The Day of Arafa: The Day Most Heavy with Mercy
In the name of Allah. Blessings and peace upon our
Master Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.
There is one day in the year that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him
peace) singled out above all others. The pilgrims stand on the plain of Arafa.
They stand, ask, and weep. And the Lord, the Hearing, the Near, draws nearer.
He (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
«مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ عَبْدًا مِنَ النَّارِ مِنْ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيَدْنُو، ثُمَّ يُبَاهِي بِهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ.»
“There is no day on which Allah frees more servants from the Fire than
the Day of Arafa. He draws near; then He boasts of them before the angels.”
Muslim
The fast that wipes two years
For those of us not on the plain, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him
peace) pointed a way in:
«صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ، أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ.»
“The fast of the Day of Arafa. I hope from Allah that it expiates the
year before it and the year after it.”
Muslim
One day’s fast, with intention before dawn, for the sins of two years.
This is among the greatest rewards promised for a voluntary act.
The best of the duas
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
«خَيْرُ الدُّعَاءِ دُعَاءُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ، وَخَيْرُ مَا قُلْتُ أَنَا وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ قَبْلِي: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ.»
“The best of supplications is the supplication of the Day of Arafa. And
the best of what I and the Prophets before me have said is: There is no deity
but Allah alone, no partner has He; His is the dominion, and His is the praise,
and He is over all things omnipotent.”
Tirmidhi
Imam Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) notes that this dua sits between tawhid
and tawakkul. The one who has placed his matter in the hands of the One Lord
has no second Lord to fear [al-Nawawi, al-Adhkar].
What is asked of you today
Today, fast if you are able. Recite the dua throughout the day, especially
between Asr and Maghrib. Before the day ends, list your requests for yourself,
your loved ones, and the Umma. Put them under
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Allah is sufficient for us, and the Best of Guardians He is.
and ask sincerely.
And the praise is to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
