TheThird Virtue of the Day of Arafah: First Oath

orn on the Day of Arafah

TheThird Virtue of the Day of Arafah: First Oath

Sheikh Hany Hilmy
Wednesday, 03 December 2008

Allah swore by the day of Arafah in the quran two times. This shows the greatness of the day.

1- The first oath Allah made was in Surat Al-Burooj (The Mansions of the stars) and we will stop at the benefits of every point in the verses.

2- The Second oath was made in surat el Fajr

The First Oath.. (The Mansions of the stars - Al-Burooj )
Allah the all Mighty said: {وَالسَّمَاء ذَاتِ الْبُرُوجِ (1) وَالْيَوْمِ الْمَوْعُودِ (2) وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ (3) قُتِلَ أَصْحَابُ الْأُخْدُودِ} {By the heavens holding the big stars and by the promised day (i.e. the day of resurrection), and by the witnessing day (i.e. Friday and by the witnessed day, the day of Arafat, (Hajj), and the ninth of Dhul Hijja) Cursed were the people of the ditch (the story of the boy and the king)} [Al Buruj: 1-4].)

Al-Burooj: Stars and Planets
Al Buruj means all the stars and planets. We find in the stars the meaning of glittering, light and height. Don't you think so? What meaning do the heavens have? Allah swears by the heaven because it is a great thing but why the heavens? Why didn't He say the heaven only like when He said: {وَالسَّمَاء وَالطَّارِقِ} {By the heaven and Atariq, (the night comer, i.e. the bright star)} [Atariq: 1], No, He said here {وَالسَّمَاء ذَاتِ الْبُرُوجِ} {By the heaven, holding the big stars} that have the bright stars.

The promised day: The day of resurrection day
The promised day means the day of resurrection according to Abu Hurairah, may Allah bless him, that the prophet, peace be upon him, said: «The promised day is the day of resurrection; the witnessing is the Friday» [Narrated by Termethei and classified as correct by Al Albani].

What is the connection between the four?
When Allah says: "By the heaven holding big stars. the promised day, the witnessing day". He all Mighty swears that this happened as if like you saying: "By Allah, By Allah, by Allah "cursed were the people of the ditch".

He all Mighty swears by what He wants of His creations and universe. He swears by the heaven, by the day of resurrection, by Friday and by the day of Arafat that the people of the ditch were killed.

Can anyone see the connection between these meanings?
Height, sublimity and light. Aren't there people who will pass by the straight path like the bright planet (Who are those?). Those are people of high grades, people of heaven, people of sublimity on the day of resurrection. What did they do? Allah swore by those two days because they're the best days of the week and year. The greatest day of the week is Friday and the greatest day of the year where sins are forgiven is the day of Arafat. Isn't it true?

The witnessed is the day of Arafat which is the day of freedom from hellfire so how do you get there?, This needs diligence and sacrifice... Did you get the equation?, Or do you need me to repeat?

Duty: Reaching Sublimity
Do you need to reach sublimity, want to be amongst the people with the complete light in the day of resurrection. This needs:

You need to glorify those glorious days, it is said the Greatest swears by the great, Our Lord the all Mighty is great and will not swear by anything unless it is really great. So, that is why they are important days. Thus, glorify these days, take great care of yourself during these days and appreciate them a lot, the Friday of the week and the day of Arafat (And by the witnessing day, and by the witness day). And you will not gain that without making an effort and a sacrifice like the story of the ditch. The people were killed, thrown in fire and burnt and that didn't force them to change their religion.
Then we need to sacrifice... Wondering what are you willing to sacrifice?

Would you sacrifice by your life?, Time? Or what?, What are you willing to sell?, Yourself? Allah is buying, are you selling?, "Selling his soul so freeing it from hellfire".

Whoever is selling is the one who will be freed from the hellfire in the Day of Arafat. You need to do something. Give a big charity. We need something practical today, do not sleep tonight till dawn.

Hold up your Quran on that day and I swear to God that you can read it completely and finish it. If you usually do not read, read half of it or even just ten parts. Recite a lot of Quran so as to fill up your whole time on that day. Don't turn around and say what am I doing tonight, it is the Eid night and I need to do so and so. No, leave that and focus it is the Day of Freedom from the hellfire.

I wish that He only frees me from fire I wish that He forgive me. Tell me what to do? I need to do lots of good things during that day. I am ready to do anything, sacrifice anything, and just free me O' Allah from hellfire. You need to psychologically prepare yourself for that day. That's what you want on the greatest day of freedom from the hellfire.