This excerpt is taken from Kitab al-Sawm, compiled by Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri, may Allah preserve him.
Question:
On which day is Arafah?
Answer:
Arafah is on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah, because on this day the pilgrims gather at Arafat; for this reason, it is called the Day of Arafah. The fast of Arafah should be observed on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah; wherever the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah occurs, the fast of the Day of Arafah should be observed.
Question:
How is the fast of Arafah?
Answer:
Fasting on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah is prescribed and recommended. It holds great virtue.
Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah, he said:
يكفر السنة الماضية والباقية
"This fast is an expiation for the minor sins of the past and the coming year."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1162)
This is an agreed-upon, authentic, continuous narration. Abdullah bin Mu'bad Zamani is trustworthy, and his narration is from Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him). Although Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) denied the direct hearing (sama'), no one else besides Imam Bukhari denied it. Allama Abu Bakr Khateeb Baghdadi (may Allah have mercy on him) affirmed the direct hearing in Al-Muttafiq wal-Muftariq
Reference: (3/1441)
. ❀ Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
لا يضره ذلك
"Imam Bukhari's denial of the direct hearing is not harmful."
Reference: (Diwan al-Du'afa: 2319)
If the narrator is not a muddlesome narrator, contemporaneity is sufficient for continuity, especially when the scholars do not deny it. Here, only Imam Bukhari denied it, while the majority of hadith scholars have authenticated this hadith. This is clear evidence that Imam Bukhari's view is outweighed. Imam Muslim (may Allah have mercy on him) considers this narration continuous.
This hadith has been declared Hasan by Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (749)
, Imam Abu Awana
Reference: (2924)
, Imam Ibn Khuzaymah
Reference: (2087)
, and Imam Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on them)
Reference: (3631)
. Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is authentic according to the conditions of Bukhari and Muslim
Reference: (4179)
, and Hafiz Dhahabi agreed. ❀ Imam Nasai (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
هذا أجود حديث عندي في هذا الباب
"This is the best hadith regarding the fast of Arafah."
Reference: (Al-Sunan al-Kubra, under hadith: 2826)
❀ Imam Muhammad bin Jarir Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
هذا خبر عندنا صحيح سنده لا علة فيه توهنه ولا سبب يضعفه
"In our view, the chain of this hadith is authentic; there is no defect that weakens it nor any reason that causes weakness."
Reference: (Tahdhib al-Athar [Musnad Umar]: 1/290)
❀ Imam Bayhaqi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
أصح الروايات فيه رواية عبد الله بن معبد الزماني عن أبي قتادة
"The most authentic narration regarding the fast of Arafah is from Abdullah bin Mu'bad Zamani from Abu Qatadah."
Reference: (Shu'ab al-Iman, under hadith: 3504)
❀ Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
هذا إسناد حسن صحيح
"This chain is Hasan Sahih."
Reference: (Al-Tamhid: 21/162)
❀ Hafiz Baghawi (may Allah have mercy on him) declared this hadith authentic.
Reference: (Sharh al-Sunnah: 6/343)
❀ Allama Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi (may Allah have mercy on him) declared this hadith authentic.
Reference: (Fadl Yawm al-Tarwiyah wa Arafah, p. 12)
Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
صوم عرفة كفارة سنتين
"The fast of Arafah expiates the sins of two years."
Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 3/97, Musnad Abd bin Humayd: 464, Musnad Abi Ya'la al-Mawsili: 7548, and its chain is Hasan)
❀ Regarding Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
كانت تصوم يوم عرفة
"She used to fast on the Day of Arafah."
Reference: (Muwatta Imam Malik: 1/375, and its chain is authentic)
❀ Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
قد استحب أهل العلم صيام يوم عرفة إلا بعرفة
"The scholars have declared fasting on Arafah recommended for everyone except the pilgrims present in Arafat."
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, under hadith: 749)
❀ Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal and Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh (may Allah have mercy on them) were proponents of fasting on the Day of Arafah according to the hadith of Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him).
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, under hadith: 752)
Sayyida Umm Fadl bint Harith (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates:
إن ناسا تماروا عندها يوم عرفة في صوم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال بعضهم هو صائم وقال بعضهم ليس بصائم فأرسلت إليه بقدح لبن وهو واقف على بعيره فشربه
"Some people disputed with me about the fast of the Prophet (peace be upon him) on the Day of Arafah; some said he fasted and some said he did not. So I sent a bowl of milk to the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was riding a she-camel, and he drank that milk."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1988, Sahih Muslim: 1123)
❀ Hafiz Baghawi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
هذا حديث متفق على صحته
"There is consensus on the authenticity of this hadith."
Reference: (Sharh al-Sunnah: 6/345)
❀ Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) established a chapter on this hadith:
باب صوم يوم عرفة
"Explanation of the fast of the Day of Arafah."
❀ Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (852 AH)
says: قوله في صوم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم هذا يشعر بأن صوم يوم عرفة كان معروفا عندهم معتادا لهم في الحضر وكأن من جزم بأنه صائم استند إلى ما ألفه من العبادة ومن جزم بأنه غير صائم قامت عنده قرينة كونه مسافرا وقد عرف نهيه عن صوم الفرض في السفر فضلا عن النفل
"The narrator's statement: 'Regarding the fast of the Prophet (peace be upon him)' indicates that fasting on the Day of Arafah was well-known and observed among the companions. Those companions who said the Prophet was fasting considered that he was always engaged in worship (thus he would be fasting). Those who said he was not fasting considered that he was traveling, and since fasting is prohibited during travel, voluntary fasting is even more so."
Reference: (Fath al-Bari: 4/237)
In reality, the fast is on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, but since the Prophet (peace be upon him) was in Arafat at that time, it became known as "the fast of Arafah." That same day continues to reach us. Fasting on the Day of Arafat is not possible for everyone because when the day of Arafah begins in Saudi Arabia, it is nighttime in many other countries. So, will they fast during the night? Pakistan's time is two hours ahead of Saudi Arabia; when the time of Arafah has not yet begun in Saudi Arabia, the pre-dawn meal time ends in Pakistan, and when the day of Arafah has not ended in Saudi Arabia, the breaking of fast time occurs in Pakistan. When there is a difference in prayer times with Saudi Arabia, how can fasting be according to their time?
Pilgrims may fast on Arafah if they do not feel hardship; there is no authentic narration prohibiting this.
❀ Narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him):
إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نهى عن صوم يوم عرفة بعرفة
"Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade fasting on the Day of Arafah for the pilgrims in Arafat."
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 2440, Sunan Ibn Majah: 1732)
The chain is weak. Mahdi bin Harb 'Abdi is unknown.
❀ Imam Yahya bin Ma'in (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
لا أعرفه
"I do not recognize him."
Reference: (Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 8/337, and its chain is authentic)
❀ Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
لا أعرفه
"I do not recognize him."
Reference: (Su'alat Abi Dawood: 473)
Hafiz Ibn Hazm (may Allah have mercy on him) called him "unknown."
Reference: (Al-Muhalla bil Athar: 4/439)
❀ Regarding this hadith, Hafiz 'Aqili (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
لا يتابع عليه وقد روي عن النبي عليه السلام بأسانيد جياد أنه لم يصم يوم عرفة ولا يصح عنه أنه نهى عن صومه
"This narration is not followed. It is certainly established from authentic chains that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not fast on the Day of Arafah (while in Arafat), but it is not established that he forbade fasting on the Day of Arafah (while in Arafat)."
Reference: (Al-Du'afa al-Kabir: 1/298)
❀ Hafiz Ibn Hazm (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
هذا لا يحتج به
"This hadith is not to be taken as evidence."
Reference: (Al-Muhalla bil Athar: 4/439)
❀ Narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both):
من صحبني من ذكر وأنثى فلا يصومن يوم عرفة فإنه يوم أكل وشرب وذكر الله تعالى
"Neither the man nor the woman who is performing Hajj with me should fast on Arafah (9th Dhu al-Hijjah), for it is a day of eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah."
Reference: (Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq: 4/283, no. 7820, Al-Matalib al-'Aliyyah by Ibn Hajar: 6/173, Akhbar Makkah by al-Fakihi: 2780)
The chain is weak. Nadbah Mawlat Maimunah is unknown; only Imam Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned her
Reference: (Al-Thiqat: 5/487)
. ❀ Allama Ibn Hazm (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
هي مجهولة لا تعرف
"She is unknown and not well-known."
Reference: (Al-Muhalla: 9/234, 1/397)
❀ Hafiz Abdul Haq Ashbili (may Allah have mercy on him) relied on this view.
Reference: (Al-Ahkam al-Wusta: 1/209)
❀ Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned Nadbah among the "unknown women."
Reference: (Mizan al-I'tidal: 4/610)
Even if this view is accepted, it pertains to the pilgrim for whom fasting on Arafah is difficult.
Warning:
This fast is on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah. Since the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was at Arafat on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah, it has been called the fast of the Day of Arafah. And Allah knows best!
Question:
What do you say about the following narration?
❀ The narration is:
من صام عشر ذي الحجة فإن صيامه يعدل أجر شهيد
"Whoever fasts the ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah will receive the reward equivalent to that of a martyr."
Answer:
Despite extensive efforts, access to this narration could not be obtained.
