London, July 30, 2020 (AltAfrica)-The day of Arafat is the holiest day in the Islamic calendar.It falls on the 9th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the lunar Islamic calendar.

It coincides with the second day of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and is on the the day before the beginning of Eid ul-Adha, a Muslim celebration commemorating Ibraham’s devotion to Allah

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Arafat day is considered important among Muslims and the pilgrims because it is the day when Prophet Muhammad (SAW) gave his farewell sermon to the many Muslims who had accompanied him as he completed Hajj towards the end of his life. The day is also important as it is believed that holding vigil and fasting will pardon all sins of the past

How Day of Arafat is Marked:

Those who make the pilgrimage to Mount Arafah, stand in contemplative vigil, offer supplications, seek God’s mercy for their past sins and listen to sermons by Islamic scholars. Also known as ‘standing before God’, the vigil lasts from noon through sunset and is considered as one of the most significant rites of Hajj.

Pilgrims recite the Arafah prayer from Zuhr prayer to sunset, and those who are unable to make it to Mecca go to mosques to recite it.

Those few hours spent on Mount Arafat are probably when the the Hajj pilgrims feel the strongest-ever connection with Allah. The pleasures, the worries and every connection to the materialistic world fades away there

Day of Arafat is special, so prepare your list of wishes that you want to be fulfilled and ask Allah as he loves to forgive and grant wishes on this day.

There is no day on which Allah frees more people from hellfire than the Day of Arafat – this hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) best describes the importance of the Day of Arafat that falls on the ninth day of the Islamic month Zul Hijjah.

In other words, this is the most important day of Haj and the day that follows is marked as Eid Al Adha.

Muslims believe that part of the Quranic verse announcing that the religion of Islam had been perfected was revealed on this day.

This day is also known as the day of repentance; hence, those who are not performing Haj, or are unable to go, can spend their day fasting and seeking forgiveness from Allah.

Prayers are believed to be answered on this day and it is said that those who fast on that day will get all sins of the prior year, as well as all sins for the upcoming year, expiated.

Day of Arafat is considered to be an auspicious day in Islam, and many pilgrims try their best to visit the Mount at least once in their lives.

The Muslim festival of Eid Al Adha marks the conclusion of the pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Haj. At the end of Haj, Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday. Eid Al Adha translated, means the Festival of Sacrifice

During Eid, Muslims remember the trials of the Prophet Abraham

One of Prophet Abraham’s main trials was a test from God, asking him to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail. Abraham obediently placed Ismail on an altar and took a knife to his neck. Then an angel of God appeared and told Abraham to spare his son because he had proven his faith.

Duties: What Muslims should do on Eid Al Adha?

On the day of Eid, there are some things that Muslims should do in keeping with the Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) Sunnah.

Wake up early

Have a healthy breakfast

Take a shower and wear perfume to smell good

Make sure you are wearing clean and modest clothes

Perform the Eid Al Adha prayers

Generosity during Eid

Wish everyone a “Eid Mubarak” (Have a blessed Eid), or “Eid Saeed” (Happy Eid).

It is also a good Islamic practice to call family and friends over the phone, or send gifts.

Remember the true spirit of Eid is reflected in extreme generosity to the poor and the needy.

So a Muslim should be charitable as best as he or she can. There’s plenty of ways you can contribute to the less fortunate this Eid, while still staying safe, like donations or send a needy family a grocery delivery. 

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