Merits and Benefits of Fasting on the Day of Arafah, best day of the year
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
Praise be to God the Creator of the world, the One Who exists without beginning, without end, without location, without a "how" and Who does not depend on time. Nothing resembles Him in anyway and He hears and sees everything without organs. Whatever you imagine, God is different from that. May the elevation in degree and preservation of his community of what he fears for it, be granted to our master Muḥammad Al-'Amin, the Honest One, who called for following Islam, the religion of truth, the religion of all the Prophets: of the first, Adam, to the last Muḥammad.
The day of `Arafah, 9 dhu l-Ḥijjah. It is recommended to fast on the day of `Arafah.
In the ṣaḥīḥ of Muslim, according to Abû Qatâdah the Messenger of Allâh ṣalla l-Lâhu `alayhi wa sallam was questioned on the fast of the day of `Arafah, he said which means: "it atones for the sins of the previous year and the following year”.
Among these benefits `Arafah is the best day of the year. Thus the companion Jabir Ibnou `Abdi l-Lâh, may Allâh accept his deeds, reported from the Prophet ṣalla l-Lâhu `alayhi wa sallam that he said which means: "The best of days is the day of `Arafah"
Allâh ta`âlâ said:
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّـهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ۚ وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّـهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٠٣﴾
Ayah 103 of Surat Ali `Imran means: "Adhere to the true Religion of Allâh and do not disunite. Recall the endowment of Allâh upon you that you were enemies and Allâh mended your hearts together and you became brothers in Islam, and you were on the edge of a pit of Fire, and Allâh saved you from it. Thus Allâh ta`ala makes His signs clear to you, so that you may be guided".
Brothers in Islam ; The nation of Prophet Muhammad today is eagerly awaiting a time to witness the best manifestation of unity, where Muslims with diverse appearances and different mother tongues meet under the banner of tawhid, gathered over one land, supplicating to ONE God, Allâh.
At `Arafah Muslims say:
“لبّيك اللهمّ لبّيك، لبّيك لا شريك لك لبّيك، إنّ الحمد والنعمة لك والملك، لا شريك لك”
Which means: O Allâh, I obey Your Order, I obey You time after time. You are the One without a partner; I shall obey You time after time. You are the One who deserves to be praised and thanked, every endowment is from You and everything is under Your Dominion. There is no partner with You.
A moment which the eyes are drawn to, a moment which the hearts ache for and a moment which fills the eyes with tears longing for those precious lands, longing for the lands of Makkah, Mina and `Arafah.
{واعتصموا بحبل الله}
Is an order from Allâh to adhere to the true religion, to remain within its boundaries and maintain unity.
{ ولا تفرّقوا }
And do not disunite because disunity causes weakness whereas unity results in strength.
{واذكروا نعمة الله عليكم}
And recall the endowment of Allâh upon you, the belief in Him, The Exalted.
Allâh mentioned in the Quran that the companions of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him were united by the belief in Allâh and his messenger. They loved one another and became united brothers under the banner of “No one is God except Allâh and Muhammad is the messenger of Allâh”. Their goal of raising this banner paved a path of righteousness bringing them together in obedience to Allâh with sincerity.
Brothers in Islam, hold on to the teachings of the Quran and to the methodology of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him to be saved in the Hereafter. During his Hajj, Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him delivered a great speech. Among what he said was: “O people, I have given you what protects you from going astray, the Quran and my methodology. Always remember that Muslims are brothers to one another and that it is unlawful for one to take anything from his brother without consent, do not commit injustices and never apostatize ending up killing one another”.
Allâh ta`ala Says:
{وكنتم على شفا حفرة من النار فأنقذكم منها}
This Ayah means: They were rescued from Hell by embracing Islam. Those who die while associating partners with Allâh or committing any type of blasphemy such as denying the Existence of Allâh or mocking Him or mocking the religion of Islam or a Prophet or an angel enters Hell for ever after never to depart it or get relieved of its torture.
In the end we ask Allâh to grant us piety and help us share with one another the virtue of brotherhood.
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