For the pilgrims who are in Makkah, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah marks the day of standing in the plains of Arafah from sunrise until sunset. For the one who witnesses this day, for him/her is forgiveness and mercy from Allah. As for the one who misses the standing of Arafah, then he has missed Hajj as the prophet (sallaahu alaihi wasalam) said:

“The Hajj is Arafah”

This short statement signifies the importance of the day of Arafah,  a day that should be spent in supplication and devotion. It is a day to seek out Allah’s forgiveness and mercy. It is a day to in which you stand to remember that Islam is the greatest blessing you have. All the hujaaj gather together on Arafah and it is said that there is no day in which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah.

‘Aa’isha (radiyallahu anhaa) said, that the Prophet (salallaahu alaihi wasalam) said: “There is no day on which Allaah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafaah. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?’ (Muslim)

As for those of us who are not participating in the pilgrimage, we spend the day fasting, supplicating and remembering Allah. Fasting on this day expiates sins of the previous year and of the coming year. The day of Arafah is the best day of the year and we should treat it as such. What should one do for the best day of the year? They should prepare to have a productive day inshaAllah!

How to have a Productive Day of Arafah:

•  Wake up early: There is a barakah in starting your day early, the salaf disliked sleeping after fajr and there is great wisdom behind it. It is the best time to get everything done, especially for us mothers. We all know that as soon as the kids wake up, we will be on our feet most of the day. Staying awake after fajr insures that you have a ‘couple’ of peaceful hours all to yourself doing the most important things you need to do which is Ibaadah.
  The Messenger of Allah (sallaahu alaihi wasalam) said: ‘O Allah, bless my Ummah in the mornings.’ (Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah)

•  Keep your to do list short: If you have a lot of work to do, you may feel too overwhelmed to add anything else. The best thing to do is to make a short list of the most important things that have to be done. The rest can wait inshaa Allah. The day of Arafah is only one day in the year and it is the best day of the year. So allow yourself to take advantage of it. 

• Pray Salaatul Duha: Allah loves acts that are consistent. The prophet use to pray salaatul Duha when Allah willed and left it is not as a big of a commitment as starting sunnah prayers that he (sallaahu alaihi wasalam) always prayed (e.g 2 rak’ah before Fajr). The time of Duha prayer is from the time when the sun has risen to a certain height, until just before the time for Zuhr prayer. It is better to pray it after the sun’s heat has become intense, because the Prophet (sallaahu alaihi wasalam) said: “It is preferable to offer Duha prayer when the sun’s heat has become so intense that even the young of the camels feel it.” (Muslim)
  

• Be mindful: The hardest thing for many of us to do is to be present, to live in the moment, to take it all in and be in a state of contemplation and gratitude. It is not about acting on impulse, being locked in thoughts about what you’re going to do, what you should have done, stressed about what someone said, or being lost in social media. If there is one day you should “switch off”, let it be on the day of Arafah when Allah frees many of His slaves from the fire.
  

•  Be Intentional: Once you are mindful, it is so much easier to be intentional. The Messenger of Allah, (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Verily actions are by intentions, and for every person is what he intended”. If you intend to do something, even if you didn’t end up doing it, you will still get a reward.  But if you do that which you have intended, then you get two rewards, one for your intention and one for the action. Allah has made the religion easy for us Alhamdulilah, so it is up to us to do the acts which we find easiest.

We ask Allah to accept our worship and good deeds and to forgive our sins and shortcomings in these blessed 10 days. We ask Allah to grant the pilgrims an accepted Hajj, and to grant them a safe return.

We would also like to take this time to wish you all blessed Eid-

The PDF version of the Virtues of the Day of Arafah info-graphic (link) There is a spellings mistake that needs correcting Insha aallah. 

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