The Day of Arafat is the only day when Muslims gather together at Arafat Mountain in an act of unity to pray and fast for their religion and to offer sacrifices as they remember that Abraham offered Ishmael, It is called the Day of Repentance
Indeed, the day of Arafat is a blessed day and there is no other covenant greater than this covenant! Arafat is a day of Forgiveness from sins, freedom from the Hell-Fire for the people who are present in the plain of Arafat. A’ishah (radhi Allâhu anha) narrated the Messenger of Allâh (sallAllâhu alaihi wa-sallam) saying:
“There is no day on which Allâh frees more people from the Fire than the day of Arafat. [Sahîh Muslim]
( ما من يوم أكثر من أن يعتق الله فيه عبدا من النار من يوم عرفة) رواه مسلم في الصحيح.
This Hâdîth mentions forgiveness for the pilgrims. In addition to this, fasting on the day of Arafat is a Sunnah and an expiation of sins for the residents.
يوم عرفة أحد الأيام العشرة المفضلة في أعمالها على غيرها من أيام السنة: قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : (ما من عمل أزكى عند الله - عز وجل- ولا أعظم أجرا من خير يعمله في عشر الأضحى قيل: ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله - عز وجل- ؟ قال ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله - عز وجل- إلا رجل خرج بنفسه وماله فلم يرجع من ذلك بشيء) رواه الدارمي وحسن
“The Messenger of Allâh (sallAllâhu alaihi wa-sallam) used to fast on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, on the day of Ashûrah, on three days of each month, and on the first two Mondays and Thursdays of each month.”(Sahîh)
صيام يوم عرفة : فقد جاء الفضل في صيام هذا اليوم على أنه أحد أيام تسع ذي الحجة عن بعض أزواج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قالت : (كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يصوم تسع ذي الحجة ويوم عاشوراء وثلاثة أيام من كل شهر : أول اثنين من الشهر وخميسين) صححه الألباني .
It is reported in Sahîh Muslim that when the Messenger of Allâh (sallAllâhu alaihi wa-sallam) was asked about the fasting on the day of Arafat, he said:
“It expiates the sins of the previous year and that of the following year.” [Sahîh Muslim]كما جاء فضل خاص لصيام يوم عرفة دون هذه التسع قال الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم عندما سئل عن صيام يوم عرفة : يكفر السنة الماضية والسنة القابلة) رواه مسلم في الصحيح
This fasting is Mustahabb only for the non-pilgrims and not for the Hajis (the pilgrims) because it was not the practice of Allâh’s Messenger (sallAllâhu alaihi wa-sallam) to fast on the day of Arafat during pilgrimage and in a narration he also forbade doing so. Imâm at-Tirmidhî said
“The People of Knowledge consider it recommended (Mustahabb) to fast on the day of Arafat, except for those at Arafat.” [Jâmi'ut-Tirmidhî (3/377)]
عظم الدعاء يوم عرفة قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: (خير الدعاء دعاء يوم عرفة ) صححه الألباني
Dua of Ibrahim(Abraham (A.S) for Allah to make him a muslim
رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَآ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ (2:128)
"Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our Manasik (all the ceremonies of pilgrimage - Hajj and 'Umrah, etc.), and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.......Al-Qur'an, 2.128
May Allah accept their Hajj and wash all your sins and make you all like a born baby and inspire us to go for Hajj next year Aa'meen.
