A Holistic Approach to Day of Arafah | Imam Nadim Bashir | EPIC Masjid

Important Clarification About Qurbani Timing

I do want to make a very important clarification, a question that has come to me plenty of times so far in the last two days, because it is not usually the case where many of us may have sent our udhiyah or qurbani, the money, overseas, perhaps India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or some Middle Eastern country, and usually those countries, they celebrate Eid usually one day after us. So if you have sent the money overseas, you know that, for example, if we're celebrating Eid on Wednesday, and many chances they are celebrating Eid on Thursday, so you're not generally worried about it because the qurbani is going to be taking place after we have performed Salat al-Eid over here. So they're usually not, there's not a concern.

But however, this year, it's a little different, because they also are celebrating Eid on Wednesday. So the concern that many people have brought to my attention is that if my qurbani udhiyah is being done there overseas, and here we have not prayed our Salat al-Eid yet, and if it's okay, is it okay that they can do my qurbani udhiyah on Wednesday, even though I've not prayed Salat al-Eid over here? You get the concern.

So just after doing some research, the majority of the ulema and scholars, they say that in this kind of situation, you will not look at whose qurbani and where are they doing it. For example, if I have given that responsibility, if I've made someone a representative on my behalf to do the qurbani, then they can do the qurbani based on their timing. So if they have performed their Salat al-Eid, then they can go ahead and take care of the qurbani because I have made them my representative. In one way, they are sort of like my wakil. They are taking care of it on my behalf. So as long as they do it after their Salat al-Eid, that's all that counts. Even though we have not performed our Salat al-Eid over here, it is absolutely okay. So I just want to clarify that because again, this is a question that many people have asked and there's sort of this concern on their mind. So I just want to put those concerns at rest inshallah.

A Holistic Approach to the Day of Arafah

So having said that, let's get into the subject for today. I want to provide a holistic approach to Arafah and what does it mean for all of us.

1. The Meaning of Arafah: Recognition of Allah

First of all is the meaning of Arafah comes from the word عرفة ya'rifah which means to recognize something. Like there is a verse of the Qur'an where Allah says:

The purpose that Allah has created us is for us to worship Allah. And there's a great scholar by the name of Ibn Abbas. He is one of those sahaba who was a very expert in the tafsir of the Qur'an. His tafsir is well recognized. He was considered as a mufassir amongst the sahaba. He would generally give the tafsir of the word li ya'budun - like Allah says I've created the insan and the jinn. I've not created them except for them to worship me. Ibn Abbas says that this word means that I've created the humankind and the jinn kind so that they can recognize who I am.

Because see one is that you understand there's something there. But one is to recognize to respect something that actually is there. One is that we know that Allah is there. But one is to recognize that Allah is watching me in all my affairs. One is to recognize that who Allah truly is. He is the one who will hold me accountable. He is the one who's watching me 24-7. So when you have this understanding that Allah and you recognize who Allah truly is then we will behave a different way. So that is why the very first thing about this day of Arafah is about to understand who truly Allah is. To connect with our true purpose of life. What is my purpose in this dunya?

And wallahi I've talked about this before. So many of us are running after this dunya as if it will last forever. Wallahi this dunya is nothing. When you grow up and the more you grow up and then you see what this dunya is. People have everything today and tomorrow they have nothing. A person has izzah today, tomorrow they have no izzah. Everything in this dunya, every affair of this dunya is purely in the hands of Allah. So number one is that we need to use this day to again reconnect with Allah. To understand our purpose of life and to truly recognize Allah for who He is.

2. The Day the Deen Was Completed

Number two is that this is a good time to remind ourselves that this is the day, the day of Arafah was the day in which this deen was complete. Jibreel came to Rasulullah. He brought down the verses of Surah Al-Ma'idah:

"Today we have perfected this deen. And we have completed this ni'mah upon you. And he is like Allah saying that I am pleased with Islam as my deen." So this is why is this in this day is very auspicious in our history as well.

Not only that, but this Khutbat al-Wada', this very famous and well known sermon that has been documented. It's printed on posters. Many of us have it in our homes hanging. This is where this Khutbat al-Wada' took place. On the day of Arafah, wherein Rasulullah talked about the sanctity of life and wealth. That no one's life and wealth is not allowed for anyone to take the life or to violate anyone else's privileges.

At the same time, this was a day where Rasulullah made sure to emphasize that in our deen, he end tribal racism. لا فضل لعربي على عجمي ولا لعجمي على عربي - That there is no superiority of a white over a black, of an Arab over an Ajam or Ajam over an Arab. And the only criteria that matters to Allah is what? Is taqwa. The more a person, إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ - If you want true dignity and honor, have taqwa in your life.

Rasulullah also emphasized on the rights of women. He emphasized about the abolishment of riba, that staying away from riba. He emphasized on brotherhood. He emphasized on returning the trust. And not only that, but he made sure to emphasize on holding on to the Quran and holding on to the sunnah of Rasulullah. So this day is very auspicious in our history.

3. The Days of Takbir

Number three, tomorrow inshallah, starting tomorrow morning fajr. We are starting what? The takbirat. So 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th. It comes to the end of the 13th day. So these are the days of tashriq. So in our context, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Saturday asr is the last salat where we will have the takbirat.

That means that if we're doing, if we're here as a jama'a, we will do the takbirat. If you are at home, you're doing jama'a with your home, it becomes your responsibility, especially for the fathers. Again, the spirituality that grows within a family begins with the fathers. The fathers have to take this very seriously. You try to remind everyone in your family to do the takbirat after each salat. This is something that we have learned from the Prophet.

4. Fasting on the Day of Arafah

Number four, fasting on this day of Arafah. We know about this. Rasulullah says, it does not only forgive the sins of one year, but forgives the sins of two years. So that's why it is absolutely important. And because we know that Fajr time begins at what time tomorrow morning? Around like at 5:05, right? 5:02, look at the Epic app. Okay, inshallah, just follow that.

But the point is try to sleep early tonight. Try to sleep early tonight and wake up early tomorrow morning. Give your time, give yourself time to pray two rakah, four rakah of Qiyamul Layl. Make dua for yourself, make dua for the ummah, make dua for everyone. This is a time, this is a day for dua. So that is why wake up early, pray your tahajjud, your Qiyamul Layl, make a lot of dua, have suhoor. As Rasulullah says, تسحروا فإن في السحور بركة - That have suhoor because there is barakah in the suhoor. Have suhoor with your family. Try to encourage your children that tomorrow inshallah, we all will fast as a family. Try to make this an emphasis for tomorrow inshallah. So that's number four.

5. Make Abundant Dua

Number five, make abundant dua. Tomorrow is the day of dua, brothers and sisters. Whatever problems, all of us have some kind of a concern, we have some kind of a problem, whether it's health related, financial related, relationship related, issues amongst others, uncertainties, you know, subhanAllah, so many times that people are coming to me and they're telling me what's going to happen, what's going to happen with all the Islamophobia that's taking place, are we going to be here, not be here, what's going to happen to us, our situation, our masajid, our Islamic institutions. We saw what happened last week in San Diego, right? We saw what happened. And today there was another imam who reached out to me because again there was a video that was released, epic was in there, Muslims are trying to take over.

He was telling me, he goes that may Allah protect your community, may Allah protect all of us, may Allah protect our masajid, may Allah protect our Islamic institutions, may Allah protect our brothers, our sisters, our young boys, our young girls, may Allah protect all of us, but tomorrow is the day of dua. Rasulullah says the best supplication is the supplications or the duas that are made on the day of Arafah.

And especially, especially as we get closer to the end of the day, which is Maghrib time, try to make sure, make a list from now. There's all these comprehensive lists that are circulating online, but sit down, make a lot of dua. If you sit there and you make dua for your health once, it doesn't mean that dua is over. No, keep on making dua for your health, keep on making dua for your family, but have a list of duas, preferably have a list of duas ready for yourself so you can sit down.

And tomorrow, inshallah, when that time comes, put aside everything that is considered as a distraction. The greatest distraction in our time is what? The phone. Okay, we all know that. Put aside the phones. If you don't check your social media platform and you don't check your emails for around an hour, two hours, it's not the end of the world. Life will go on, the dunya will keep on going on, but you will lose the opportunity for dua. So that is why make a lot of dua, inshallah.

The Proper Etiquette of Making Dua

And of course, when it comes to dua, I have to remind myself and everyone here, how you make dua is, number one, you first praise Allah. Number two, first make istighfar to Allah. We often jump right into our dua, ya Allah, I want this, I want this, as if it's like a long shopping list. Okay, that's not the way Allah functions. We have to make sure that first, you know, a long time ago, when people go in front of kings, and they will ask for a request, they will not make their demands right away. They will come in with a lot of gifts. They will come and say, they will sing the praises of that king. You know, they will say things in honor of that king, and then they will make their demands.

Likewise, when we're making dua to Allah, He is the king of all kings. When you first make dua, you first praise Allah. Number two, make istighfar, ask Allah for forgiveness, and show genuine remorse and regret over our sins. Number three is send your peace and blessings on Rasulullah. Because the Prophet has mentioned that duas in which he has been aware in. We send our peace and blessings on Rasulullah, those duas are accepted before Allah. Make sure you make dua the right way, and then ask Allah.

Preparing for the Day of Arafah

Number six, in these days, it is very important that we increase in this dua that we have been learned, we have been taught by Rasulullah ﷺ, which we should try to recite all day long tomorrow.

If you recite a hundred times, you do not feel like, okay, you know what, I've completed the quota. No, keep on reciting it all day long. Try to make sure we make it a point tomorrow to do this.

The Importance of Sincere Repentance

Number seven, make a sincere تَوْبَة tomorrow. You make a تَوْبَة by showing genuine regret to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. This is not about anyone else. I know my sins. I know my shortcomings. I know what I've done wrong. We all have skeletons in our closet hanging that we would not like anyone to know about our skeletons. In fact, some of us are holding on to secrets that perhaps my wife, my husband, or even my children don't know about. It's only between me and Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for forgiveness.

As Rasulullah ﷺ he says in a hadith, there is no day in which Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala frees more people from the fire of Jahannam than the day of Arafah. So that is why let's try to do as much as we can so that by the time the day of Arafah comes to an end, insha'Allah, thumma insha'Allah our name is on that list insha'Allah.

So try to make that dua and not only that but Rasulullah ﷺ also says in a hadith that is found in Mu'atta Imam Malik that shaitan is never more humiliated, is more rejected, and more miserable, and more angry than the day of Arafah. Because you have to imagine this man or this creation of Allah has been working so hard to destroy our lives and here Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's rahmah, his mercy comes into full power and full swing and he forgives everyone. Basically Allah is undoing all the work that he has done. So that is why there is no day in which he's more humiliated than this day of Arafah. So that is why asking Allah for forgiveness is absolutely crucial on this day of Arafah.

Increase in Dhikr and Remembrance

Number eight, increase in your general adhkar on this day. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala he talks about these days in Surah Al-Hajj. Allah gave us these days. Why? So we can recognize these days. We can witness these days and so we can remember Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. So subhanAllah, alhamdulillah, la ilaha illallah, allahu akbar, astaghfirullah. Anything that you can do, make sure you try to do this on this day as much as you can.

Guard Yourself from Sin

Number nine, on this day try to avoid engaging in anything that is considered as a sin. Guard your tongues from engaging in any kind of gossip, any kind of slander, argumentation, inappropriate scrolling online for example. Try to stay away from everything on this day. Look, it may happen that we're sitting on social media, we're scrolling, scrolling and then I remember, oh today's the day of Arafah. Let me put this aside. No problem. As soon as you remember, then put aside your phone.

Because see again, shaitan is with us. He's going to try to make us forget. Oh if you scroll a little, no problem. And you're scrolling and scrolling. But as soon as you remember is that today is the day of Arafah, then shaitan is going to come and say, well don't worry buddy, you still have five hours left. You still have six hours left before iftar. No problem right now. Just take your time. No, we put away the phone. Engage in istighfar. Engage in the takbirat of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

The Final Hour Before Maghrib

And finally, that I, which I alluded to earlier, that especially tomorrow, right before maghrib, try to make sure that we are fully prepared. If you're going to work tomorrow, make sure you come back, take some rest. But at least that half an hour, one hour before maghrib, try to make sure that you make this about yourself. Cry to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. If you cannot cry to Allah, try to make a face of crying. Like pretend that you're crying. But show that genuine remorse, that genuine regret, and that genuine need.

You know when you go overseas, you know how people they beg when they want something from you? Like when they want money from you, they will come after you, they will beg from you. Think about if we want from the treasures of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, how do we need to beg Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala? We ask and we ask and you don't ever get tired of asking, especially tomorrow inshallah.

Summary of the Ten Points

So we ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to grant all of us tawfiq inshallah. Again, we talked about the day, the meaning of Arafah. We talked about tomorrow that this is the day, historically speaking, when the deen was complete. This is also the very well-known khutbah the Prophet ﷺ gave. We talked about number three, the takbirat. Number four, fasting tomorrow. Number five, a lot of dua tomorrow. Number six, لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ. Number seven, make a sincere tawbah to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Number eight, increasing your dhikr throughout the entire day. Number nine, guard yourself from sins tomorrow. And number ten, try to take out time right before maghrib and make a sincere dua.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant all of us tawfiq inshallah. Try to go home right now, try to get some sleep, go to sleep right away so that you can wake up early inshallah and engage in qiyam and then suhoor and then inshallah I'll see all of you here tomorrow morning for Fajr if I'm alive till then inshallah.

Jazakumullah khair. Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu.