This Thursday November 26th 2009 will be the Day of Arafah (9th of Dhul Hijjah 1430).

What should i do? FAST (for those Not preforming Hajj)
Why Fast? Fasting on this day is an expiation of sins for two years

Virtues of the Day of Arafat:

1. It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allaah’s favor was completed.

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• • Hadith: It was reported from Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a Jewish man said to him, ‘O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is an aayah in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an Eid (festival).’ Umar said, ‘Which aayah?’ 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-Maa'idah 5:3].

Umar said, ‘We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (pbuh). It was when he was standing in Arafaah on a Friday.’

2. It is a day by which Allaah swore an oath.

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• • The Day of Arafaah is the ‘witnessed day’ mentioned in the Quran aayah:
    ‘By the witnessing day [Friday] and by the witnessed day [the Day of Arafaah].’ [al-Burooj 85:3].
  • Hadith: It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of Arafaah, and the witnessing day is Friday.’ [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi].
  • It is the ‘odd’ [i.e., odd-numbered, Witr] by which Allaah swore in the Quran aayah:
    ‘And by the even and the odd’ [al-Fajr 89:3]. Ibn Abbaas said: ‘The even is the Day of al-Adhaa [i.e., 10th Dhul-Hijjah] and the odd is the Day of Arafaah [i.e., 9th Dhul-Hijjah]

3. Fasting on this day is an expiation for two years.

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• • Hadith: It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafaah. He said, ‘It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year.’ [Saheeh Muslim].
  • The Prophet’s wife Hafsah (raa) said: “Four things the Messenger of Allah never neglected: Observing fast on the day of
    ‘Ashura, (on the tenth of Muharram), three days every month, and offering Fajr sunnah prayers early in the morning.” [Saheeh Muslim]

4. It is the day on which Allaah took the covenant from the progeny of Adam.

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• • Hadith: It was reported that Ibn Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) said: ‘Allaah took the covenant from the …[offspring] of Adam in Na’maan, i.e., Arafaah. He brought forth … all his offspring and spread them before Him, then He addressed them, and said: ‘Am I not your Lord? They said, ‘Yes, we testify,’ lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Verily, we have been unaware of this.’ Or lest you should say: ‘It was only our fathers aforetime who took others as partners in worship along with Allaah, and we were (merely their) descendents after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Baatil ?‘ [al-A'raaf 7:172-173].’ [Narrated by Ahmad]

5. It is the day of forgiveness of sins, freedom from the Fire and pride in the people who are there.

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• • Hadith: It was narrated from Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘There is no day on which Allaah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafaah. And on that day Allah draws near to the earth and by way of exhibiting His pride remarks to the Angels: “What is the desire of these (servants of mine).”‘ [Saheeh Muslim]
  • Hadith: It was reported from Ibn Umar that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Allaah expresses His pride to His angels at the time of Ishaa on the Day of Arafaah, about the people of Arafaah. He says, ‘Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and dusty.’ [Narrated by Ahmad]

6. Among the best days for Duaa.

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• • `The best of supplications is the supplication on the day of `Arafah and the best which I and the Prophets before me have said (is)…`None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs all praise and sovereignty and He is over all things omnipotent.’

7. Shaytaan is humiliated due to Allah Mercy & Forgiveness this day.

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• • Talhah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reports that that the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) said: “Apart from the day of Battle of Badr there is no day on which the Shaytaan is seen to be more humiliated, more rejected, more depressed and more infuriated, than on the day of Arafah, and indeed all this is only because of beholding the abundance of descending mercy (on that day) and Allah’s forgiveness of the great sins of the servants.” [Mishkaat]