Good Deed: #78 Fast on day of Arafah

Abû Hafsah, may Allâh be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said: “Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah absolves the sins for two years: the previous year and the coming year, and fasting on ‘ashûra, (the tenth day of Muharram) atones for the sins of previous years.” [Reported by all except al-Bukhârî and Tirmidhî]

Prophet’s wife Hafsah, may Allâh be pleased with her, said:
“Four things the Messenger of Allâh never neglected: Observing fast on the day of ‘ashûra, ‘Arafat, three days every month, and offering fajr sunnah prayers early in the morning.” [Muslim]

If a person is on the hajj, there is no fast for him or her on the day of ‘Arafah. That is undoubtedly a blessing for him because of the hardships of the pilgrimage. In a saying reported by Umm al-Fadl, may Allâh be pleased with her, she said: “The companions doubted whether the Prophet was fasting on ‘Arafah or not. She decided to prove to them that he was not, so she said, ‘I sent to him milk, which he drank while he was delivering the khutbah (sermon) on ‘Arafah.’ ” [Recorded by al-Bukhârî]

The Prophet (peace be upon him)said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafat. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?’” (Saheeh Muslim)

Action Plan

PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR LOCAL SCHOLAR TO FIND OUT WHICH DAY YOU SHOULD FAST TO CORRESPOND WITH DAY OF ARAFAH AS 9th DHUL HIJJAH DIFFERS FROM REGION TO REGION. 

The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar) is the day of ‘Arafah. It is the day when pilgrims stand on the plain of ‘Arafah to pray. On this day, Muslims all over the world who do not witness the annual hajj should spend the day in fasting, in preparation for the three days festivity following ‘Eid ul-Adha (the celebration marking the end of the hajj commemorating the Prophet Ibrâhîm’s willingness of sacrifice).

1. Fasting means to abstain “completely” from foods, drinks, intimate intercourse and smoking, before the break of the dawn till sunset

2. Make an intention to fast

3. Make suhoor before dawn – i.e a very very early breakfast before the time of Fajr sets in and tahajud time ends.

4. Abstain from all things prohibited during fasting i.e. eating, drinking, intercourse.

5. Increase remembrance in Allah – make more dhikr

6. Break fast at sunset. Duas are accepted when a fasting breaks his/her fast.