By Yusuf Badat
The following are some of the amazing virtues and benefits of ʿArafah Day
The Best Day
أَفْضَلُ الْأَيَّامِ يَوْمُ عَرَفَةَ
“The best day is the ʿArafah Day.” – Ibn Ḥibban
God’s Special Mercy
يَنْزِلُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إلَى سَمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيُبَاهِي بِأَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ أَهْلَ السَّمَاء
“God [the Almighty’s majesty and exclusive mercy] descends to the worldly skies [on ʿArafah Day]. God boasts about the earthly people to the heavenly creations.” – (Ibn Hibban)
Emancipation from Hell
مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ عَبْدًا مِنْ النَّارِ مِنْ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ
“There is no day on which God, the Almighty sets free more slaves from Hell than He does on the Day of ‘Arafah.” – (Sahih Muslim)
The Best Time to Make Supplications (Duʿaʾs)
خَيْرُ الدُّعَاءِ دُعَاءُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ
“The best supplication is the supplication of ʿArafah Day.” – (Tirmidhi)
Forgiveness
صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ
“I am confident the fasting on the day of ‘Arafah compensates for [for the minor sin of] a year before it and also after it.” (Sahih Muslim)
The Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Actions on ‘Arafah Day During His Final Year of Life
On ʿArafah Day, the Prophet ﷺ was preforming Hajj with approximately 115 000 Companions. He proceeded to ‘Arafah after sunrise from Mina, where a tent was pitched for him. He was consistently reciting the takbir and talbiyyah (chanting the praises of God). After a brief rest, at midday, he ascended his camel and delivered a sermon to his Companions where in he addressed matters of worship, upright financial transactions, human rights, family values, abandonment of ignorant customs and also the sanctity of life. He lead prayers thereafter stood supplicating to the Almighty for a few hours up until sunset.
Connection with Supplication
The statements and also the actions of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ display that there is a strong connection with supplication and ʿArafah Day. It is important that we maximise the ʿArafah Day in praying and supplicating for all our needs. In general, Divine Godly mercy descends during the last third of the night except on ‘Arafah Day. On this special day, God Almighty’s exclusive mercy descends to the worldly skies during the day as well. The pious predecessors would save their needs for the supplications of ‘Arafah Day. Countless human needs, wishes and supplications on ‘Arafah Day are fulfilled [and accepted]. Some of the pious predecessors would say, “By God, whatever we asked for on ‘Arafah Day, we saw it materialize vividly before the year’s end.”
Here are some things we should do, in reference to supplication (duʿaʾ):
- Use special moments such as ʿArafah Day to make duʿaʾ
- Make duʿaʾ a habit. Schedule a daily time to supplicate.
- Make physical and mental preparation prior to supplicating, by choosing a suitable place and eliminating distractions.
- Use praises of God, and salutations to the Prophet prior to supplicating for personal needs.
- Be confident that your supplications will be answered.
- Only supplicate for that which is permissible and positive.
- Follow up your supplication with positive efforts and actions.
Fudayl Ibn Ayaḍ on ʿArafah Day nudged a person next to him, where multitudes had gathered on the plains during Ḥajj and asked him, “Do you think if all these people went to the richest king and asked for a penny they would be rejected?” He replied, “Not at all!”. “God is far more wealthy and generous than any king. He will surely answer the prayers of all those who supplicate.”
Ibn Mubarak asked Sufyan al-Thawri on ‘Arafah day, “Who is the unfortunate one today?” He replied, “Those who feel God will not pardon them.”
ʿArafah Supplications
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ
La ilaha illa Allah waḥdahu la sharikalahu lahu al-mulku walahu al-ḥamdu wahuwa ʿala kulli shayin qadir
“There is no god but Allah. He is alone in divinity with no partner. To God belongs sovereignty and all praise. He is Ever-Powerful over all things.” (Tirmidhi, Musnad Aḥmad)
اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا خَيْرَ غَدْوَةٍ غَدَوْتُهَا وَاَقْرَبَهَا مِنْ رِضْوَانِكَ وَابْعَدَهَا عَنْ سَخَطِكَ اَللَّهُمَّ اِلَيْكَ تَوَجَّهْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَوَجْهُكَ اَرَدْتُ فَاجْعَلْ ذَنْبِيْ مَغْفُوْرًا وَحَجِّيْ مَبْرُوْرًا وَارْحَمْنِيْ وَلَا تُخَيِّبْنِيْ وَبَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْ سَفَرِيْ وَاقْضِ بِعَرَفَاتٍ حَاجَتِيْ اِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْر
Allahummajʿalha khayra ghadwatin ghadawtuha wa-aqrabaha min ridwanika wa-abʿadaha ʿan sakhatika, Allahumma ilayka tawajjahtu wa-ʿalayka tawakkaltu wa-wajhuka aradtu fajʿal dhanbi maghfuran wa-hajji mabruran warhamni wa-la tukhayyibni wa-barik lii fī safari waqdi bi-ʿarafatin hajati innaka ʿala kulli shayin qadir
“O God make this morning the best morning I experience, a morning with the most nearness to Your pleasure, furthest from Your displeasure. O God I turn to You. I rely upon You. I intend Your countenance. Forgive all my sin. Make my pilgrimage righteous and shower Your mercy upon me. Protect me from failure and bless me in my journey. Fulfill all my needs [I supplicate to You about] at the plains of ʿArafah. Indeed, You are Ever-Powerful over everything.” (Fath Al-Qadir, Manasik Al-Nawawi)
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللهُ اَكْبَرُ
Subhan Allah wa al-hamdu li Allah wa la ilaha illa Allah wa Allah Akbar
“Glory to God, all praise is for God. There is no god but Allah. God is the Greatest.” (Hadiyat Al-Salik)
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ ظُلْماً كَبِيْراً وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلاَّ أنْتَ فَاغْفِرْلِيْ مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِيْ إنَّكَ أنْتَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِيْ مَغْفِرَةً تُصْلِحُ بِهَا شَأْنِيْ فِيْ الدَّارَيْنِ وَارْحَمْنِيْ رَحْمَةً أَسْعَدُ بِهَا فِيْ الدَّارَيْنِ وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ تَوْبَةً نَصُوْحًا لَا أَنْكُثُهَا أبَداً وأَلْزِمْنِيْ سَبِيْلَ الْاِسْتِقَامَةِ لا أَزِيْغُ عَنْهَا أَبَداً اَللَّهُمَّ انْقُلْنِيْ مِنْ ذُلِّ المَعْصِيَةِ إِلَى عِزِّ الطَّاعَةِ وأَغْنِنِيْ بِحَلَالِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَبِطَاعَتِكَ عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِكَ وَبِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ وَنَوِّرْ قَلْبِيْ وَقَبْرِيْ وَأَعِذْنِيْ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّهِ واجْمَعْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى اَللَّهُمَّ يَسِّرْ لِيَ الْيُسْرَى وَجَنِّبْنِيَ الْعُسْرَى وارْزُقْنِيْ طَاعَتَكَ مَا أَبْقَيْتَنِيْ اَللَّهُمَّ مَتِّعْنِيْ بِسَمْعِيْ وَبَصَرِيْ اَبَدًا مَا أَبْقَيْتَنِيْ وَاجْعَلْ ذَلِكَ الْوَارِثَ مِنِّيْ وَاجْعَلْ ثَأْرِيْ عَلَى مَنْ ظَلَمَنِيْ وَانْصُرْنِيْ عَلَى مَنْ بَغَى عَلَيَّ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ اَسْتَوْدِعُكَ دِيْنِيْ وَاَمَانَتِيْ وَقَلْبِيْ وَبَدَنِيْ وَخَوَاتِيْمَ عَمَلِيْ وَمَا اَنْعَمْتَ بِهِ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى جَمِيْعِ اَحْبَابِيْ وَالْمُسْلِمِيْنَ
Allahumma inni dhalamtu nafsi dhulman kabiran wa-layaghfiru al-dhunuba illa anta faghfirli maghfiratan min ʿindika warhamni innaka anta al-ghafur al-raḥim, Allahummaghfirli maghfiratan tuṣliḥu biha shaʿni fi al-darayn warḥamni raḥmatan asʿadu biha fi al-darayn wa tubʿalayya tawbatan nasuhan la-ankuthuha abadan wa-alzimni sabila al-istiqamati la-azighu ʿanha abadan, Allahummanqulni min dhulli al-maʿasiyati ila ʿizzi al-taʿah wa aghnini bi-halalika ʿan haramika wa bi-taʿatika ʿan maʿasiyatika wa bi fadlika ʿamman siwaka wa nawwir qalbi wa qabri wa-ʿa-idhni min al-sharri kullihi wajmaʿalial-khayra kullahu, Allahumma inni as-aluka al-huda wa-altuqa wa-alʿafafa wa-alghina, Allahumma yassir liya al-yusra wa-jannibni al-ʿusra warzuqni taʿataka ma-abqaytani, Allahumma mattiʾni bisamʿi wabasari abadan ma-abqaytani wajʿal dhalika al-waritha minni wajʿal thaʿri ʿala man dhalamani wansurni ʿala man bagha ʿalayya ya-arhama ar-rahimina astawdiʿuka dini wa-amanati wa-qalbi wa-badani wa-khawatima ʿamali wa ma anʿamta bihi alayy wa ʿala jamieʿi ahbabi wa-al-muslimin
“O God, I have wronged myself a great wrong. None can forgive sins except You. Forgive me from Your Majesty and shower Your Mercy on me. Indeed, You are Ever Forgiving, Ever Merciful. Forgive me with such a forgiveness that rectifies my circumstance in both worlds. Shower Your Mercy upon me such that I become fortunate in both worlds. Accept my repentance, such that it is pure, and I never break it. Attach me to the path of steadfastness such that I never swerve from it. O God transfer me from the humiliation of sin to the honour of obedience. Allow me to suffice with Your permissible, away from Your forbidden. Grant me obedience away from disobedience. With Your bounty let me be independent of everyone other than You. Illuminate my heart and my grave. Protect me from all evil. Gather for me all good. O God I seek guidance, awareness, purity and independence. O God, make matters easy for me and protect me from difficulty. Provide me with Your obedience as long as You give me life. O God grant me pleasure in my hearing and my seeing as long as I am alive. Make that a legacy of mine. Let my vengeance be against the one who oppresses me. Assist me against the one who renegades me O the Most Merciful. I place my religion, trust, heart, body, final actions, all Your bounties on me, my loved ones and the muslims in Your protection.” (Al-Majmuʾ, Al-Adhkar)
اَللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنَا بِالْهُدَى وَزَيِّنَّا بِالتَّقْوَى وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا فِيْ الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُوْلَى اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ وَعَطَائِكَ رِزْقًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ أَمَرْتَ بِالدُّعَاءِ وَقَضَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ بِالْإِجَابَةِ وَإِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ وَعْدَكَ وَلَا تَكْذِبُ عَهْدَكَ اَللَّهُمَّ مَا أَحْبَبْتَ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَحَبِّبْهُ إِلَيْنَا وَيَسِّرْهُ لَنَا وَمَا كَرِهْتَ مِنْ شَرٍّ فَكَرِّهْهُ إِلَيْنَا وَجَنِّبْنَاهُ وَلَا تَنْزِعْ مِنَّا الْإِسْلَامَ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَعْطَيْتَنَاهُ
Allahummahdina bi-alhuda wa-zayinna bi-al-taqwa waghfir lana fī al-akhirati wa al-ula. Allahumma inni as-aluka min fadlika wa-ʿataika rizqan ṭayyiban mubarakan, Allahumma innaka amarta bi-al-duʿaʾ wa qadayta ʿala nafsika bi-al-ijabati wa innaka la tukhlifu waʾadaka wa la takdhibu ahdaka, Allahumma ma ahbabta min khayrin fa-habbibhu ilayna wa yassirhu lana wa ma karihta min sharrin fa-karrihhu ilayna wa-jannibnahu wa-la-tanziʾ minna al-islama baʾada idh aʾaṭaytanahu
“O God, guide me with profound guidance. Beautify me with piety. Forgive us in the hereafter and this world. O God, I ask You from Your bounty and favour for pure and blessed provisions. O God, You summoned to call upon You, You also took it upon Yourself to answer [our calls]. You do not go against Your promise nor do You deceive. O God, whatever You like of the good, make it beloved to us and make it easy for us. Whatever You dislike of the evil, make it abhorrent to us and protect us from it. Do not take Islam from us after gracing us with it.” (Tabrani)
اَللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ كَالَّذِيْ نَقُولُ وَخَيْرًا مِمَّا نَقُولُ لَكَ صَلَاتِيْ وَنُسُكِيْ وَ مَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِيْ وَإِلَيْكَ مَآبِيْ لَكَ رَبِّ تُرَاثِيْ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَوَسْوَسَةِ الصَّدْرِ وَشَتَاتِ الْأَمْرِ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَجِيْئُ بِهِ الرِّيْحُ
Allahumma laka al-ḥamdu kalladhi naqulu wa-khayran mimma naqulu laka salati wanusuki wa-mahyaya wa-mamati wa-ilayka ma-abi laka rabbi turathi, Allahumma inni aʿudhu bika min ʿadhabi al-qabri wawaswasati al-sadri wa-shatati al-amri, Allahumma inni aʿudhubika min sharri ma ya-jiu bihi al-rihu
“O God, for You belong all praise the way we articulate and much better than we can declare. For You is my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying. To You is my return. To You belongs my wealth. O God I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, whispers of myself and disarrangement of my matters. O God I seek refuge in You from the evil of whatever the winds bring [when it blows].” (Tirmidhi)
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَسْمَعُ كَلَامِيْ وَتَرَى مَكَانِيْ وَتَعْلَمُ سِرِّيْ وَعَلَانِيَتِيْ وَلَا يَخْفَى عَلَيْكَ شَيْءٌ مِنْ أَمْرِيْ أَنَا الْبَائِسُ الْفَقِيْرُ الْمُسْتَغِيْثُ الْمُسْتَجِيْرُ الْوَجِلُ الْمُشْفِقُ الْمَغْرُوْرُ الْمُعْتَرِفُ بِذَنْبِهِ أَسْأَلُكَ مَسْأَلَةَ الْمِسْكِيْنِ وَاَبْتَهِلُ إِلَيْكَ اِبْتِهَالَ الْمُذْنِبِ الذَّلِيْلِ وَأَدْعُوْكَ دُعَاءَ الْخَاِئفِ الضَّرِيْرِ دُعَاءَ مَنْ خَضَعَتْ لَكَ رَقَبَتُهُ وَفَاضَتْ لَكَ عِبْرَتُهُ وَذَلَّ لَكَ خَدُّهُ وَرَغِمَ لَكَ أَنْفُهُ اَللَّهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلْنِيْ بِدُعَائِكَ شَقِيًّا وَكُنْ بِيْ رَءُوْفاً رَحِيْمًا يَا خَيْرَ الْمَسْئُوْلِيْنَ وَيَا خَيْرَ الْمُعْطِيْنَ
Allahumma innaka tasmaʿu kalami wa tara makani wa taʾlamu sirri waʿalaniyati wa la-yakhfa ʿalayka shayʾun min amri ana al-ba-is al-faqir al-mustaghithu al-mustajir al-wajilu al-mushfiqu al-maghruru al-muʾtarifu bi-dhanbihi as-aluka mas-alata al-miskini wa abtahilu ilayka ibtihal al-mudhnibi al-dhalil wa adʿuka duʿaʾa al-khaifi al-dariri duʿaʾa man-khaḍaʿat laka raqabatuhu wa faḍat laka ʿibratuhu wa dhalla laka khadduhu wa raghima laka anfuhu, Allahumma la-tajʿalni bi-duʿaʾika shaqiyyan wa-kun bi raufan rahiman ya khayra al-masulina wa ya khayra al-muʾtin
“O God, You hear my words, see my position, know my secret and apparent matters. Nothing from my affairs are hidden from You. I am needy, dependant, destitute, seeking refuge, in awe, desperate, embarrassed and acknowledging my sin. I ask You like a beggar. I beseech You as a disgraced sinner. I call upon You with a call of one who is in fear and in blindness. I supplicate to You, a supplication of one whose neck has lowered, consideration has emptied, cheeks humiliated, and nose disgraced. O God, do not deprive me from calling upon You. Be compassionate and merciful upon me O the Best One who responds and O the Best of Givers.” (Al-Tanwir Sharḥ Al-Jamiʾ Al-saghir)
اَللَّهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلْ هَذَا آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَوْقِفِ وَاجْعَلْنِيْ فِيْهِ مُفْلِحاً مَرْحُوْمًا مُسْتَجَابَ الدُّعَاءِ فَائِزًا بِالْقُبُوْلِ وَالرِّضْوَانِ وَالتَّجَاوُزِ وَالْغُفْرَانِ وَالرِّزْقِ الْحَلَالِ الْوَاسِعِ وَبَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْ جَمِيْعِ أُمُوْرِيْ وَمَا أَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ أَهْلٍ وَمَالٍ
Allahumma la tajʿal hadha akhira al-ʿahdi min hadha al-mawqifi wajʿalni fihi muflihan marhuman mustajaba al-duʿaʾ fa-izan bi al-qubuli wa-al-ridwani wattajawuzi wa-alghufrani wa al-rizqi al-halali al-wasiʿe wa-barik li fi jamieʾi umuri wa-ma arjiʿu ilayhi min ahlin wa malin
“O God do not make this my last encounter at this place. Make me successful at this junction, favoured and one whose prayers are accepted. Grant me success with acceptance, pleasure, forgiveness and pure vast provisions. Bless me in all my matters and all that I will return to from family and wealth.” (Hadiyat Al-Salik Ila Madhahib Al-Arbaʿah Fi Al-Manasik)
اَللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ أَفَضْتُ وَمِنْ عَذَابِكَ أَشْفَقْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ تَوَجَّهْتُ وَمِنْكَ رَهِبْتُ اَللَّهُمَّ فَاقْبَلْ نُسُكِيْ وَأَعْظِمْ أَجْرِيْ وَارْحَمْ تَضَرُّعِيْ وَتَقَبَّلْ تَوْبَتِيْ وَاَجِبْ دَعْوَتِيْ وَاَعْطِنِيْ سُؤْلِيْ
Allahumma ilayka afadtu wamin ʿadhabika ashfaqtu wailayka tawajjuhtu waminka rahibtu, Allahumma faqbal nusuki wa aʾadhim ajri warham tadarruʿie wataqabbal tawbati wa-ajib daʾwati wa-aʿatini suʿli
“O God I turn to You and I fear Your punishment. I direct my face to You and have awe of You. O God, accept my sacrifices and grant me rewards. Have pity on my humility and accept my repentance. Answer my supplications and grant me my requests.” (Majmaʾ Al-Anhur)
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