The Fasting of ʿArafah – Virtue in the Light of Aḥādīth

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