The day of ‘Arafah precedes Yawm An-Nahr (the Day of Sacrifice), and involves standing before, and supplicating and repenting to Allah. Tawaaf (circumambulation of the Ka’bah) after standing on ‘Arafat is called ‘the Visiting Tawaaf’ because, having been purified of their sins, Allah The Almighty permitted the people to visit His House on the Day of Sacrifice.
This day has been honoured by the fact that Allah swore by it in His Book, as He Says (what means): {By the dawn. And (by) ten nights. And (by) the night when it passes.} [Quran 89:1-3] The day of ‘Arafah is the day on which Allah took the covenant from the children of Aadam and they testified to His Oneness. Ibn ‘Abbaas narrated that the Prophet said: “Allah took the covenant from children of Aadam on the day of ‘Arafah, and He brought forth from their loins their descendants and then scattered them and spoke to them asking: ‘Am I not your Lord?’” [Quran 7:172] [Ahmad]
If the day of ‘Arafah coincides with Friday then it will have extra virtue for several reasons:
# The best two days are combined.
# There is an hour on Jumu’ah during which supplications are definitely accepted. Naturally, the people on ‘Arafat would certainly be supplicating at that hour.
# The size of the congregation would be increased, because the gathering of people for on ‘Arafat would coincide with that of those around the world who come to attend the Jumu’ah sermon. This means having a greater number of people supplicating simultaneously.
# Joining the two days of ‘Eed since Jumu’ah is the weekly ‘Eed and ‘Arafat is like ‘Eed for those who are there (due to the gathering of the people, the descent of the mercy of Allah The Almighty and the joy of the pilgrims).
# Joining the Shaahid (Jumu’ah) and the Mash-hood (‘Arafat). Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said regarding the Saying of Allah The Almighty (what means): {And by the witnessing day (Shaahid) and the witnessed day (Mush-hood).} [Quran 85:3] that, “‘Shaahid’ is Jumu’ah, and ‘Mash-hood’ is ‘Arafat.’” [Ibn Al-Qayyim]
# This occurred when the Prophet performed his Hajj.
# It coincides with the day when Allah perfected His religion for His believing slaves and completed His favor upon them. This is proved by a narration in Saheeh al-Bukhari, which was affirmed by ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab who said: "I know the day which it [Quran 5:3] was revealed, and the place in which it was revealed. It was revealed to the Messenger of Allah in ‘Arafah, on a Friday, when we were standing with him in ‘Arafah."
Making up for shortcomings during the Hajj:
The people who are unable to perform Hajj, and miss standing on ‘Arafat should fulfil all the other rights of Allah The Almighty, and those who could not spend the night in Muzdalifah should pledge to obey Allah The Almighty in all other matters.
Other than this, those who could not slaughter their sacrificial animals should give up their whims and desires, and those who could not reach the House of Allah should supplicate to Allah The Almighty, Who is nearer (in knowledge) than one’s jugular vein. Allah The Almighty legislated righteous acts for those who could not make it to ‘Arafat, such as fasting on that day. Abu Qataadah narrated that the Prophet said: “Fasting it (‘Arafat) expiates the sins of the previous and the coming year.” [Muslim] One can fast that day alone, even if it means singling out Friday for fasting.
Fasting the days of the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth of Thul-Hijjah is prohibited, except for those who cannot sacrifice. Ibn ‘Umar said, “No permission was given to fast these days except for those who could not afford the sacrifice.” [Al-Bukhari] The majority of scholars have said, “This ruling applies to those in Hajj and others.”
Moreover, it is a Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) to recite Takbeer (say “Allahu Akbar”) on these days, particularly after the obligatory Salah (prayer) starting with Fajr (dawn prayer) of the day of ‘Arafah for those who are not performing Hajj, and Thuhr (afternoon prayer) of the day of sacrifice for those performing the Hajj; both continue until the last day (the thirteenth).