Significance & Virtues of the Day of Arafah

Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for TWO years:

The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah is the day of ’Arafah, since it is on this day that the pilgrims gather at the mountain plain of ’Arafah, praying and supplicating to their Lord. It is mustahabb (highly recommended) for those who are not pilgrims to fast on this day, since the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم was asked about fasting on the day of ’Arafah, so he said,

“It expiates the sins (Minor) of the past year and the coming year.”

[Muslim (no. 1162)]

Imaam at-Tirmidhee رحمه الله said,

“The People of Knowledge consider it recommended to fast on the day of ’Arafah, except for those at ’Arafah.”

[Muslim (no. 1348)]

Ten Points for the First Ten days of Dhul-Hijjah

 

1. The first ten days are actually nine days with the addition of the day of Eid. It is called the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, but only nine of it is for fasting as the tenth day is the beginning of Eid. It is impermissible to fast on the day of Eid, this is a consensus amongst the people of knowledge.

2. It is permissible to fast the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah with the last day being the day of Arafah for those not doing Hajj. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said in a hadith narrated by ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما (in at-Tirimidhi):

“There are not any days that good deeds are more beloved to Allaah than those done in these ten days.”

3. In these days, it is recommended that there is a lot of remembrance of Allaah سبحان و تعالى - this is for all of the ten days.

4. In these days, it is recommended that one makes takbir of Allaah (saying Allaahu akbar) - this is for all of the ten days.

5. In these days, it is recommended to read the Qur'aan as much as possible and give charity - this is for all of the ten days.

6. The ninth day is the day of Arafah. The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم said in an authentic narration:

“Verily on the day of Arafah there is expiation of sins for the year before and the year after.”

(Abi Qatada رضي الله عنه, reported in Sahih Muslim and At-Tirmidhi).

So therefore it is a great day, so it is recommended to fast that day for those not doing Hajj. Fasting is only permissible for the first nine days as the tenth day is the day of Eid.

Which is MORE beneficial: First 10 days of Dhul Hijjah OR last 10 days of Ramadhan?

Sheikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله was asked

(as mentioned by Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله):

Question: Which is MORE virtuous & beneficial, the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah or the last 10 days of Ramadhan?

Answer: The 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are more virtuous than the last 10 days of Ramadhan, and the last 10 nights of Ramadaan are more virtuous than the last 10 nights of Dhul Hijjah.

Thereafter, his illustrious student and great scholar Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله commented on this verdict and said,

“And if the intelligent and noble one was to reflect upon this answer, he would find it satisfactory and sufficient. For indeed there are no days (in the year) more beloved to Allaah that righteous actions are done within them than the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, since within them are the days of Ara’faah (9th day of Dhul Hijjah) and the day of Nahr (10th day) and the day of Tarwiyah (8th day). As for the 10 nights of Ramadhan they are the nights of revitalization which the Messenger صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم used to be up and awake within them all, and within it is a night which is better than a 1000 months. So, whoever answers without such an elaboration then he is incapable to prove his statement with authentic evidences.”

[Taken from the book Bada’ee Al-Fawaaid of Ibnul Qayyim, under the chapter, ‘The preference between Aa’isha & Faatimah’]

DO NOT Cut Hair Or Nails For The One Doing The Sacrifice

From what is considered as righteous actions on these ten days is that the one who wants to do the Udhiyyah (sacrificial slaughter) should NOT cut his hair or nails during these ten days. As such, it is desired that he commits himself before these ten days by cutting his hair and nails.

The Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:

"When any one of you intending to sacrifice the animal enters in the month (of Dhul-Hijjah) he should NOT get his hair or nails touched, (cut)."

[Muslim]

The Affluent have made off with the Rewards...!

Also on the authority of Abu Dharr رضي اللّه عنـه that some people from amongst the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said to the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم: O Messenger of Allaah, the affluent have made off with the rewards; they pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give [much] in charity by virtue of their wealth. 
 

He صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said :

"Has not Allaah made things for you to give in charity ? Truly every tasbeehah [saying: subhaan Allaah] is a charity, and every takbeerah [saying: Allaahu akbar] is a charity, and every tahmeedah [saying: al-hamdu lillaah] is a charity, and every tahleelah [saying: laa ilaaha illaa Allaah] is a charity. And commanding the good is a charity, and forbidding an evil is a charity, and in the bud'i [sexual act] of each one of you there is a charity.

They said : O Messenger of Allaah, when one of us fulfills his carnal desire will he have some reward for that ?

He صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said : Do you not see that if he were to act upon it [his desire] in an unlawful manner then he would be deserving of punishment ? Likewise, if he were to act upon it in a lawful manner then he will be deserving of a reward."  (Muslim)

The Evil Consequences of Lying - Khutbah

                                                                         

- by Sheikh Saleh al Uthaimeen رحمه الله

O people! Fear Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى and be among those who are truthful in their worship to Allaah and in their treatment of His servants. Be sincere to Allaah in your worship, with no showing off or seeking of reputation. Abide by the commands of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى in order to attain nearness to Him and obtain His good rewards; shun His prohibitions in order to avoid being far from His mercy and being liable to His punishment. Do not seek anyone’s praise for your worship of Allaah, for He سُبحانه وتعالى is the One Who does not stand in need of a partner. If anyone does anything in which he associates anyone else with Him, He shall abandon him to the one whom he associates with Allaah.

Be truthful to the Messenger of Allaah صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم without failing to follow his Sunnah and without introducing innovation to it. Be truthful to people when you deal with them, telling them the truth and explaining to them the reality. Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى  orders you to be truthful when He says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ

“O you who have believed! Fear Allaah and be with those who are true [in word and deed].”

(At-Tawbah 9:119)

 Click to read the Khutbah

Shaitaan says : “If you miss him now , you will never catch him again....”

                                                          By Ibnul Jawzi رحمه الله

When death befalls someone, he should know that it is an hour of serious suffering because it is a moment of severe pain, when he is leaving all objects of love, his loved ones, and to all that the horror of the throes of death and fear of where his wealth go. Then Shaitaan comes and attempts to have the slave [of Allaah] become discontent with his Lord, he tells him ‘Look at you! What made you die? Is it painful? You are leaving your wife, your children and you will be laid under the ground? So he might cause him to become discontent with his Lord, hating Allaah’s decree, making him say things that include any kind of objection, or he might make him unjust in his will, giving some of the inheritors preference over others, to on and so forth. In this case, we need to cure the whispers of Shaitaan and cure the self .

Abu Dawood reported from Abu al-Yusr (رضي اللّه عنـه) that the Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) used to say,

 أَعُوْذ بكَ أْن يَتَخَبـطَنيَ الشيطَانَ عِنْدَ المَوْت   

'Aoozu bika ay-yatha khabbathaniyash Shaitaana indal Mawth'

“I seek refuge in You that Shaitaan flounders me at death." ^[1]

In that minute Shaitaan tells his assistants,

“If you miss him now [i.e. you do not succeed to lead him astray before he dies], you will never catch him again [i.e. you will never be able to deviate him at any other time].”