Importance of the Day of Arafat
This article has been verified by our scholar Mufti Muhammad Zubair Nadeem (PhD in Islamic Studies and Finance, Takhusus from Jamia Ashrafia)
The day of Arafat is one of the most sacred days in the Islamic calendar. It is the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah, and it falls just before Eid al-Adha. On the day of Arafat, the Prophet (ﷺ) gave his last sermon during which the last verses of the Quran were revealed:
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.” (Surat Al-Mā’idah, 5:3)
In this article, we will discuss the historical and spiritual importance of the day of Arafat and recommend what to do to maximize the spiritual rewards.
Make Your Qurbani Donation More Impactful
The Day of Completion of the Message
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are among the holiest days in the Muslim calendar.
The Messenger of Allah said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than those ten days.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah! Not even Jihad in Allah Cause?” The Messenger of Allah said: “Not even Jihad in Allah’s Cause, unless a man were to out with his self and his wealth and not return from that with anything.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 757)
While all the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah offer Allah’s (SWT) rewards, the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah has a special place in Islamic history and tradition. It was on this day, the day of Arafat, that the Prophet (ﷺ) delivered one of his final sermons. The sermon was delivered at the Urranah valley of Mount Arafat.
Hadith about the day of Arafat
According to Hadith, the Prophet(ﷺ) said: “‘O people! Which day is the most sacred?’ three times. They said: ‘The day of the greatest Hajj.’ He said: ‘Your blood and your wealth and your honor are sacred to one another, as sacred as this day of yours, in this land of your. No sinner commits a sin but it is against himself. No father is to be punished for the sins of his child, and no child is to be punished for the sins of his father. Satan has despaired of ever being worshipping in this land of yours, but he will be obeyed in some matters which you regard as insignificant, and he will be content with that. All the blood feuds of the Ignorance days are abolished, and the first of them that I abolish is the blood feud of Harith bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib, who was nursed among Banu Laith and killed by Hudhail. All the usuries of the Ignorance days are abolished, but you will have your capital. Do not wrong others and you will not be wronged. O my nation, have I conveyed (the message)?’ (He asked this) three times. They said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘O Allah, bear witness!’ three times.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 3055)
Hence, the day of Arafat is historically one of the greatest days in Islamic history, and it is a day of celebrations and supplication. It marks the completion of Islam as a religion and the struggles that the Prophet (ﷺ) had to go through to deliver the great message of Allah (SWT).
According to a Hadith, “A man among the Jews said to ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab: ‘O Commander of the Believers! If we were the ones unto whom this Ayah was revealed, ‘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).’ – then we would have taken that day as a day of celebration.’ So ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab said to him: ‘Indeed I do know which day this Ayah was revealed upon. It was revealed on the Day of ‘Arafah, on Friday.’ (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 3043)
Give Your Qurbani Donation with Ease
Arafat is An Integral Part of Hajj
Hajj, one of the most fundamental duties for Muslims who can afford it, is not considered complete without the journey to Mount Arafat. It is here that Muslims performing Hajj gather on the evening of 9th Dhul Hijjah to listen to the annual Hajj sermon. The day and place commemorate the anniversary of the last sermons of the Prophet (ﷺ).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The Hajj is ‘Arafat, the Hajj is ‘Arafat, the Hajj is ‘Arafat. The days of Mina are three: But whoever hastens to leave in two days, there is no sin on him, and whoever stays on, there is no sin on him (2: 203). And whoever sees (attends) the ‘Arafah before the rising of Fajr, then he has performed the Hajj.” Ibn Abi ‘Umar said: “Sufyan bin ‘Uyainah said: ‘This is the best Hadith that Ath-Thawri reported.'” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 2975)
The Greatest Day of Forgiveness
The day of Arafat is the day of forgiveness and redemption for Muslims. It offers a great opportunity for Muslims to gain Allah’s (SWT) mercy and approval.
According to the Hadith, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said : “When the day of ‘Arafa comes God descends to the lowest heaven and praises them to the angels saying, “Look at my servants who have come to me dishevelled, dusty and crying out from every deep valley. I call you to witness that I have forgiven them.” Then the angels say, “My Lord, so and so was being suspected of sin, also so and so and such and such a woman.” He said that God who is great and glorious replies, “I have forgiven them.” God’s messenger said, “No day has more people set free from hell than the day of ‘Arafa.” (Mishkat al-Masabih,2601)
What Should We Do On The Day of Arafat?
The following actions, done with the purest intentions, can help you make the most of the Day of Arafat.
Make Supplication:
The day of Arafat is the day of mercy. It is a day to supplicate and ask for Allah’s (SWT) mercy.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Al-Yawmul-Maw’ud (the Promised Day) is the Day of Resurrection, and Al-Yawmul-Mashhud (the Attended Day) is the Day of Arafat, and Ash-Shahid (the witness) is Friday.” He said: “The sun does not rise nor set, upon a day that is more virtuous than it. In it, there is an hour in which no believing worshipper makes a supplication to Allah for good, except that Allah answers it for him, and he does not seek Allah’s aid for something, except that He aids him in it.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 3339)
Fast:
For Muslims who are not performing Hajj, fasting on the day of Arafat promises forgiveness.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah, I hope from Allah, expiates for the sins of the year before and the year after.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 1730)
Give Charity
While the pursuit of personal piety is a very noble cause, Islam emphasizes helping those in need.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Envy consumes good deeds just as fire consumes wood, and charity extinguishes bad deeds just as water extinguishes fire. Prayer is the light of the believer and fasting is a shield against the Fire.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 4210)
About Transparent Hands:
Transparent Hands is Pakistan’s leading crowdfunding platform that focuses on providing free healthcare services to the most vulnerable and deserving segments of society. Besides providing surgeries and medical treatments, we reach out to people in low-income areas with our free medical camps. Our medical camps provide free checkups, diagnostic tests, and medicines for needy patients. Transparent Hands collects and distributes Zakat in compliance with the Sharia laws. Give your Zakat and Qurbani donations to Transparent Hands to help us reach a greater number of deserving people. We reach out to the most vulnerable segments of society for the Qurbani distribution. Donate your Qurbani now!
Conclusion:
The Day of Arafat is one of the holiest days in Islam. It has a great historical and religious significance as it represents the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage and offers Allah’s (SWT) forgiveness and mercy. To maximize spiritual rewards on this sacred day, Muslims should recite the Quran, supplicate, fast, and give charity. Fasting is only recommended for Muslims who are not part of the Hajj pilgrimage. The day of Arafat is a great time to reflect on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), especially his last sermon. Giving charity is a core Islamic value. As we prepare for the day of Arafat, we should give Sadaqah to help needy patients recover from their tribulations. Give your Zakat and Qurbani to Transparent Hands to help the most vulnerable and overlooked segments of society.
Leave a Reply