Keeping Fast on the Day of Arafah - The 9th of Zil-Hijjah

Question:

1. What is the benefit and excellence of fasting on the day of Arafah, i.e. on the 9th of Zil-Hijjah?

2. Is fasting on the day of Arafah for non-Hajis, i.e. those who are not performing Hajj, or is it generalised for those who are on the Plains of Arafat as well?

Answer:

1.

It is indeed significant and this is evident from the Hadith Shareef. It is reported from Hazrat Abu Qatadah رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ that Rasoolullah ﷺ said,

‘I sense that the fast of Arafah will erase the sins of the preceding year, and the following year.’

[Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud, Tirmizi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah]

Similar narrations are reported from Sahl bin Sa’ad, Abu Sa’eed Al Khudri, Abdullah ibn Umar and Zaid bin Arqam RadiyAllahu Ta.ala Anhum.

Also, It is reported from Ummul Mo’mineen Sayyidatuna A’isha Siddiqa رضى الله تعالى عنها that Rasoolullah ﷺ used to say that,

the fast of the Day of Arafah is equal to thousands (of fasts).

[Baihaqi and Tabrani]

2.

This ruling excludes those who are performing Hajj and are on the plains of Arafat. For them to fast on the Day of Arafah is Makruh.

It is reported from Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ that Rasoolullah ﷺ forbade us from fasting on the Day of Arafah, while (we are present) on the plains of Arafat.

[Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Khuzaimah]

References

1. Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud, Tirmizi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaimah

2. Bahar e Shari'at, Allama Mufti Amjaid Ali Aazmi

[ English Translation ]

Mufti Afthab Cassim al-Qadri Ridawi Noori

Imam Mustafa Raza Research Center,

Durban, South Africa