Arafah: A Day of Mercy and Forgiveness

‘Arafah: A Day of Mercy and Forgiveness

جبل الرحمة - Mount of Mercy - Arafah

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ‏صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

صِيَام يَوْم عَرَفَة أَحْتُسِبَ عَلَى اللَّه أَنْ يُكَفِّر السَّنَة الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَة الَّتِي بَعْده

The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

“I seek from Allaah that fasting on the day of ‘Arafah may be an expiation for [the sins of] the year before it and the year after it.” ⁽¹⁾

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(1) Part of a longer hadeeth, reported in Saheeh Muslim (online English translation in Book of Fasting, #2602).

The day of ‘Arafah is the 9th of Thul-Hijjah (12th month in the Hijri Calendar). This year, it will fall on Sunday, Dec. 7th, 2008, in shaa’ Allaah. We are all in need of Allaah’s mercy and forgiveness, and what an excellent opportunity this is for us to take advantage of. May Allaah ta’aalaa allow us to reach and fast that day, grant us sincerity, and accept from us our deeds. Aameen.