Allah (SWT) says in the Quran - "It is no offence for you to seek the bounty of your Lord during Pilgrimage. When you hasten back from [Arafat then remember Allah at al- Mash'ar al-Haram (i.e. al-Muzdalifah), and remember Him in the manner He has directed you, for before this you were surely in error. Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (Surah 2:198-199)
In pre-Islamic days, the Quraysh used to give themselves certain privileges to distinguish them from the rest of the Arabs during the pilgrimage. They arrogantly referred to themselves as al-hums, or the pure. One such privilege the Quraysh had granted themselves was that they did not attend at `Arafāt, and so approached Muzdalifah from a different direction to that of other pilgrims. These Qur’ānic instructions eliminated this anomaly and bound the Quraysh to observe the same pilgrimage rituals as the rest of the Muslims, removing all false distinction: “Surge onwards from the place where all other pilgrims surge and pray God to forgive you. God is much-Forgiving, ever-Merciful.’’ The Muslims were asked to give up all those polytheistic and pagan practices that had arisen among the Arabs during the Age of Ignorance and which ran alongside the worship of God thereby adulterating the latter. They were required to consecrate their worship and adoration to Allah alone according to the guidance He had now revealed through the Prophet.
The Qur’ānic words, “Remember Him who has given you guidance. Before this you were certainly in error,” brought all that dark history back to the Muslims’ minds, and led them to consider their new life under Islam, to reflect on Allah’s grace in guiding them, and to appreciate its value and role in shaping their existence. This remains true for Muslims of all nations and generations. Without Islam they would fall into utter insignificance. Islam has been the main force that has transformed Muslims’ lives and lifted them from tiny, subservient and confused communities to a great pioneering nation. Muslims appreciate this transformation only when they sincerely and diligently adopt Islam and build their whole way of life on its principles. In fact, all mankind needs Islam’s guidance and blessings. This is confirmed, and highly appreciated, by those who come into the fold of Islam after having lived a different life. They find the contrast immeasurable. As a believer in Islam reflects on the social philosophies and ideologies developed and adopted by various societies throughout human history, he is usually astonished by their triviality, misery, pettiness and confusion when compared with Islam. In some societies man, to his great disadvantage, seems to have chosen the reckless course of denying his instinctive need for God and His care and guidance. That is precisely what is being emphasized in this Ayat when Allah (SWT) says: “Remember that He has given you guidance. Before this you were certainly in error.” (Ayat 198)
The pilgrimage is the greatest gathering of Muslims from all over the globe. They are brought together under the single banner of Islam, abandoning all their former racial, cultural and national ties. The unsewn iĥrām garments they don when they are in the state of consecration are symbolic in more senses than one. All pilgrims wearing these garments stand on the same level, with no distinctions of tribal or ethnic kinship. Islam is the only unifying factor. Islam transcends kinship and class distinction, and treats all human beings as belonging to one nation; the sole distinction being their fear of, and obedience to, God Almighty. The pilgrimage ritual of Ihram requires all pilgrims to abandon their usual clothing in order to appear equal, and it would be inconsistent to allow them to boast of their lineage or ancestry. All prejudices and manifestations of pride and vanity must be discarded during the pilgrimage. Pilgrims are instructed to direct their devotion, praise and pleas to Allah (SWT), to pray for forgiveness for their errors and excesses, large and small. They ought to keep their minds, hearts and souls pure of all thoughts of lewdness, transgression, wicked conduct and wrangling of any kind. Through the pilgrimage, Muslims are educated in the wide fundamental principles of Islam: the equality of man and the rejection of discrimination on the basis of caste, race, language, or any other differences. Should they deviate or become negligent, they are urged to seek Allah’s guidance and forgiveness.
Even though we are not performing Hajj, let's maximise the benefits on Dhul Hijjah and the Day of Arafah. The following are some of the acts that we can perform to gain the merits of these blessed days in the light of Sunnah as mentioned in the Hadith:
Arafah
is one of the great days of the year. It is on 9th Dhul Hijjah.
It was narrated from Uqbah bin Amir that the Messenger of Allah said: "The day of Arafat and the day of sacrifice and the day of At-Tashriq are our Id, the people of Islam, and they are days of eating and drinking." (Grade: Hasan)
أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ يَزِيدَ الْمُقْرِئُ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ عُلَىٍّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يُحَدِّثُ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ يَوْمَ عَرَفَةَ وَيَوْمَ النَّحْرِ وَأَيَّامَ التَّشْرِيقِ عِيدُنَا أَهْلَ الإِسْلاَمِ وَهِيَ أَيَّامُ أَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ " .
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3004; Book 24, Hadith 387; Vol. 3, Book 24, Hadith 3007
"Hajj is Arafah"
It was narrated that Abdur-Rahman bin Yamur said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) when people came to him and asked him about Hajj. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Hajj is Arafat. Whoever catches up with the night of Arafat before dawn comes on the night of Jam (Al-Muzdalifah), his Hajj is complete.'" (Grade: Sahih)
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا وَكِيعٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَعْمَرَ، قَالَ شَهِدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَتَاهُ نَاسٌ فَسَأَلُوهُ عَنِ الْحَجِّ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْحَجُّ عَرَفَةُ فَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ لَيْلَةَ عَرَفَةَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ مِنْ لَيْلَةِ جَمْعٍ فَقَدْ تَمَّ حَجُّهُ " .
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3016; Book 24, Hadith 399; Vol. 3, Book 24, Hadith 3019
Allah frees His slaves from hell fire on this day
Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There is no day on which Allah sets free more slaves from Hell than He does on the Day of 'Arafah." [Muslim]
وعنها أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: "ما من يوم أكثر من أن يعتق الله فيه عبدًا من النار من يوم عرفة" ((رواه مسلم)).
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1277; Book 10, Hadith 7
Sunnah to Fast
It is sunnah to observe Fast on the day of Arafah - 9th Dhul Hijjah. So those who are not attending the hajj should observe the fast.
We are encouraged to fast on Arafah by the following Hadeeth, Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was asked about the observance of Saum (fasting) on the day of 'Arafah. He said, "It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year." [Muslim]
وعن أبي قتادة رضي الله عنه قال: سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: عن صوم يوم عرفة؟ قال: "يكفر السنة الماضية والباقية" ((رواه مسلم)).
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1250; Book 8, Hadith 260
Dua & Dhikr
Along with fasting we should engage in a lot dua and dhikr on this great day as Allah forgives many people on this day.
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "There is no day on which Allah sets free more slaves from Hell than He does on the Day of 'Arafah." [Muslim]
وعنها أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: "ما من يوم أكثر من أن يعتق الله فيه عبدًا من النار من يوم عرفة" ((رواه مسلم)).
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1277; Book 10, Hadith 7
Dua'
"The best dua is the dua on the day of Arafah"
It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best of du’aa’ is du’aa’ on the day of ‘Arafah, and the best dua that I and the Prophets before me said is ‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer (There is no god but Allaah alone, with no partner or associate; His is the dominion, to Him be praise, and He has power over all things).”
Reference: Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi (3585)
Allah (SWT) says in the Quran -
There are some (among those that remember Allah) who say: ‘Our Lord, give us abundance in this world.’ They shall have no share in the rewards of the life to come.
There are others who say, ‘Our Lord, grant us what is good in this world and what is good in the life to come and protect us from the torment of the fire.' These shall have their portion in return for what they have earned; for Allah is swift in reckoning. (Surah 2:200-202)
So, engage in more dua' and dhikr on this great day in an authentic way, Surely, Allah (SWT) is watching over all of us and has knowledge over what we conceal and reveal. Indeed, Allah (SWT) is ever-watching, all-knowing, most-forgiving and most merciful.
Rest Allah knows best.
Source: Quran, Hadith, In the shade of Quran, Tafsir Ibn Kathir