10 Tips & Tools for The Day of ‘Arafah’ & Beyond!
Think of all your sins the last year, the shortcomings in worship, the wasting of time, the bad speech, and the broken promises. Now truly realize from the bottom of your heart that an amazing day will greet you on the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah, the day before Eid ul Adha: “Yawm ‘Arafah” or the Day of ‘Arafah.
The reward of fasting this day is the expiation of your sins from both the previous and coming year according to the authentic Hadeeth. This is a huge reward. Also, did you know that the Day of ‘Arafah is your chance to be freed from the Hellfire? Do we need any more incentive to give it our all on this grand day? Let’s look at a beneficial day schedule to follow to maximize your rewards.
The Motivation
The Prophet ﷺ said:
ما من يوم أكثر من أن يعتق الله فيه عبدا من النار من يوم عرفة
“There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafah”. (Muslim: 1348)
It is the day that those performing hajj will be standing (Wuqoof) in ‘Arafah; let this remind you of the Day of Gathering. How will it be in the crowds of barefoot, unclothed people, standing for fifty thousand years? Visualizing this scene, constantly say:
اَللهُمَّ أَعْتِقْ رِقَابَنَا مِنَ النَّارِ
[Allaahumma a’tiq riqaabanaa minan-naar] O Allah free our necks from the fire.
In the same Hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said: on the Day of ‘Arafa. He (Allah) draws near, then praises them to the angels, saying: What do these want? (Muslim: 1348)
Day of ‘Arafah Schedule
- The night before
Sleep early the night before and read all supplications before sleeping, as well as Surah Al-Mulk and Surah As-Sajdah. Make the intention to sleep to strengthen yourself for worship on this special day. Get the Daily Worship Schedule ready so you can tick it off throughout the day. (You can download it from here: www.sistersproject.co.uk/downloads)
- Before Fajr
Make sure you wake up well before Fajr for Suhoor. Make Wudhu, (use your little finger to clean between your toes and revive a Sunnah), while intending to perfect your Wudhu gain max benefit from it. Say the Dua’ after Wudhu:
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ اللّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَريـكَ لَـهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّـداً عَبْـدُهُ وَرَسُـولُـهُ
and all gates of Paradise will be opened for you!
Pray two Rak’ah Sunnah prayer after Wudhu. Pray at least four Rak’ah of Qiyam (night prayer) and make Du’a for your Deen (faith affairs) and Dunya (worldly affairs) in your Sujood.
Cry to Allah, showing Him humility and ask Him to give you Tawfeeq (ability) on this great day, and thank Him for making you of those who would experience this special occasion. Spend some time (10-15 minutes at least) making Istighfar (seeking forgiveness) before Fajr. You can say: Astaghfirullah wa atoobu ilayh.
- At and after Fajr
After Fajr Adhan make Du’a and pray Fajr. Sit in your prayer place and do your morning Adhkar (morning remembrance – see Fortress of the Muslim Dua book or www.makedua.com). Make Tasbeeh, Tahleel, Tahmeed, and Takbeer (the special takbeer to be said after each prayer starts from Fajr on Yawm ‘Arafah until last day of Tashreeq).
And as the Prophet ﷺ advised, increase in saying: “Laa ilaaha illaAllaahu wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in qadeer.”
- After sunrise
About twenty minutes after sunrise pray 2 Rak’ah. This all amounts to the reward of a complete Hajj and Umrah. So do not waste it! Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever prays the Fajr prayer in congregation and then he remains sitting mentioning Allah until the sun rises, and then he prays two Rak’ah, will receive the reward of one Hajj and one ‘Umrah, complete, complete, complete.” [At-Tirmidhi: 586]
If you’re able to stay awake, by all means do so and do not waste a single minute. If you need to sleep, take a nap with the conscious intention of energising yourself for the worship of Allah.
- When you wake up
Make Wudhu and say the Dua after Wudhu, then pray 2 Rak’ah Sunnah prayer after Wudhu, and pray at least 4 Rak’ah of Du’ha prayer (at its appropriate time). Recite Qur’an and make multiple intentions whilst reciting. Literally keep your tongue moist with the phrases of Dhikr mentioned above and below while doing any daily tasks.
Don’t forget to make intentions for your mundane tasks as well!
Use the intention reminder strips and dhikr posters on: www.sistersproject.co.uk/downloads
- Pray 4 Sunnah Rak’ah before and after Dhuhr prayer
Try to revive as many Sunan as possible in your prayer; like pausing after each Ayah of Surah Al-Fatiha, saying the Sunnah supplications in Ruku’ and Sujood and before and after the Tasleem (Salaam at the end of prayer). Use the Checklist in the revive a Sunnah in Salah E-book: www.sistersproject.co.uk/downloads. Don’t forget the Takbeer after each prayer!
- Pray 4 Sunnah Rak’ah before Asr
After Asr, recite the Takbeer and say the evening Adhkar (found in the morning and evening remembrance).
- Dua time.
The majority of the scholars say that the best time for Dua’ is from Dhuhr till Maghrib or just a little before Asr to Maghrib. At that point, make abundant Dua’ till Maghrib, while having Yaqeen that Allah, the Most High, is capable of anything and that He will answer when His slave calls upon Him.
Use both supplications from the Qur’an and Sunnah as well as your heart-felt supplications for whatever you aspire in this world and the next, in the language you feel comfortable with.
You can use the Ultimate Dua’ list and the Supplicate with Allah’s Names calendar:
www.sistersproject.co.uk/downloads
Beg that the day will not come to an end except that Allah, the Most High, has forgiven you all your sins and written you of those He has freed from the Fire. Don’t forget the Muslims suffering all over the world.
- During the day say at least:
Hundred times “SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi”, “Astaghfirullaha wa atoobu ilayh” and “Laa ilaaha illa Allaah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulk wa lahul hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer.”
Increase in saying “Laa hawlaa wa laa quwatta illaa Billaah”. Don’t forget the Takbeer, for example: “Allahu akbar Allahu akbar, laa ilaaha illAllah Allahu akbar Allahu akbar, wa lillaahil hamd”.
- Give charity
We used to seek Laylatul Qadr, give extra Sadaqah (charity) on the odd nights. On this day we don’t have to seek a day, yet we are blessed to know when the Day of ‘Arafah is. So, engage in charity intending to thereby erase your sins and be freed from the Hellfire.All above Dhul Hijjah & Yawm ‘Arafah tools: https://withkoji.com/@sistersproject
Share and gain rewards of every single person who practices these tips, by Allah’s Will.
Praying you will benefit,
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have benefitted from our short courses in Arabic and unique methodology. So, can you!
Apply here for a FREE TRIAL now.
Khawlah b. Yahya – United Kingdom
Khawlah b. Yahya founded SISTERS’ PROJECT in 2008, a United Kingdom based women’s support organization, the creative community lead in an art gallery and is a writer for different Islamic organizations and academies. She authored the renown How to Live by the Names of Allah Series, published by the Understand Qur’an Academy, as well as the internationally shared Revive a Sunnah Series. She focuses most of her work on how to translate classic Islamic Knowledge to daily life action. She recently released Personal Lessons from the Qur’an, in which daily life action points are based on Qur’anic Ayaat in a way that’s never seen before. You can purchase the E-book on: understandquran.com////////////////////////product/personal-lessons-from-the-quran/
Related Posts
