The day of Arafah 2023

Very soon, on Tuesday, it will be the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, known as the Day of Arafah. There was a Jewish person who came to Umar RA and mentioned a verse from the Quran, saying that if this verse was revealed to the Jews, they would have taken it as a day of celebration. He was referring to the verse,

"Today, I have completed your religion for you." - Surah Al-Mai’idah, Verse 3

 

Umar RA responded with we know the area when it was revealed, and we know where it was revealed. And we know who it was revealed upon, that this verse was revealed on the Day of Arafah when the Messenger (peace be upon him) was giving a sermon to the people. It was a Friday as well. One of the greatest virtues of this day is that Islam was completed on this day . And the completion of Islam on the Day of Arafah signifies that our religion is not in need of anything new or additional. Imaam Malik RH said - “Anyone who introduces something new into Islam is implying that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) betrayed the message of Islam”. Why is this? Because Allah mentions - "Today, I have completed your religion for you."

 

The Day of Arafah holds other great virtues as well, the prophet SAW said as reported by Aisha RA:

“There is no day upon which Allah frees more of His servants from the Hellfire than the day of Arafat. He draws near and then He boasts of them to the angels, saying: What do these servants want?” - Sahih Muslim

It is a day of forgiveness, a day when sins and mistakes are pardoned, a day where a person can change the course of their life. Many people make sincere supplications and worship Allah throughout the day and are forgiven. The prophet SAW describes the significance of the night when he said:

“The Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?” - Bukhari and Muslim.

But he also mentioned that in the day time of Arafah:

“ …Allah descends to the lowest heaven and He boasts to the inhabitants of the heavens about the inhabitants of the earth…” Ibn Hibban

 

For those performing Hajj then it is recommended for them to make dua to Allah in the sunlight in the area of Arafah . As for whether people should come to the masjid and make dua then this is a discussion amongst scholars. Imaam Ahmed said Ibn Abbas used to do it in Basra and so did a few other companions and so it is not a sunnah of the messenger of Allah SAW but permissible and Imaam Ahmed allowed the people to do so, but did not himself. 

 

Something else a believer should do on this day is to fast. The prophet SAW said:
 

“I hope from Allah (Most High) that fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah, expiates for the sins of the year before it and the year after it.” - Muslim

So just by fasting on this day there is a chance that Allah forgives our sins of the previous and upcoming year. It is a tremendous opportunity to have all your sins forgiven in one day. I encourage those who have not performed Hajj yet to make the intention in their hearts to do so next year, and do not let anxiety hold you back from this blessed journey.

 

Let us prioritize visiting the House of Allah, the sacred Kaaba, over other worldly vacations. The House of Allah is truly superior. May Allah facilitate our Hajj and accept our worship.