General rulings on hajj and umrah
Is it permissible to fast only on the Day of Arafah if one has not been fasting since 1 Dhul Hijjah, and must it be preceded by fasting on the earlier days?
Answer in brief
Fasting on the Day of Arafah does not require fasting the eight days before it, because the hadith on its virtue sets no such condition. The fatwa notes that the Prophet SAW at times left off fasting some of the early days of Dhul Hijjah and fasted on others. A person may therefore choose to fast all the earlier days or only some of them. The sins forgiven through the Arafah fast are explained as minor sins, or else a lightening of major sins, or else a raising of the person's rank.
Summary written by DHUMY from the Malay original and checked against it.
Seseorang yang ingin berpuasa pada hari Arafah tidak wajib berpuasa pada lapan hari sebelum hari Arafah memandangkan hadis yang meriwayatkan tentang kelebihan berpuasa pada hari tersebut tidak mensyaratkan agar berpuasa pada hari yang sebelumnya.
Source
IRSYAD HUKUM HAJI DAN KORBAN SIRI KE-59: ADAKAH BOLEH BERPUASA PADA HARI ARAFAH JIKA TIDAK BERPUASA BERMULA DARI 1 ZULHIJAHOffice of the Mufti of the Federal Territories · Irsyad al-Fatwa: Hajj & Sacrifice edition · Published 8 July 2022
This page summarises a published fatwa; it is not a new ruling. For your own situation, read the full fatwa or consult the mufti office of your state.
Other questions on this topic
- Is it proper to ask a person returning from Hajj or Umrah to make dua for you?
- Should the voluntary fast of the Day of Arafah follow the date in Mecca or the date in one's own country, and when is the time when supplication is answered?
- Does an accepted pilgrimage (hajj mabrur) erase sins related to obligations and the rights of others, such as deliberately delaying the repayment of a debt?
- What is the ruling on calling someone who has not performed Hajj by the title ‘Haji’ or ‘Hajah’?
- Is it permissible to give or use the titles Haji and Hajjah for someone who has not yet performed Hajj?
- What are the virtues of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah?