Is fasting on the Day of 'Arafah expiation for major sins?
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The questioner : Is fasting on the Day of 'Arafah expiation for major sins?
The Shaykh : The apparent meaning of the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)Sunan Ibn Majah 1730Sahih (Darussalam) is that it expiates major sins, but many of the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said that it does not expiate major sins, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Mishkat al-Masabih 564 They said: If the obligatory prayer, which is the best of bodily deeds, does not expiate [sins] unless one abandons major sins, then other deeds are even more so.
Accordingly, we say that fasting on the Day of 'Arafah expiates the year before it and the year after it, but only with regard to minor sins. As for major sins, an independent repentance is required for them.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The apparent meaning of the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)
expiates for the sins of the year before and the year after
إنه يُكفّر السنة التي قبله والتي بعدهThe five [daily] prayers, Friday to Friday and Ramadan to Ramadan make atonement for what has happened since the previous one when major sins have been avoided.
الصلوات الخمس والجمعة إلى الجمعة ورمضان إلى رمضان مكفرات لما بينهن ما لم تغشى الكبائرAccordingly, we say that fasting on the Day of 'Arafah expiates the year before it and the year after it, but only with regard to minor sins. As for major sins, an independent repentance is required for them.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.