Question 155: What are the virtues of the day of Arafat? Is it haram to fast on this Day?
Answer 155: There are numerous virtues claimed for the 9th of Dhu ’l-Hijjah which is known as yawm al-‘Arafah. This is the day where the pilgrims assemble on the plain of ‘Arafah to complete one of the essential rituals of the Hajj.
There are also many prayers in Shia literature, including performing Ghusl and the famous supplication known as “Du’a ‘Arafah” ascribed to Imam Husayn ibn Ali (AS), that are to be recited on this day as well as fasting, forgiveness of the sins (it is expected that Allah will expiate the sins committed the previous year) and etc. that are some of the Importance and the Virtues of the Day of Arafa.[1]
Arabic version:
عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ جُنْدَبٍ فِي الْمَوْقِفِ فَلَمْ أَرَ مَوْقِفاً كَانَ أَحْسَنَ مِنْ مَوْقِفِهِ مَا زَالَ مَادّاً يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ دُمُوعُهُ تَسِيلُ عَلَى خَدَّيْهِ حَتَّى تَبْلُغَ الْأَرْضَ. فَلَمَّا صَدَرَ النَّاسُ قُلْتُ لَهُ: يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ مَا رَأَيْتُ مَوْقِفاً قَطُّ أَحْسَنَ مِنْ مَوْقِفِكَ! قَالَ: وَ اللَّهِ مَا دَعَوْتُ إِلَّا لِإِخْوَانِي وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (ع) أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّ مَنْ دَعَا لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ نُودِيَ مِنَ الْعَرْشِ وَ لَكَ مِائَةُ أَلْفِ ضِعْفٍ، فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَدَعَ مِائَةَ أَلْفٍ مَضْمُونَةٍ لِوَاحِدَةٍ لا أَدْرِي تُسْتَجَابُ أَمْ لا.
According to Imam Ali (AS), Arafat is the Place where it is out of Haram of Allah. Muhrim (after wearing the ihram) needs to go out of Mecca, out of the Haram and then come back later on after a few obligations and supplicate to Allah in order to be deserving inter to the Haram of Allah. The reason one is supposed to do so is that a person who comes from his polluted tedious life into such a Holy place, he is not prepared for it and for this reason he is sent to such plains and valleys so that he can be trained and made capable of going to the Kaaba.[2]
Therefore, in the Holy Quran Allah (SWT) says: “And when We made the House a place Of assembly for mankind and a place Of safety, We stated:” Take you] People [the Station of Ibrahim as a Place for prayer.” And We Commanded Ibrahim and Ismail:” You should Sanctify My House for those who Compass it round, or use it as a place For Divine retreat, or bow or Prostrate [in prayer].””[3]
One’s condition is recognized when one visits the House of Allah, and the style of circumambulating shows how engrossed the person was in his daily mundane earlier. This is why he is sent to Arafah where he spends half a day then a whole night in Muzdalifah, following 3 days in Mina and then he returns back to the Haram of God. Imam says that Allah has kept His Wisdom behind this sequence. He wants a person to leave the old routine and be prepared to that extent that he can step into the next phase.
Imam Ali (as) says, it is the day to recognize yourself and your Creator. The famous saying which goes, “Whoever recognizes himself, recognizes his Creator” (man ‘arafa nafsahu faqad ‘arafa Rabbahu) is narrated for this Day.[4]
The Day of Arafah is the “Day of Acceptance and Confession”. This confession is of many things which can lead us to our sublime goal, confession of us being servants of God, confession of Allah being the Supreme Lord, confession of our sins, defects, ignorance, immoralities, mistakes, failure, and confession of Allah’s Mercy, Benevolence, and Forgiveness.[5]
Note: It is Makrooh to fast on ‘Ashura (10th of Muharram). It is also Makrooh to fast on the day about which one is not sure whether it is the day of ‘Arafa or Eid-ul-Azha. But, it is haraam to fast on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha.[6]
For further information in this regards, please refer to the following answer:
Index: Fasting on Arafat Day / Mustahab Fast, answer 455.
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[1] . Kuleini, Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 508.
[2] . Kuleini, Al-Kafi, Vol. 4, Pg. 224.
[3] . Surah Al-Bagharah, verse 125.
[4] . Mafatihul Jinan, Dua Kumail.
[5] . For further information in this regards, please refer to Mafatih al-Jinan.
[6] . The official website of the office of Sayyid Sistani (ha), rules concerning “Fasting » Haraam and Makrooh fasts”.