4 Ways to Earn Hasanat on the Day of Arafah

The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are for The Good work as in “Al ‘Amal Al Saleh”, which continues on the day of Arafah. It holds a wide meaning of works to perform, but as a priority, it includes preserving the imposed prayers on time (once the Athan takes place), keeping the kinship relations, Sadaqah … ‏"‏مَا الْعَمَلُ فِي أَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِي هَذِهِ ‏"‏‏‏ قَالُوا وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ، إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ يُخَاطِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِشَىْءٍ ‏"‏‏ (رواه البخاري) The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja)." Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Not even Jihad?" He replied, "Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property/money in danger for Allah's sake and does not return with any of those things'' (Al Bukhari) The 9th of Dhul Hijjah is one of the best days of the year, because it is the day of Arafah, when all the pilgrims reach the mountain of Arafah to perform the most important pillar of Hajj (pilgrimage). It is a significant day because a special Ayah from the Holy Quran was revealed: الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا (3) “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion” (Surah Al Maa’ida, Verse 3) Engaging yourself in worship will keep you away from doing bad deeds. Although this should be done on all days of year long, yet on the day of Arafah worship and obedience are very essential to benefit from the opportunity and get the Ajer. On this blessed day, Allah forgives all sins, the largest and the smallest, those that you know that you have committed and those you don’t realize were done. So, let’s make our joy in Eid come after our obedience to Allah and performance of worship. قال رَسُولَ اللَّهِ (ﷺ): " مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ عَبْدًا مِنَ النَّارِ مِنْ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ وَإِنَّهُ لَيَدْنُو ثُمَّ يُبَاهِي بِهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ فَيَقُولُ مَا أَرَادَ هَؤُلَاءِ " (رَوَاهُ مُسلم) Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “There is no day when Allah sets free more servants from hell than the day of Arafah. He draws near, then praises them to the angels saying, “What do these want?” (Muslim) If you would like to know how to perform the 5th pillar of Islam, you can check our article How to Perform Hajj? For those for whom Allah hasn’t planned Hajj this year, you still can get the essence and the reward, even from your houses. So how can non-pilgrims benefit from the day of Arafah? Here are 4 ways to earn Hasanat on the day of Arafah: 1. Fasting Although fasting on this day is optional, yet it has major rewards. We want to take the opportunity and let this day be only for the sake of Allah. Not only to fast on food and drinks, but also fast on social media and bad deeds. Fasting on the day of Arafah as Sunnah erases the sins of 2 years for the one who is not performing hajj. "‏ صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ، إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالَّتِي بَعْدَهُ ‏"‏ (سنن ابن ماجه) The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Fasting on the Day of Arafah, I hope that Allah, expiates for the sins of the year before and the year after” (Ibn Majah) We all commit sins and we need any means to get them pardoned, so let’s not miss this opportunity! 2. Dua’a Arafah is the Day of Dua’a. Make it a day for you and Allah, where you tell him about all your problems and wishes. Tell him everything annoying you and how much you want to get closer to him by getting over your sins. Be certain that He will respond to your prayers. If Allah facilitated the path for you to ask, then know that he will absolutely give you, even if it was after a while. No one can hold back His giving and no one can give you if he prevents. The people performing hajj and are on the mountain of Arafah, free themselves on this day from noon to Maghrib, solely to remember Allah and make Duaa. They recite the Talbiya and Takbir, and the people in their houses on that day, repeat the Duaa that the prophet ‘peace be upon him’ said: "خَيْرُ الدُّعَاءِ دُعَاءُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ وَخَيْرُ مَا قُلْتُ أَنَا وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ قَبْلِي: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْء قدير" (رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ) The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The best supplication is that on the day of Arafah, and the best thing which I and the prophets before me have said is, ‘There is no god but Allah alone who has no partner; to Him belongs the dominion, to Him praise is due, and He is omnipotent” (At-Tirmidhi) "La Ilaha Illa Allah wahdahu laa sharika lah, lahu almulk wa lahu alhamd, wa howa ‘ala kolli shay’in Qadeer" It is not about the place of Arafah, yet it is about the date and how much you sense the meaning and the particularity of this major event and day. This might be a single chance in your life or even your last one, so don’t underestimate its power and its effect. Make it a chance to repent and get over doing the bad things that Allah prohibited us from, especially gossiping and backbiting. 3. Remembrance of Allah Spend the day of Arafah by remembering Allah and praising him. No matter what you are doing, keep your lips busy with the remembrance of Allah. The main Athkar to recite every day and especially on the day of Arafah are: Istighfar --- "Astaghfiru Allah" (Asking for forgiveness) Duroud --- "Allahoma Salli Ala Mohammed" (Sending peace and blessings upon our Prophet) Tahleel --- “La ilaha illa Allah” (Unification of Allah) Tahmeed --- “Alhamdulillah” (Thanking Allah) Tasbeeh --- “Subhan Allah” Takbeer --- “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the greatest) Hawqala --- “La hawla wala qowa illa billah” (There is no power but from Allah) 4. Do not let any platform take you off of your worship Do not miss this beautiful opportunity and get out of this day without getting tons of rewards. Choose to cut out all distractions from social media, tv, outings or any thing that takes your time and make this day meaningful to get all the blessings. And you, dear sister on your menstruation, you have to know that by only making the intention to fast on this day and not being able to because of your medical reason, you will be rewarded the Ajer anyway. But do not miss on the other forms of worship that you could perform, especially the Sadaqah and the remembrance of Allah. We narrate for you a lovely story from the Seerah, on the significance of this holy day: Anas Ibn Malik ‘May Allah be pleased with him’ reported that the prophet ‘peace be upon him’ asked Bilal to make the people listen to the prophet. So, the people gathered and listened to the prophet. He said, ‘Jibril came to me and informed me of Allah's greetings, then Jibreel said Allah the Almighty has forgiven the people of Arafah and Muzdalifah and gave them promise to help them in doing others rights on them (like debts). Omar bin Al-Khattab ‘may Allah be pleased with him’ got up and said: O Messenger of Allah! Is it only for us? The prophet ‘peace be upon him’ said: It is for you, and for all those who come after you until the Day of Resurrection. So Omar said, “This is the most and best grace from Allah” (Story by the owner of the book ‘Al Targheeb wal Tarheeb’) Look at the beauty of Islam and the mercy of our Creator! Did you know that by reminding others and sharing this information with them, you will also be rewarded?! ✨ May Allah accept from us and return the pilgrims safely to their countries. ✨