If you did not fast from the beginning of Dhu'l-Hijjah try at least to

✦If you did not fast from the beginning of Dhu'l-Hijjah try at least to ►►► FAST ON THE 9th DAY OF DHU'L-HIJJAH" ✦

FRIDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2014 would be the 9th (ninth) day of Dhu'l-Hijjah, the day of‪#‎Arafat‬. Fasting on the day of ‘‪#‎Arafah‬ is a confirmed Sunnah for those who are not performing Hajj.

It was narrated from Abu Qataadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah and he said: “It expiates for the past and coming years.” [Narrated by Muslim (1162)]

According to another report: “I ask Allaah that it may expiate for (the sins of) the year that comes before it and the year that comes after it.”

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) urged us to do good deeds during this time, and fasting is one of the best of deeds.

Allaah has chosen fasting for Himself, as is stated in the hadeeth qudsi: "Allaah says: ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except for fasting, which is for Me and I am the One Who will reward him for it.’" [Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1805]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on the ninth of Dhu’l-Hijjah.

Hunaydah ibn Khaalid reported from his wife that some of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on the ninth of Dhu’l-Hijjah, on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, on three days of each month, and on the first two Mondays and Thursdays of each month."

[Reported by al-Nisaa’i, 4/205 and by Abu Dawud; classified by al-Albaani as saheeh in Saheeh Abi Dawud, 2/462].

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Perfection of Islam

The day of Arafat holds great importance in Islam since this is the Day when Allah completed his revelation on His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. It is reported in the Saheehayn (i.e. Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim), from Umar Ibn al-Khattab (ra) that a Jewish man said to him: "O Ameer al-Mumineen (O head of the Muslims)! There is a verse in the Qur'aan, which if it was revealed on us, the Jews, we would have taken that day as an Eid (festival)." Umar asked: "Which verse?" 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-Maidah, 5:3] Umar (ra) said: "We know on which day and in which place was this verse revealed to Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. It was when he was standing in Arafat on a Friday."

This is the day on which Allah completed His Religion and perfected His Favour. It was on this very day that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم performed his pilgrimage and while he صلى الله عليه وسلم was standing on Arafat Mountain, Allah سبحانه وتعالى revealed to Him the verse:

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا

"This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." (5:3)

The Covenant

Arafat is the day on which Allah سبحانه وتعالى took the covenant from the progeny of Adam (as), it was reported that Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated: The Messenger of Allâh صلى الله عليه وسلم related: "When Allah سبحانه وتعالى created Adam (as) Allah سبحانه وتعالى took covenant from him in a place Naman on the day of Arafat, then He extracted from him all the descendants who would be born until the end of the world, generation after generation, and spread them out in front of Him in order to take a covenant from them also. He spoke to them face to face saying:

"Am I not your Lord?"

and they all replied: 'Yes, we testify to it'. Allah then explained why He had all of mankind bear witness that He was their Creator and only true God worthy of worship. He said:

"That was in case you (mankind) should say on the Day of Resurrection, 'Surely, we were unaware of this. We had no idea that You, Allah, were our Lord. No one told us that we were only supposed to worship You." (Sahîh by Shaikh al-Albanî in Silsilah al-Ahâdîth as-Sahîhah vol: 4, no: 1623]

Indeed, the day of Arafat is a blessed day and there is no other covenant greater than this covenant!