Source: Fatāwā Āmanpūrī – Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Āmanpūrī
❖ Question
What is the ruling on fasting on the Day of ʿArafah?
✿ Answer
- Fasting on 9th Dhū al-Ḥijjah (Yawm ʿArafah) is legislated (mashrūʿ) and recommended (mustaḥabb).
- It carries immense virtue and reward.
Evidence from Aḥādīth
① From Abū Qatādah al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه:
سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ؟ فَقَالَ: يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1162)
Translation:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about fasting on the Day of ʿArafah. He said: It expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year.”
② From Sahl ibn Saʿd رضي الله عنه:
صَوْمُ عَرَفَةَ كَفَّارَةُ سَنَتَيْنِ
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 3/97; Musnad Abī Yaʿlā 7548 – ḥasan chain)
Translation:
“Fasting on the Day of ʿArafah is an expiation for two years.”
③ From ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
كَانَتْ تَصُومُ يَوْمَ عَرَفَةَ
(Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik 1/375 – ṣaḥīḥ chain)
“She used to fast on the Day of ʿArafah.”
Statements of Scholars
❀ Imām al-Tirmidhī رحمه الله:
“The scholars have recommended fasting on the Day of ʿArafah for all except those at ʿArafāt (i.e., the ḥujjāj).”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 749)
❀ Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh both considered it recommended, based on the ḥadīth of Abū Qatādah.
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 752)
The Prophet ﷺ and the Ḥujjāj on ʿArafah
Narrated by Umm al-Faḍl bint al-Ḥārith رضي الله عنها:
Some people debated whether the Prophet ﷺ was fasting on the Day of ʿArafah. She sent him a cup of milk while he was standing on his camel, and he drank it.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1988; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1123)
- This proves the Prophet ﷺ did not fast while at ʿArafāt, in consideration of the difficulty for the pilgrims.
- Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله even titled a chapter: “Bāb Ṣawm Yawm ʿArafah” to indicate its established virtue.
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله explains:
- Among the Ṣaḥābah, fasting on ʿArafah was well-known in non-ḥajj situations.
- Those who thought the Prophet ﷺ was fasting assumed so because of his attachment to worship.
- Those who denied it understood that since he was traveling and fasting is avoided in difficulty, he would not be fasting.
(Fatḥ al-Bārī 4/237)
Practical Clarification
- The fast is of 9th Dhū al-Ḥijjah, which is called the fast of ʿArafah because the Prophet ﷺ was at ʿArafāt on that day.
- It applies to Muslims worldwide according to their local calendar dates, not by following Saudi Arabia’s timing.
- Pilgrims at ʿArafāt are exempted if it causes hardship, though there is no ṣaḥīḥ prohibition.
✅ Conclusion
- Fasting on 9 Dhū al-Ḥijjah (Yawm ʿArafah) is highly recommended for all Muslims except for those performing ḥajj at ʿArafāt, where it may be left due to hardship.
- Its reward: expiation of sins for two years (past and coming).
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
