The Third Virtue of the Day of Arafah: Second Oath

Born on the Day of Arafah

The Third Virtue of the Day of Arafah: Second Oath

Sheikh Hany Hilmy
Wednesday, 03 December 2008

Allah all Mighty said: {وَالْفَجْرِ (1) وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ (2) وَالشَّفْعِ وَالْوَتْرِ} {By the dawn* By the ten nights (i.e. the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijja)*And by the even and the odd (of all creations of Allah)} [Surat Al Fajr (The break of the day or the Dawn)].

The even and the odd
Ibn Abbas said: "Even (Al Shaf'a i.e even) is the Day of Slaughtering of sacrifices (the tenth day, Eid Day) and Al Witr (the Odd) is the Day of Arafat."

Hence, Allah swore by the Odd which is the Day of Arafat.

Al Fajr (the dawn) is the time when light comes, the beginning of the light. Didn't I tell you that the Day of Arafat will be your birthday. I was newly born. Like the dawn which is born midst the dark night; the light comes, the light of the dawn.

{By the ten nights}: as if the beginning is here.

Those ten nights are the greatest nights of the era. Allah swears by those nights and glorifies their days. Those are the ten days of Dhul-Hijja. When you glorify the Day of Arafat and make yourself accountable, you may see the light of the dawn and you may be born again and that is why Allah swore by those days.

Duty:
What are your duties toward this great day (Arafat) which Allah swore by it?

As being said before, you need to glorify your Lord. That is why we need to make Takbeer (Allahu-Akbar: Allah is the Greatest) in those days especially on the night of Arafat Day. Notice that their is a deserted sunna as mentioned by Bukhari and that is that Takbeer starts individually from the first day of the ten days of dhul-Hijja. It can be performed while walking, riding a car or transportation. Glorify Allah and revive this deserted Sunna.

He said in his Sahih according to Ibn Amro according to Abi Hurairah that: "they used to say during the ten days, Allah is the Greatest (Allahu-Akbar), Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar, There is no God but Allah alone, Allah is the Greatest and All praise be to Allah." They used to glorify Allah during the ten days.

Then there is a restricted Takbeer (done in groups) which starts the dawn of the Day of Arafat after the maghrib prayers.

Why? Because it is a great day so glorify your Lord in it by making lots of Takbeer {وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ} {And that you must magnify Allah (i.e. say Takbeer: Allahu-Akbar: Allah is the Most Great) on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadan and Shawwal) for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him} [Al Baqara: 185]. May Allah guide us to a greater and better merit day, to the Day of Arafat.

Just by saying Allahu-Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), you feel that Allah is greater than your lusts, enjoyment, your wife and kids and even greater from your parents.

The heart listens, and receives the messages of Allahu-Akbar. Hence, it glorifies Allah. The hearts hear the words Allahu-Akbar. In the Time for praying. It starts glorifying Allah not during praying only but in every regulations Allah ordered. Allah is the Greatest , All praise be to Him. This is the message for the biggest Day of freedom from hellfire.