https://www.khutbah.info/the-virtues-of-the-day-of-arafat/ All praise is due to Allah the Manifest True Sovereign. The Owner of Power, the Most Strong. He guided people to His straight path and right ordainments. And He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy. In these great days, the observant gather to remember him, thank him, and worship him in the best manner. And they honor His sacred ordinances and rituals. His Prophet ﷺ sacrificed and ordained it for his ummah (nation). For it is among his most confirmed sunnahs. So whoever is able to do so should not deny themselves. So be conscious of Allah and obey Him. And magnify Him in His greatest days. For these days are the best days of this worldly life. Amass in them from righteousness and piety. And avoid sin and following desires. There are many virtues of these great days. And some of them have characteristics that others do not have, like the day of Arafat and the day of Sacrifice. And this discussion is about the day of Arafat and what it contains of virtue. So that we know its value and honor its sanctity. And so that we do not waste a moment of it.
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ ,نَحْمَدُهُ ,وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ , وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا ,مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ , وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ , وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Verily, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Him from the evils of our selves. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide. Whoever He misguides, none can guide. And I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His slave and messenger.
يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ – آل عمران:102
Al Imran 102 : O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.
Oh people:
All praise is due to Allah the Manifest True Sovereign. The Owner of Power, the Most Strong. He guided people to His straight path and right ordainments. And He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy. In these great days, the observant gather to remember him, thank him, and worship him in the best manner. And they honor His sacred ordinances and rituals. His Prophet ﷺ sacrificed and ordained it for his ummah (nation). For it is among his most confirmed sunnahs. So whoever is able to do so should not deny themselves.
So be conscious of Allah and obey Him. And magnify Him in His greatest days. For these days are the best days of this worldly life. Amass in them from righteousness and piety. And avoid sin and following desires.
ذَلِكَ وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ حُرُمَاتِ اللهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ
Al Hajj (22) 30: That [has been commanded], and whoever honors the sacred ordinances of Allah – it is best for him in the sight of his Lord.
There are many virtues of these great days. And some of them have characteristics that others do not have, like the day of Arafat and the day of Sacrifice. And this discussion is about the day of Arafat and what it contains of virtue. So that we know its value and honor its sanctity. And so that we do not waste a moment of it.
And when Arafat is mentioned, the eyes well with tears at the sight of the pilgrims, while they are in Arafat, invoking and supplicating Allah. Rejoicing over them, being happy for them and longing for the sacred sites.
Indeed the day of Arafat is from the days of the sacred months. And it is from the ten favored days. And it is from the known days indicated in the verse:
لِيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُمْ مِنْ بَهِيمَةِ الأَنْعَامِ
Al Hajj (22) 28: That they may witness [i.e., attend] benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known [i.e., specific] days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals.
And Allah Almighty took an oath by it in His Noble Book that indicates its virtue and significance.
وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ
Al Buruj (85) 3: And [by] the witness and what is witnessed
And it is the day of perfecting the religion and completing the favor. As is in the Hadith of Omar bin Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that Tariq bin Shihab narrated:
أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ اليَهُودِ قَالَ لَهُ: يَا أَمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ آيَةٌ فِي كِتَابِكُمْ تَقْرَءُونَهَا لَوْ عَلَيْنَا مَعْشَرَ اليَهُودِ نَزَلَتْ, لاَتَّخَذْنَا ذَلِكَ اليَوْمَ عِيدًا. قَالَ: أَيُّ آيَةٍ , قَالَ: (اليَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا) قَالَ عُمَرُ: “قَدْ عَرَفْنَا ذَلِكَ اليَوْمَ وَالمَكَانَ الَّذِي نَزَلَتْ فِيهِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ -صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ-, وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ بِعَرَفَةَ يَوْمَ جُمُعَةٍ”
A Jewish man came to ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab and said: ‘O Commander of the Believers! There is a Verse in your Book which you recite; if it had been revealed to us Jews we would have taken that day as a holiday.’ He said: ‘Which Verse is that?’ He said: ‘This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. (Al Maeda (5) 3)’ ‘Umar said: ‘I know the place where it was revealed and the day on which it was revealed. It was revealed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at Arafat, on a Friday.’ [Al Bukhari 45]
And it is also an Eid for the Muslims. As in the Hadith narrated by Uqbah bin Aamer (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Prophet ﷺ said:
يَوْمُ عَرَفَةَ وَيَوْمُ النَّحْرِ, وَأَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ, عِيدُنَا أَهْلَ الإِسْلَامِ, وَهِيَ أَيَّامُ أَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ
“The day of Arafat and the day of sacrifice and the days of At-Tashriq are our Eid, people of Islam, and they are days of eating and drinking.” [Sahih Al Jami Albani 8192]
And it is the day of boasting about the people who are at Arafat as was indicated in the Hadith of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَاهِي بِأَهْلِ عَرَفَاتٍ أَهْلَ السَّمَاءِ, فَيَقُولُ لَهُمْ: انْظُرُوا إِلَى عِبَادِي جَاءُونِي شُعْثًا غُبْرًا
Indeed Allah boasts to the occupants of the heavens about the people of Arafat. He says to them: “Look at my servants who have come to me disheveled, dusty” [Sahih Al Jami Albani 1867]
And it is the day of ransoming from the fire as indicated in the Hadith narrated by Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ اللهُ فِيهِ عَبْدًا مِنَ النَّارِ مِنْ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ, وَإِنَّهُ لَيَدْنُو, ثُمَّ يُبَاهِي بِهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ, فَيَقُولُ: مَا أَرَادَ هَؤُلَاءِ؟
There is no day on which Allah ransoms more servants from the Fire than the Day of Arafat. He draws closer and closer, then He boasts about them before the angels and says: ‘What do these people want? [Muslim 1348]
And it is the day of supplicating. And the day of moistening the tongues and hearts with the phrase of tawhid as indicated in the Hadith related by Talhah bin Ubaidulah bin Kareez that Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
أَفْضَلُ الدُّعَاءِ دُعَاءُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ. وَأَفْضَلُ مَا قُلْتُ أَنَا وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ قَبْلِي: لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ
The best supplication is that of the Day of Arafat, and the best that anyone can say is what I and the Prophets before me have said: Lā ‘ilāha ‘illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu wa huwa `alā kulli shay’in qadīr. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone, Who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things. [At Tirmithi 3585]
The apparent is that the merit of supplication is not restricted to those staying in Arafat only. Acceptance is more hopeful for them than others due to them wearing Ihram and being in the purest of places. At the same time, supplicating with the phrase of Tawhid in the hadith is not specific to the people of Arafat. Rather, people throughout the land should say it a lot on that great day.
And it is as if supplicating plentifully through the phrase of tawhid on the Day of Arafat is to confirm the fulfillment of the covenant that Allah Almighty took from mankind before their existence on earth. And it is mentioned in the hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet ﷺ said:
أَخَذَ اللهُ الْمِيثَاقَ مِنْ ظَهْرِ آدَمَ بِنَعْمَانَ –يَعْنِي: عَرَفَةَ- فَأَخْرَجَ مِنْ صُلْبِهِ كُلَّ ذُرِّيَّةٍ ذَرَأَهَا فَنَثَرَهُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ كَالذَّرِّ, ثُمَّ كَلَّمَهُمْ قِبَلًا” قَالَ: (أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُوا بَلَى شَهِدْنَا أَنْ تَقُولُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَذَا غَافِلِينَ أَوْ تَقُولُوا إِنَّمَا أَشْرَكَ آبَاؤُنَا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا ذُرِّيَّةً مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ أَفَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ
Allah took the covenant from Adam’s back in Na‘man, that is Arafat, and brought forth from his loins all his offspring whom He created and scattered between His Hands like atoms. He then turned to them saying, (172) “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we have testified.” [This] – lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, “Indeed, we were of this unaware.” (173) Or [lest] you say, “It was only that our fathers associated [others in worship] with Allah before, and we were but descendants after them. Then would You destroy us for what the falsifiers have done? (Al A’raf (7) 172-173)” [Imam Ahmad 2455]
So it is appropriate for the tongues of believers to recite the phrase of Tawhid on that great day. Also, on Arafat, Muslims wherever they are should make plenty of remembrance and supplication.
So – servants of Allah – strive in remembrance and supplication. Perhaps the Mercy of Allah will touch you on the Day of Arafat. So a person should not deny themselves Allah’s favor and goodness on that great day.
And for those performing Hajj, is the triumph of staying in Arafat – the greatest pillar of Hajj. Nonetheless, for those not performing Hajj is fasting on that great day. And fasting it expiates the sins of two years as the Prophet ﷺ said:
صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ
Fasting the day of Arafat, I anticipate, will expiate for the sins of the previous year and the year after it. [Muslim 1162]
أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
I say what you have heard and I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and you from every sin. So seek forgives from Him, Verily He is Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Second Khutbah
الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ, وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ , وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَاْ إِلَهَ إِلَّاْ اَللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَاْشَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَاً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
All praise is to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His slave and messenger.
Oh Muslims:
The Eid of Adha is the biggest and best Eid of the Muslims. Because it is within the best and most noble days. And it contains the most and greatest devotional rites. And sacrifice is ordained in it and it among the best and most honorable of deeds. And it from the sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ as was related in the Hadith of Anes (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
“ضَحَّى النَّبِيُّ -صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ- بِكَبْشَيْنِ أَمْلَحَيْنِ, فَرَأَيْتُهُ وَاضِعًا قَدَمَهُ عَلَى صِفَاحِهِمَا يُسَمِّي وَيُكَبِّرُ, فَذَبَحَهُمَا بِيَدِهِ
The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed two black-and-white rams and I saw him putting his foot on their sides and pronouncing the Name of Allah and proclaiming His greatness. He slaughtered them with his own hand. [Al Bukhari 5558, Muslim 1966]
And let us avoid the sacrificial animals that have defects. For it is an offering for the sake of Allah. And let us choose the best and fattest animal as Abu Umaamah bin Sahl said:
“كُنَّا نُسَمِّنُ الأُضْحِيَةَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ, وَكَانَ المُسْلِمُونَ يُسَمِّنُونَ”.
We use to fatten the sacrificial animals in Al Madinah, and the Muslims would gain weight.
And whoever decides on the Day of Sacrifice or afterwards to sacrifice can do so. Likewise, someone who initially could not afford to sacrifice but then found enough money to do so can also sacrifice. And one sacrificial animal is sufficient for one household. And it is a worship and a means of getting closer to Allah. And boasting and bragging are not permissible.
And it is not permitted to fast on the days of tashreeq, which are the three days after Eid (the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah) for what the Prophet ﷺ said about them:
أَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ أَيَّامُ أَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ وَذِكْرٍ لِلَّهِ
The days of tashreeq are days of eating and drinking and remembrance of Allah. [Muslim 1141]
Oh Muslims:
The season has come upon you. So be cautious of neglecting. The season has come upon you, so be among the forerunners and not among the laggards. So perhaps Allah will glance at you with mercy. And rectify your wife and children. And perhaps Allah will glance at you with mercy and open for you through one righteous deed doors of righteous deeds that you were not able to perform previously. And perhaps Allah will glance at you with mercy and accept your supplication and rectify your religious affairs, your worldly affairs and your hereafter.
We ask Allah Almighty to accept from the Muslims and us. And to record for us mercy, forgiveness and freedom from the fire. Indeed He is All Hearing, Answering.
هَذَا وَصَلُّوا وَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى نَبِيِّكُم كَمَا أَمَرَكُمْ بِذلِكَ رَبُّكُمْ , فَقَالَ
I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon your Prophet as your Lord commanded:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
Al Ahzaab (33) 56: Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنا فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنا فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنا فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لنا فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنا شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
O Allah, guide us with those whom You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, be an ally to us along with those whom You are an ally to, and bless what You have bestowed upon us, and save us from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا سَأَلَكَ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَاذَ بِهِ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ كُلَّ قَضَاءٍ قَضَيْتَهُ لَنا خَيْرًا
O Allah, We ask You for all that is good, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from all evil, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we ask You for the good that Your servant and Prophet has asked You for, and we seek refuge with You from the evil from which Your servant and Prophet sought refuge. O Allah, we ask You for Paradise and for that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed, and we seek refuge in You from Hell and from that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed. And we ask You to make every decree that You decree concerning us good
عِبَادَ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Servants of Allah. Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
اُذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُرُوهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا وَأَقِمِ الصّلَاة
Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favors – He will increase you therein. And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters. And, establish the prayer.
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