The day of Arafah is the day of forgiveness
Sarah Tarek
Founder of ALIMAANONLINE LTD| Raising under SEIS Pre-Seed now?? MSc Marketing at University of London
HISTORY OF THE DAY OF ARAFAH
The Day of Arafah has historical and religious significance within Islam as it commemorates several important events and milestones. Here are some key historical aspects associated with the Day of Arafah -
?The Day of Arafah is connected to the story of Prophet Ibrahim AS and his family. It is believed that Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail were instructed by Allah to build the Kaaba, the sacred house of worship in Mecca. The Day of Arafah symbolises the culmination of their journey and their steadfastness in fulfilling the divine command.
Overall, the Day of Arafah encompasses historical events related to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his final sermon, the completion of the Quran, the origin of the Hajj pilgrimage through Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), and the concept of repentance as exemplified by Adam and Eve. These historical elements contribute to the spiritual and historical significance of the Day of Arafah within the Islamic faith.
DAY OF ARAFAH TRADITIONS
The yearly pilgrimage of Hajj is compulsory for all Muslims. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and is the holiest time of the year in the religion of Islam. The pilgrimage has seven rites and traditions that are followed in order. The House of Allah — The Holy Kaaba, is circulated around seven times. Next, Muslims spend a day praying on Mount Arafat, followed by an overnight stay in Muzdalifah. A ritual of throwing stones symbolizing ‘stoning of the devil’ is performed, then the distance between Al-Safa and Al-Mawra is covered seven times. Lastly, the farewell Tawaaf is performed in a counterclockwise direction. The Hajj rituals are much more elaborate than this, but these steps are the basics.
Those who cannot travel to Mecca for the pilgrimage spend the day intensely supplicating, praying, and fasting. The Day of Arafah carries a great spiritual reward for Muslims.
Significance:
The Day of Arafah is significant for its emphasis on forgiveness, mercy, repentance, spiritual cleansing, unity and the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage. It is a day of immense importance and a time for Muslims to seek closeness to Allah, seek forgiveness and reflect on their faith and actions.
It is believed that on the Day of Arafah, Allah forgives the sins of those who sincerely repent and seek forgiveness hence, Muslims around the world strive to maximise their supplications and seek mercy on this day. The Day of Arafah is seen as a golden opportunity for Muslims to purify their hearts, seek spiritual cleansing and gain closeness to Allah.
The Day of Arafah is the central day of the Hajj pilgrimage, which is one of the five pillars of Islam and the day is considered the pinnacle of the Hajj journey. Pilgrims gather in the plain of Arafat and engage in acts of worship, such as prayer, recitation of the Quran, supplication and reflection. Standing on the Mount of Mercy is particularly significant, as it is believed to be the place where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his final sermon. The Day of Arafah is an integral part of fulfilling the obligations of the Hajj pilgrimage.
The Day of Arafah is seen as an opportunity for spiritual cleansing and renewal and Muslims are encouraged to engage in self-reflection, introspection and repentance. It is a day to seek forgiveness, rectify one's behaviour and make positive changes in one's life. The day is marked by devotion, humility and a sincere commitment to personal and spiritual growth.
Arafat symbolises the unity and equality of all Muslims before Allah as pilgrims from diverse backgrounds, nationalities and social statuses come together in Arafat, dressed in the same simple attire of ihram. This gathering emphasises the oneness of the Muslim Ummah (community) and the universal brotherhood/sisterhood in Islam. The Day of Arafah serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of unity, empathy, and compassion.
It is basically the climax of Hajj when Muslim pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat and offer a day-long prayer with recitations of the Quran. Since Mount Arafat is approximately 15 kms away from Mecca, the Muslim pilgrims spend a day there to perform the rituals and live in tents from dawn to dusk.
It was on Mount Arafat that Prophet Mohammed gave his last sermon of Islam hence, pilgrims stand here united as a dignified ritual, to seek forgiveness through reflection and prayer and it is this moment that may be described as “standing before God”. While fasting on the Day of Arafah is prohibited for the pilgrims, it is a highly recommended Sunnah for non-pilgrims as it entails a great reward with the belief that Allah forgives the sins of two years.
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Since Arafah Day is viewed by Muslims as a day of gratitude, the next day is celebrated as Eid-ul-Adha which marks another sacrifice by Prophet Ibrahim. This joyous occasion marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage and lasts for three days where Muslims worldwide commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah. Eid al-Adha is a time of community, charity, sharing meals and spreading happiness.
Things to Do on the Day of Arafah
The Day of Arafah fasting is highly encouraged and recommended for those not going on Hajj.
"Fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year." (Muslim)
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said of the Day of Arafah dua:
?"The most excellent dua is the dua on the Day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said is "There is nothing that deserves to be worshipped in truth except Allah; he is Alone and has no partner, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is All-Powerful over all things.'" (Muwatta)
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It is a Sunnah of our Prophet (PBUH) to recite the Tahleel, Takbeer, and Tahmeed as many times as possible on the day of Arafah and also on the days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah).
Tahleel is to say "Laa ilaaha il-lal-laah"
Takbeer is to say "Allahu Akbar"
Tahmeed is to say "Alhamdulillaah"
Tasbeeh is to say "Subhanallaah".
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"On this day, Allah, the most Exalted, descends to the nearest heaven, and He is proud of His servants on the earth and says to those in heavens, look at My servants, they have come from far and near, with hair dishevelled and faces covered with dust, to seek my Mercy. Even if their sins are as much the sand or the froth of the sea, I shall forgive them."