In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
All praise and adoration is due to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon the noblest of mankind – Muhammad Ibn AbduLlaah (SallaLlaahu ‘alayhi wa salam), his household, companions, and those who thread his path till the day of recompense.
“If any day will be your game changer, it will be the day of Arafah”
WHAT MAKES THE DAY DAY OF ‘ARAFAH EXCELLENT?
1. Allaah, the Most High swears by the Day of ‘Arafah
‘By the sky containing constellations. And (by) the promised day. And (by) a witness and one witnessed’. [Qur’an, 85:1-3]
Regarding these verses, Abu Hurayrah (radiyaLlaahu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallaLlaahu ‘alayhi wa salam) said: “The Promised Day is: The Day of Resurrection; and the day which is witnessed is: the day of ‘Arafah; and the witness is: the day of Friday. The sun does not rise or set upon a day that is more virtuous than it (i.e. the Day of ‘Arafah)…” Reported by At-Tirmidhee and was declared Hasan (sound) by Al-Albaanee in his Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmidhee (no.3339).
2. Arafah was the day on which Allah perfected His religion.
In Al-Saheehayn it was reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a Jewish man said to him, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is an aayah in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid (festival).”
‘Umar said, “Which aayah?” He said: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [al-Maa’idah 5:3 – interpretation of the meaning]. ‘Umar said, “We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). It was when he was standing in ‘Arafaah on a Friday.”
3. It is a day of tremendous forgiveness
The Prophet (SallaLlaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) 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)].
Aisha (radiyaLlaahu ‘anha) also narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (SallaLlaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
((There is no day in which Allaah sets free more slaves from the Hell-Fire than He does on the Day of ‘Arafah))
– Reported by Muslim (no.1277).
RECOMMENDED ACTS ON THE DAY OF ‘ARAFAH
- FAST
It is highly recommended for those who are not pilgrims to fast on this day. The Prophet (SallaLlaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) when asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah said: ’It (fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah) expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year (i.e. those sins will be forgiven)’. [Muslim] - MAKE DU’A:
Do not neglect making du’a on ’Arafah! Whilst you might have many beneficial du’as to take off your bucket list, ensure you say this du’a as much as you can on the day of ’Arafah:
3. SEEK ALLAH’S FORGIVENESS
Even if you are not standing on the plains of Arafah, do not hesitate to seek Allah’s forgiveness wherever you might be. As mentioned above, this day is a day of tremendous forgiveness.
4. MAKE A LOT OF DHIKR
It is a Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SallaLlaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to recite the Tahleel (La ilaha ill-Allah), Takbir (Allahu Akbar), Tasbeeh (SubhanaLlaah) and Tahmid (AlhamduliLlaah) as many times as possible on the day of Arafah, and also on the days of Tashriq (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah).
On a final note, unlike the the night of Laylatul Qadr, which is unknown, the Day of ‘Arafah is well-known, hence we should strive to make the best of this day, and have our sins forgiven by Allah.
‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez 
delivered a Khutbah (sermon) at ‘Arafah and said, “O people, you have come from near and far distances, exhausted your camels, and worn out your clothes. The winner today is not the one whose camel is ahead, but rather it is the one whose sins are forgiven.”
Praise be to Allah – the Lord of the worlds.
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Jazakumulahu khairan