Day of Arafah

The Day of Arafah which falls on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah of the lunar Islamic Calendar is one of the most important days of year for Muslims. Special rituals are recommended to be performed on this day including Ziarat of Imam Hussain. There are several Hadiths attributing the same reward of performing Hajj to Ziarat the holy shrine of Imam Hussain on the day of Arafah.

Supplication of Arafah by Imam HussainEdit

Supplication of Arafah by Imam Hussain is one of Shi'a supplications first recorded by Imam Hussain. He recited this du’a-one of the most famous in Shi'ite annals- one year during the pilgrimage to Mecca on the Day of Arafah, and it has been recited by pious Shi'ites ever since.

Recommended Rituals in ArafahEdit

There are numerous hadiths on the importance of the day of Arafah. So, certain rituals are highly recommended on this day; some of which are:

  • Praying and asking for forgiveness, which are the best acts in this day. The Supplication of Imam Hussain has been recommended highly.
  • Ghusl (ritual bath)
  • Ziarat Imam Hussain
  • Giving charity
  • Fasting
  • Staying over the night of Arafa until the dawn of the day of Arafa in Mina (for pilgrims of Hajj).

Ziarat of Imam Hussain on the Day of ArafahEdit

It is recommended to visit Imam al-Hussain's shrine every time one can do so. However, there are some special days including the day of Arafah on which it is particularly recommended to visit the shrine.

The Reward for the Ziarat of Imam Hussain on the Day of ArafahEdit

Muhammad ibn Ja'far Al-Qurashi Al-Razzaz Al-Kufi narrated from his uncle Muhammad ibn Hussain ibn Abil Khattab, from Muhammad ibn Isma'il, from Salih ibn 'Uqbah, from Bashir Al-Dahhan, who said:  

I said to Imam Sadiq, ‘Sometimes I miss (the opportunity to go to) Hajj so I go and spend the Day of Arafah next to the grave of Hussain instead.’  

Imam said: Very good, O Bashir! Verily Allah will Register twenty purified and accepted Hajj, twenty purified and accepted Umrah, and the reward of (fighting in) twenty battles with one of Allah 's Messengers or with a Just Imam for any believer who goes to (the Ziarat of) the grave of Hussain knowing his rights on any day other than an Eid. Allah will register one hundred Hajj and Umrah and the reward of (fighting in) one hundred battles with one of Allah 's Messengers or with a Just Imam for anyone who goes to him (Imam Hussain) on any Eid day.  

Allah will register one thousand accepted Hajj and Umrah and the reward of (fighting in) one thousand battles with one of Allah ’s Messengers or with a Just Imam for anyone who goes to Imam Hussain on the Day of Arafah knowing his rights.  

I said, ‘But how can I be anywhere better than Arafat on the day‘' Arafah?’

Imam looked at me angrily and said, ‘O Bashir! When a believer goes to the Ziarat of the grave of Hussain on the Day of Arafah after performing Ghusl with the water of the Euphrates (River), Allah will register on (complete) Hajj with all of its rituals for him with every step that he takes.’

Bashir added, ‘I believe that the Imam also mentioned (that Allah will Register the reward of participating in) a battle’.[1]

It is also narrated through a chain of transmission from Sa'd ibn Abd Allah, from Ali ibn Isma'il ibn Isa, from Muhammad ibn Amr ibn Sa'id Al-Zayyat, from Dawud Al-Raqqi, who said:  

I heard Aba Abd Allah (Imam Sadiq), Abul Hasan (Imam Raza) say:  

Allah will make those who go to (the Ziarat of) the grave of Hussain on the Day of Arafah return with hearts filled with certainty. [2]

It is narrated through a chain of transmission from Sa'd (ibn Abd Allah), who from Haytham ibn Abi Masruq Al-Nahdi, from Ali ibn Asbat, from some of our companions, who said:  

Imam Sadiq said, ‘On the eve of Arafah, Allah looks at the pilgrim of the grave of Hussain first.’  

I asked, ‘Even before looking at the people who are in Arafat?’ Imam replied, ‘Yes.’  I asked, ‘Why is that?’  

Imam replied, ‘Because there are people who are conceived illegitimately among those who are in Arafat but there is not any illegitimately conceived people among the pilgrims of Hussain[3]

It is narrated through a chain of transmission from Sa'd ibn Abd Allah, from Musa ibn 'Umar, from Ali ibn Nu'man, from Abd Allah ibn Muskan, who said:  

Abu Abd Allah (Imam Sadiq) said Verily (on the Day of Arafah), Allah, Manifests (His Mercy) to the pilgrim of the grave of Hussain before He does so to the people who are in Arafat. He fulfils their needs, forgives their sins, and Accepts their intercession for their requests, and thereafter He attends to the people in Arafat and honours them in the same way. [4]

It is narrated through a chain of transmission from Muhammad ibn Yahiya Al Attar, from Abi Sa'id Hamdan ibn Sulayman Al-Naysaburi, from Abd Allah Ibn Muhammad Al-Yamani, from Mani' ibn Hajjaj, from Yunus ibn Ya'qub ibn Ammar, who said:  

Abu Abd Allah (Imam Sadiq) said: Those who miss (the opportunity of) spending the Day of Arafah in Arafah, but instead spend that day next to the grave of Hussain, have not missed it. Verily (on the Day of Arafah), Allah Starts with the people who are next to the grave of Hussain before the people who are in Arafat and then He mixes them with Himself. [5]

SourceEdit

  • A hadith on Visiting Holy Graves (Ziyarah)

ReferencesEdit

  1. Kamil Al-Ziara, Ch. 70, h, 1 
  2. Kamil Al-Ziara, Ch. 70, h, 2 
  3. Kamil Al-Ziara, Ch. 70, h, 3
  4. Kamil Al-Ziara, Ch. 70, h, 4 
  5. Allah mixing the Pilgrim with Himself refers to mixing them with His special Blessings.