O servants of Allah, fear Allah and value this day, the day of Arafah! Thank Allah (pure and exalted is He) for allowing you to live to see these days. Because not only those who are currently in Hajj should exalt, honor and value the day of Arafah, but all people should do this. And therefore, for those who were unable to be there in Mecca for Arafah this year, such a great act of worship as fasting (siyam) has been established for them on this day. This fast on the day of Arafah has been established as a highly desirable Sunnah. Do not miss this Sunnah! For the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah and he said:
يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ
“fasting on the day of ‘Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years”
Muslim (1162)
Allah is great! How we need at least one of our sins to be atoned. And here you are offered atonement for your sins for two years: past and future, if you sincerely with all your heart, being a monotheist (muwahhid), will fast for the sake of Allah (pure and exalted is He). How it hurts the heart when you see how on this day some Muslims, instead of worshiping Allah (pure and exalted is He), are busy with some shameful and reprehensible actions: listening to music and songs, or busy watching the dirt that is broadcast on TV or some websites. And some people, even if they do not commit a sin, are distracted from worship on this day, doing things that are in principle not prohibited (haram). But now is not the time to be distracted by these things! You see how some person goes on some excursions or is busy with things that are seemingly permitted, BUT pure is Allah! I swear by Allah, what a great loss this man has suffered by exchanging these seemingly permissible things for such chances that Allah (pure and exalted is He) gives on this day.
Therefore, I command, first of all, myself, and those people who were unable to attend the Hajj in Mecca this year – on the day of ‘Arafah, read more of the Book of Allah (pure and exalted is He), remember Allah (pure and exalted is He), turn to Him more with prayers and requests for forgiveness, and with repentance. And whoever has the opportunity to spend this day in a real sincere fast (syyam) for the sake of Allah (pure and exalted is He).
Also, O slaves of Allah. A Sunnah that many people forget these days is to recite the remembrances of Allah (dhikrs) such as tahleel (la ilaha illallah), takbir (Allahu akbar) and tahmeed (alhamdulillah). Allah (pure and exalted is He) speaks of this in the Quran:
وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْدُودَاتٍ
And remember Allah during ˹these˺ appointed days.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:203
Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The ‘famous days’ are the ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah”
Al-Bukhari narrates in his Sahih that Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar would go out to the markets on these ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and recite takbirs there. And the people, following their example, would also begin to recite takbirs:
اللهُ أكبرُ اللهُ أكبرُ، لا إلهَ إلَّا الله، واللهُ أكبر اللهُ أكبر، ولله الحَمد
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La illaha il Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, walilahil Hamd
We ask Allah (pure and exalted is He) to enable us to make the best use of these ten blessed days. We ask Him to guide us to sincere repentance. We ask Allah (pure and exalted is He) to take us by our forelocks and guide us to goodness in the best possible way. We ask Allah (pure and exalted is He) to make these periods of worship of Him profitable and beneficial. We ask Him to help us remember Him and thank Him and worship Him in the best possible way.
