Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alaikum dear brother.

Since in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the islamic calendar has the same date, we do nafil fasting in the UAE on the "day of Arafah" (i.e.the 9th of Zulhijj) The same nafil fast, if it is to be observed in India or Pakistan, where the Islamic calendar date is one (sometimes 2 days) different fron the Saudi calendar, which date to is to be taken for fasting in India - Pakistan, namely the 9th of Zulhijj or the day of Arafah?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Which date to fast arafah

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: …….which date to is to be taken for fasting in India - Pakistan, namely the 9th of Zulhijj or the day of Arafah?

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2419 (part) Narrated by Abu Qatadah

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “….. I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of Arafah may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming year.”

The guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) is for the believers who are not on the Hajj pilgrimage to observe a voluntary fast on the ‘day of Arafah’; and the ‘day of Arafah’ is when the pilgrims fulfill their rite of assembling in the plains of Arafah near Makkah al-Mukarramah. Thus in our humble opinion it would be best for the believers who are not performing the Hajj pilgrimage, regardless of where on the earth they may happen to be, to observe fast on the day when their believing brethren actually assemble in Arafah. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan