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
(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)]
Imaam
at-Tirmidhee (d.275H) - rahimahullaah – said, “The People of Knowledge
consider it recommended to fast on the day of ’Arafah, except for those
at ’Arafah.” [Muslim (no. 1348)]
[ Source: The Month of Dhul-Hijjah - Al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue No.6 ]
Allah frees slaves from the fire on Arafat more than any other day
Likewise,
the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘There is no day on
which Allaah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of
’Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on ’Arafah), and then
He revels before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.”
[Jaami’ut-Tirmidhee (3/377)]
[ Source: The Month of Dhul-Hijjah - Al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue No.6 ]
Forgiveness of the Sins even if they are like the foam on the Sea
As
for you staying till the evening in Arafah, then Allaah descends to the
sky of the Duniya and He boasts about you to the Angels, and says: ‘My
slaves have come to Me, looking rough, from every deep valley hoping
for My mercy, so if your sins were equivalent to the amount of sand or
the drops of rain or like the foam on the sea I will forgive them. So
go forth My slaves! Having forgiveness and for what or who you have
interceded for.’
[Reported by
at-Tabarani in his book “al-Kabeer” and by al-Bazaar. Shaykh Al-Albani
graded it Hassan. Taken from ‘Saheeh al-Targheeb wa Tarheeb’. Volume 2,
Page 9-10, hadeeth no. 1112]
[Source : Ahadith regarding the benefits and blessings of Hajj - Translated by Abbas Abu Yahya
Taken from 'Saheeh al-Targheeb wa Tarheeb' By the Shaykh Muhammad Nasr ud-Deen al-Albaani]
It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allaah’s Favour was completed.
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.”
Allaah expresses His pride to His angels
It
was reported from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah expresses His pride to His angels at
the time of ‘Ishaa’ on the Day of ‘Arafaah, about the people of
‘Arafaah. He says, ‘Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and
dusty.’”
Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.
The standing on ‘Arafaat is the hajj.
The
standing on ‘Arafaat is the hajj. The crowds should remind you of the
Day of Resurrection. Humble yourself to Allaah, manifest your
‘uboodiyyah to Him Alone through du’aa, sincere intention and strong
determination to free yourself from the sins of the past and to build
up a commitment to rush for doing what is good. Think of becoming a
better person when you return. Rid yourself of false pride and showing
off because it may ruin what you gain on this day.
[Source : Hajj and Tawheed by Dr. Saleh as-Saleh]