Fasting on The Day of Arafah

As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum,

Bismillāh:

On the authority of Abū Qatādah al-Anṣārī (1):

…The Messenger of Allāh, prayers and peace upon him, was asked about fasting on The Day of ‘Arafah. [He, prayers and peace upon him, replied]: ‘Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah is an expiation of last year’s and next year’s sins.’ [Collected by Muslim/#1162]

[Issues Pertaining to this Prophetic Tradition]

[1]: What is ‘Arafah?

Shaykh al-‘Uthaymīn [d. 1421 AH], may Allāh have mercy on him, said:

‘Arafah is a well-known place related to the rites of Ḥajj, and standing at ‘Arafah is a pillar of Hajj [i.e. it is something that the pilgrim must do]…The Messenger of Allāh said: ‘Hajj is ‘Arafah.’ (2)/(3)

[2]: What is The Day of ‘Arafah?

He (Shaykh al-‘Uthaymīn), may Allāh have mercy on him, also said:

The Day of ‘Arafah is the ninth of Thūl Ḥijjah according to the Islamic calendar. It has been named The Day of ‘Arafah because it is the day when all pilgrims stand at ‘Arafah. (4)

[3]: Benefits from This Prophetic Tradition:

Shaykh al-‘Uthaymīn [d. 1421 AH], may Allāh have mercy on him, said (summarized): Some benefits of this Prophetic practice are what follows:

1. The diligence of the Companions in seeking beneficial knowledge

2. The rewards for performing an action are of two types:

a.) [you will] be given something desirable; or

b.) [you will] have something undesirable removed.

The reward for fasting The Day of ‘Arafah is of the second type (i.e. having something undesirable removed) due to the statement of the Messenger of Allāh: ‘Fasting the day of ‘Arafah is an expiation of last year’s sins.’

3. It is possible for past, as well as future sins to be expiated… (5)

[4]: The Fiqh Ruling on Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah:

In the Ḥanbalī fiqh book Zād al-Mustaqnī, Imām al-Ḥajjāwi [d. 968 AH], may Allāh have mercy him, wrote: “And fasting the day of ‘Arafah is recommended…” (6)

[5]: If a Muslim is performing Ḥajj, does he or she fast The Day of ‘Arafah?:

Al-’Allāmah, Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān, may Allāh preserve him, wrote:

…Prophetic guidance teaches us that it is not recommended for a pilgrim standing at ‘Arafah (i.e. performing Ḥajj) to fast. This is because the Messenger of Allāh, prayers and peace upon him, did not fast while standing at ‘Arafah (7). The reason that he, prayers and peace upon him, did not fast is so that he would have strength to stand and supplicate whilst at ‘Arafah.

So, it is not from the way of the Prophet for a pilgrim to fast on The Day of ‘Arafah. Rather, from his way is not to fast on that day (i.e. if one is a pilgrim performing Ḥajj). (8)

[6]: When is The Day of ‘Arafah?:

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, The Day of ‘Arafah is the ninth day of Thūl ‘Ḥijjah according to the Islamic calendar. That will correspond with Monday, November 15th, 2010, Allāh willing.

May Allah, The Most High, grant all of the pilgrims a successful and accepted Ḥajj, and may He, The Most High, grant those who haven’t been given the opportunity to make Ḥajj the chance to do so in the near future. Indeed, He is the One able to answer our supplications.

Strengthen Your Understanding:

1. What is the reward for fasting on The Day of ‘Arafah?

2. When is the day of ‘Arafah according to the Islamic calendar?

3. From the benefits of the Prophetic practice is that the Companions were diligent in seeking knowledge. How was this benefit extracted?

4. What is the ruling on fasting The Day of ‘Arafah?

5. Should a Muslim performing Ḥajj fast on The Day of ‘Arafah?

Compiled and translated by:
Jamīl Finch
Umm al-Qurā University
Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Thūl Hijjah 6, 1431 / November 12, 2010

__________

(1) Al-Ḥārith Abū Qatādah b. Rib’ī al-Anṣārī [d. 54 AH] was a Companion of the Messenger of Allāh, prayers and peace be upon him. [From his virtues] is that he participated in the battle of Uḥud. May Allāh be pleased with him. [Ibn Ḥajr, Taqrīb at-Tahthīb, 1192.]

(2) Authentic: Muḥammad Nāṣr ad-Dīn al-Albānī, Sunan an-Nisā’ī (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Maktabah al-M’ārif, First Edition) 466 / #3016

(3) Muḥammad al-‘Uthaymīn, Explanation of Bulūgh al-Marām (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: The Shaykh al-’Uthaymīn Foundation, 1430AH/2009CE) 355

(4) Ibid

(5) Ibid

(6) Mūsā al-Hajjāwi, Zād al-Mustaqn’i (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Dār ibn al-Jawzī,1428AH) 155

(7) TN: Imām Muslim [d. 261 AH] says: “Chapter: It is recommended for the pilgrim not to fast at ‘Arafah on The Day of ‘Arafah:

“On the authority of Maymūna: The people were in doubt whether the Messenger of Allāh, prayers and peace upon him, was fasting on The Day of ‘Arafat [while performing Ḥajj]. So, she sent him some thick milk (laban) whilst he was standing at ‘Arafat, so he drank from it while the people were looking at him.” [Collected by Muslim/#1124]

(8) Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān, Explanation of Zād al-Mustaqn’i (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Dār al-‘Āṣimah, 1424AH/2004CE) 398

Internet Source: Fasting on The Day of ‘Arafah @ embodyislam.org

InshaAllah this convinces everyone that they should FAST!

WAKE UP FOR SUHOOR & JUST DO IT :)

Biz'nillahh ! & make plenty of DUAS:) please remember me in them inshaAllah!