We are rapidly approaching the end of these immensely blessed days, and the culmination of these days gathers at the Day of Arafah, the best day of the year according to many scholars. This is a day in which there is a tremendous outpouring of Divine Mercy from Allah ﷻ. Of the days of Dhul Hijjah, it is especially recommended to fast on the Day of Arafah. So, what are the benefits of Fasting on the Day of Arafah?
Before looking into the benefits of fasting on this day, let’s look further at the merit of the day itself! ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) 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 1348)
So from this, we can see that this is a day filled with the Mercy of Allah ﷻ and the Acceptance of Dua.
And regarding fasting on this day, the reward of this is incredible!
The Prophet (saw) said, ‘It (fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah) expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year (i.e. those sins will be forgiven).’
(Sahih Muslim)
This may mean either protection from committing those sins (minor sins) in the first place, or that if we do fall into them, we are forgiven!
Some other actions we can take to make the most of this blessed and bountiful day are:
Make the Most of this Blessed and Bountiful Day by:
1. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The one who imitates a people is one of them”.
So one should imitate the people standing at Arafat, and make Dua, especially in the afternoon!
2. Reading an extra portion of the Quran, especially Surah Ikhlas.
3. On this day one should also increase in Tahlil, declaring the Oneness of Allah ﷻ, through saying “Laa Ilaaha Il Allah”
4. And finally, Make abundant Dua
The Prophet said: “The best du’a is the du’a of the Day of Arafah. The best thing which I and the Prophets before me have said is: “There is no god but Allah, alone, He has no partners. To Him belongs the dominion and all praise and He has power over all things.”
and
Sayyiduna `Ali narrates that the supplication that the Prophet made most on the Day of Arafah was “O Allah to You belongs all praise, as we praise You and better than that. O Allah my prayer, worship, life and death are for You, and to You is my return. Everything I possess, my Lord, returns to You. O Allah I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, the whispering of the devil and from my affairs being in disarray. O Allah I seek refuge in You from the evil which the wind carries.”
For the Arabic version, click here
Also, don’t forget that Eid Takbirs begin from Fajr of the day of Arafah, till Asr of the 13th (the last of the Days of Tashriq), and that there is great benefit in giving life to the night before Eid, by standing in prayer, reading Quran, or doing Dhikr etc. “Whoever spends the nights of the two ‘Eid in praying voluntary prayers, seeking reward from Allah, his heart will not die on the Day when hearts will die.” (Sunan Ibn Majah).
What is primarily meant is safety on the Day of Judgement but even in this life the majority of people’s hearts are dead, starved of the remembrance of Allah and heedless of the return to Him. Remembering Allah on nights such as these, however, when most people are busy with other things, will give life and tranquillity to our hearts.
And remember don’t forget to give a Prophetic, Quality Qurbani, as it means suffering families get to have meat after many months, and sometimes years!
