Thursday, October 2, 2014

10 virtues when the Day of `Arafah coincides with Friday

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

Some of the merits when the Day of `Arafah coincides with Jumu`ah:

First: The coming together of two days which are the best of days.

Second: It is the day (referring to Friday), in which there is an hour in which the Du`aa is readily answered. And most views point to it being the last hour after `Asr. As for those who are in `Arafah (i.e. performing Hajj), all those are standing for making Du`aa and being humble.

Third: It coincides with the Day in which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stood in `Arafah.

Fourth: (On Friday) the people in different parts of the world gather together for the Khutbah and the Jumu`ah prayer, which coincides with the gathering of the people of `Arafah on the Day of `Arafah at `Arafah. The mass gathering of the Muslims in their Masaajid and of those in `Arafah brings about the (amount of) Du`aa and the humility which is not achieved in any other day except this.

Fifth: The day of Jumu`ah is the day of `Eid, and the day of `Arafah is the day of `Eid for the people of `Arafah and that is why it is disliked for the one who is in `Arafah (performing Hajj) to fast. It is reported by al-Nasaa’ee (in al-Kubraa) from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that: “the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم prohibited fasting on the day of `Arafah at `Arafah.” But in its chain there is some issue with its chain because Mahdee bin Harb is unknown. (Sunan al-Kubraa of al-Nasaa’ee (2843), Sunan Abu Dawood (2440), Sunan Ibn Maajah (1732) and graded as “Dha`eef” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

But it is affirmed in the Saheeh from the Hadeeth of Umm Fadhl:
Umm al-Fadhl bint al-Haarith رضي الله عنها reported: “Some people argued about the fasting of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم on the day of `Arafah. Some of them said that he had been fasting, whereas the others said that he had not been fasting. I sent a cup of milk to him while he was riding his camel at `Arafah, and he drank it.” [Saheeh Muslim (2494)]

[Note: There is another Hadeeth which supports this:
Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما was asked about fasting (the Day of) `Arafah (at Arafat). He said: “I performed Hajj with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and he did not fast it, and with Abu Bakr, and he did not fast it, and with `Umar, and he did not fast it, and with `Uthmaan, and he did not fast it. I do no fast it, nor order it nor forbid it.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (751) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]]

People have differed about the wisdom of not fasting on the Day of `Arafah at `Arafah. Some said: So that the person (retains) the strength for making Du`aa. This was said by al-Khirqee and others. Others said – and among them is Shaikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah – the wisdom behind it is it is the Day of `Eid for the people of `Arafah. Therefore it is not allowed for them (the pilgrims) to fast. The evidence for that is the Hadeeth which is mentioned in the Sunan that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The day of `Arafah, the day of Nahr (sacrifice), the days of Tashreeq (the three days after `Eid) are (the days of) our `Eid, O people of Islaam. These are the days of eating and drinking.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (2419), Sunan al-Tirmidhee (773), Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (300) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Our Shaikh (Ibn Taymiyyah) said: “Perhaps the Day of `Arafah is the Day of `Eid for the people of `Arafah, because of their gathering there in it, in oppose to those who are in other territories (i.e. those who are not performing Hajj), for they gather on the Day of Nahr (sacrifice) and this is the Day of `Eid for them.” Meaning: if the Day of `Arafah and the Friday coincides, then two Days of `Eid have coincided.

Sixth: It coincides with the day on which Allaah تعالى perfected His Deen for His Believing slaves, and completed His favors upon them as has been reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree from the Hadeeth of Taariq bin Shihaab: Once a Jew said to `Umar ibn al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه: O Ameer al-Mu’mineen! (O the chief of believers!) There is a verse in your Holy Book which is read by all of you (Muslims), and had it been revealed to us, we would have taken that day (on which it was revealed as a day of celebration. `Umar bin Al-Khattaab asked: “Which is that verse?” The Jew replied: {This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, And have chosen for you Islaam as your religion.} [Surah al-Maaidah (5):3] `Umar replied: “No doubt, we know when and where this verse was revealed to the Prophet. It was Friday and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was standing at `Arafah.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (45, 4407, 7268) and Saheeh Muslim (7153, 7154, 7155)]

Seventh: It coincides with the Day of greater gathering and the great standing of the Day of Judgment. For the Day of Judgment will be established on Friday as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Aadam was created, on it he was made to enter Paradise, on it he was expelled from it; and the last hour will take place on no day other than Friday. [On (Friday) there is an hour in which, if a believer prays and asks Allaah تعالى for something, He will give it to him.]” [Saheeh Muslim (1856, 1857). The additional wording is reported in Sunan Abu Dawood (1046), al-Tirmidhee (490, 491), and al-Nasaa’ee (1430, 1431, 1432) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

That is why Allaah تعالى has legislated a day for His slaves in which they would gather, remembering therein: the beginning (of creation) and the return (to Allaah), Paradise and Hell. Allaah تعالى has amassed (lots of virtues) on Friday for this Ummah, on it was the beginning and on it will be the return. That is why the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم (on Friday) used to recite Surah al-Sajdah and Surah al-Insaan in the Fajr prayer [reported by Muslim in his Saheeh], because of what these Surahs encompassed of what already happened and what is going to happen on this day, i.e. the creation of Aadam, the beginning of creation and the return, and the entering (of the people) into the Jannah and the Fire. These (Surahs) were for reminding the Ummah of what has already happened and what is going to happen. By the way of standing at the great gathering in this world - i.e. on the Day of `Arafah - people are reminded about the greatest standing (on the Day of Judgment), in front of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى, (which will take place) on this day (i.e. Friday) and it will not end till the people of Jannah reach their destination and the people of Fire reach their destination.

Eight: The obedience which the Muslims do on Friday or on the night before Friday are more than those which are done on other days, to the extent that even the evildoers respect Friday and the night before it, and they think that if a person dares to commit sin at that time, Allaah تعالى will hasten His punishment and will not give him respite. This is something that is well established in their minds and they know it by experience, because of the great honor that this day has before Allaah, and because He chose it out of all other days, and undoubtedly standing in `Arafah on this day is better than on any other day.

Ninth: It coincides with Yaum al-Mazeed (the Day in which Allaah will give more to the people) in the Jannah. It is the Day on which the people of Jannah will gather in a spacious valley, constituting for them platforms made from pearls, gold, sapphire and dunes of Musk. They will see their Lord تبارك وتعالى with their eyes. The quickest one to arrive there will be the one who was the earliest in going to the Masjid. The nearest one to Allaah will be the one who used to be the closest to the Imaam. The people of Jannah will be waiting eagerly for the Yaum al-Mazeed and that is the day of Friday. So when the Day of `Arafah coincides with Friday, then it is more virtuous and meritorious than it (the day of `Arafah) coming on any other day.

Tenth: In the afternoon of the Day of `Arafah, Allaah تعالى draws near to the people who are standing (at `Arafah), then He تعالى boasts about them to the Angels and says: {What do these people want?} [Saheeh Muslim (3126), Sunan Ibn Maajah (3014) and Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (3003)]

Along with being nearer to Allaah تعالى, they also receive the Hour in which the Du`aa is quickly answered, in which no one who asks for something good is rejected. In that hour, they come closer to Allaah through their Du`aa and humility towards Him. Allaah تعالى comes closer to them by means of two ways: One is, His quickness in responding (to the call of every caller) in that hour. And the other is His special nearness to the people of `Arafah and His boasting about them to the Angels.

When the hearts of the Believer senses this feeling, it adds strength to their strength, and happiness and delight. Because of these and many other reasons, the standing on Friday has merit over other days.

As for (the narration) that has become widespread upon the tongues of the people that it is like performing Seventy-Two Hajj, is baseless and there is no origin for it, neither from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم nor from the Companions or Taabi`een. And Allaah knows best.


[Zaad al-Ma`aad (1/60-65)]

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