What is prescribed to be done on the Day of Standing at 'Arafah?
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The questioner : What is prescribed to be done on the Day of Standing at 'Arafah?
The Shaykh : I do not know whether the questioner wants to know what is prescribed for those standing at 'Arafah or for the general public? But we will answer both, if Allah wills. As for the first: it is prescribed for those standing at 'Arafah to make use of this day with what the Sunnah has brought from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on this day departed from Mina after the sun had risen, then he stopped at Namirah until the sun passed its zenith, then he mounted his mount and stopped in the valley, where he prayed the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers and delivered the sermon to the people, (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he headed to the standing place which he chose to stand in, which is east of 'Arafah at the mountain called Mount of Mercy, and he stood there until the sun set, calling upon Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and remembering Him with what he calls upon Him with and remembering Him. It is necessary for a person to make use of this day with what is beneficial, especially the end of the day, which should be utilized with supplication, remembrance, and humility before Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). It is good to supplicate with something whose meaning one knows, so that one knows what one is asking Allah for. As for what some people do, carrying books containing supplications and supplicating with them while not knowing their meaning, this is of very little benefit. But what one should do is read or supplicate with a supplication whose meaning one knows, so that one knows what one has asked one's Lord for.
As for those who are not standing at 'Arafah, what they should do is fast this day, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about fasting on the Day of 'Arafah and he said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 749Da'if (Darussalam) They should also make use of it with remembrance, takbir, and recitation of the Qur'an, because the Day of 'Arafah is one of the ten days, I mean the ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah, about which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Mishkat al-Masabih 1460 They said: O Messenger of Allah! And not even jihad in the cause of Allah? He said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1727Sahih (Darussalam) Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. In his second question, the listener, is he from Sudan? He says: Your Eminence, the Shaykh.
The Shaykh : I do not know whether the questioner wants to know what is prescribed for those standing at 'Arafah or for the general public? But we will answer both, if Allah wills. As for the first: it is prescribed for those standing at 'Arafah to make use of this day with what the Sunnah has brought from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on this day departed from Mina after the sun had risen, then he stopped at Namirah until the sun passed its zenith, then he mounted his mount and stopped in the valley, where he prayed the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers and delivered the sermon to the people, (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he headed to the standing place which he chose to stand in, which is east of 'Arafah at the mountain called Mount of Mercy, and he stood there until the sun set, calling upon Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and remembering Him with what he calls upon Him with and remembering Him. It is necessary for a person to make use of this day with what is beneficial, especially the end of the day, which should be utilized with supplication, remembrance, and humility before Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). It is good to supplicate with something whose meaning one knows, so that one knows what one is asking Allah for. As for what some people do, carrying books containing supplications and supplicating with them while not knowing their meaning, this is of very little benefit. But what one should do is read or supplicate with a supplication whose meaning one knows, so that one knows what one has asked one's Lord for.
As for those who are not standing at 'Arafah, what they should do is fast this day, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about fasting on the Day of 'Arafah and he said:
I anticipate that Allah will forgive (the sins) of the year after it, and the year before it.
أحتسب على الله أن يُكفّر السنة التي قبله والسنة التي بعدهThere are no days in which a good deed is more pleasing to God than these ten days.
ما من أيام العمل الصالح فيهن أحب إلى الله من هذه الأيام العشرةNot even Jihad in the cause of Allah, unless a man goes out with himself and his wealth and does not bring anything back.
ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله إلا رجل خرج بنفسه وماله ولم يرجع من ذلك بشيءThe questioner : May Allah reward you. In his second question, the listener, is he from Sudan? He says: Your Eminence, the Shaykh.