves that the Du’a on day of ‘Arafah is all answered in most cases except those who transgress in the Du’a.

Source: Al-Istithkaar 1/10860

Notice: the Irsaal (severance in chain) between ‘Amroo bin Shu’aib and Abdul-llah bin ‘Amroo does not harm because Ath-Thahabee stated that Shu’aib stayed in the house of his grandfather abdul-llah bin ‘Amroo bin Al-’Aas Allah is pleased with them.



15) DAEEF HADITH REGARDING ARAFAAT. :-

If ‘Arafah falls on a Friday then Hajj in that year is equivalent to seven Hajjs or Seventy two hajj.”

RESPONSE :-

The imams judged this hadeeth to be false and not saheeh:

IBN AL-QAYYIM SAID :-

As for that which is commonly spoken of among the common folk, that it is equivalent to seventy-two Hajjs, this is false and there is no basis for it (in any report) from the Messenger of Allaah or from any of the Sahaabah or Taabi’een, and Allaah knows best.

(ZAAD AL_MAA’AAD 1/65)

SHAYKH AL-ALBAANI (MAY ALLAAH HAVE MERCY ON HIM) SAID :-

After ruling that the hadeeth is false and has no basis in.

(AL-SILSILAH AL-DA’EEFAH 207)

(PREPARED BY ABDUL HASEEB)