Before celebrating Eid al-Adha, Muslims are encouraged to fast during Zulhijah or Arafah, especially those who are not performing the Hajj pilgrimage. Arafah fasting is Zulhiijah fasting, which is performed on the 9th of Zulhijah. For those of you who are still confused about how to intend Arafah fasting, check out the following review, complete with the virtues of Arafah fasting.
Intention for the Arafah Fast
In order for the fast to be valid, we must first express our intention. The intention is recited at sunset or before sunrise. Roughly speaking, the intention for the Arafah Fast is the same as the intention for other fasts. The intention for the Arafah Fast can be recited aloud or simply in your heart. The following is the recitation of the intention for the Arafah Fast of Eid al-Adha:
نَوَيْتُ صَوْمَ غَدٍ عَنْ أَدَاءِ سُنَّةِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ لِلهِ تَعَالَى
Nawaitu shauma ghadin ‘an adâ’i sunnati Arafah lillâhi ta’âlâ
Meaning:
I intend to fast the sunnah of Arafah tomorrow for Allah SWT.
Read also: Take note! This is the intention for fasting the first 10 days of Eid al-Adha
Although it is considered a supererogatory fast, the Arafah fast is not recommended for those who are performing the Hajj pilgrimage. However, if they wish to do so, it is still permissible. This is in accordance with the hadith:
From Umm al-Fadl bint al-Harith, that people argued with her on the day of Arafah about the fasting of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and some of them said that he was fasting, and others said that he was not fasting. “He is not fasting.” So she sent him a cup of milk while he was standing on his camel, and he drank it.
Meaning:
“From Ummul Fadhl bint Al Harith, that people were arguing near her on the day of Arafah about the fasting of the Prophet, peace be upon him. Some of them said, ‘He is fasting.’ Others said, ‘He is not fasting.’ So Ummul Fadhl sent him a cup of milk while he was standing on his camel, and he drank it.” (HR Bukhari).
The Virtues of Fasting on Arafah
Fasting on Arafah is not obligatory like fasting in Ramadan. The ruling on fasting on this day is that it is Sunnah, but fasting on Arafah still has special virtues. This fast has various virtues, as stated in a saheeh hadith. The scholars Ibn An-Najjar and Abdullah ibn Abbas recorded the words of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in a hadith that they compiled, which says:
صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِى قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِى بَعْدَهُ وَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّ
Meaning:
“Fasting on the day of Arafah (9 Dhu al-Hijjah) can expiate the sins of the past year and the coming year. Fasting on the day of Ashura (10 Muharram) will expiate the sins of the past year.” (HR Muslim)
Baca juga: Wajib Tahu! Hari Tasyrik adalah Waktu Khusus Pelarangan Puasa Bagi Umat Islam
From the above hadith, it is known that fasting on Arafah can erase minor sins committed during the past year. In addition, the Prophet also said that fasting on Arafah can also free anyone who does it from the torment of hellfire. This is emphasized by the following hadith:
مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مِنْ النَّارِ مِنْ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ
Meaning:
There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the fire of Hell than on the day of Arafah.
In addition, here are other virtues of fasting on Arafah:
- Allah will expand one’s sustenance and bestow blessings in life
- Allah will guarantee peace in family life
- Allah will multiply the rewards of good deeds
- Allah will illuminate the grave of the person in the realm of barzakh
- Allah will ease their death.
That is a brief review of the intention of fasting on Arafah Eid al-Adha and its various virtues. To make your fasting even more perfect, don’t forget to donate your qurbani through Dompet Dhuafa. The livestock raised at this institution are guaranteed to be healthy and of high quality. Donors can comfortably make their qurbani from home. Qurbani reports can also be obtained directly online with guaranteed transparency.