EID letter to you ~ From Yusuf Estes?

Eid Mubarak
Kul am wa antum bi khair

DAY BEFORE EID -- An Open Letter to the BELIEVERS ~

Salam alaykum Ya'll (Texas howdy) - I love you all for the sake of Allah and ask you to make dua for me and my family on this precious day, please, inshallah.

I just wanted to remind myself and offer at the same time, something for our new brothers and sisters and those who are students of knowledge, something to remember me by on days such as this in the future, inshallah. None of us know when our last day is, so I'm trying to make the best of each day, inshallah.

The Day of Arafah has arrived for us. ( Friday October 3rd)

As we all know, the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar) is the Day of 'Arafah.

It is the day when the hujjaj (pilgrims) stand on the plain of 'Arafah for dua (praying to Allah).

Around the world today, the believers who are not able to be on Arafat for hajj, should use this day for excellent deeds, the most important one, if possible, is fasting - this prepares us for the celebration connected with ‘Eid al-Adha (commemorating the end of Hajj and sacrifice of Ibrahim, peace be upon him).

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said,
“Fasting the Day of Arafat wipes away sins for two years - the year that has passed and the year yet to come; and fasting ‘Ashura (10th of Muharram) wipes away sins for the year prior.”
(Muslim & others).

Hafsah bint ‘Umar, wife of prophet, peace be upon him, said, “Four things rasoolullah never left off - Fasting the day of ‘Ashura (10th of Muharram), the Day of Arafat (9th of Dhul Hijjah), 3 days (middle) of each month, and performing sunnah salat of Fajr (before the fardh).”
(Muslim)

We quickly learn the proofs for fasting the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the day just before ‘Eid Al-Adha, as it was a regular practice of our prophet, peace be upon him, and something he inspired others to do as well.

The prohibition of fasting on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah is only for those who are in Hajj and on Arafat that day. This is due to the difficulties of hajj and hardships associated with going out to the Plain of Arafat, in the desert, in the heat, all day long, walking, standing, crowded along with others and then going on to Musdelafa after sunset, etc.

Umm ul-Fadl, Allah be pleased with her, says, “The sahabi (companions) were not sure whether or not rasoolullah, sallallahu alayhi was sallem, was fasting the day of Arafat (9th of Dhul Hijjah). So, I sent him some milk, he drank it while he was giving the khutbah (sermon) on Arafat”
(Bukhari)

Again, this is for those who are in the actual hajj and on the say of Arafat, while they are exposed to the elements, standing, walking, praying and crying all day long to Almighty Allah. Fasting would most likely be too much for almost anyone who is already exerting so much effort and experiencing so much difficulty in their hajj.

Finally, another clear point is, hujjaj (pilgrims) are travelers - and travelers are not required to fast, even in Ramadan.

Make the best of this day - for who knows? We never know which day will be our LAST.

Jazakumallahu khairan was salamu alaykum,
wa kul am wa antum bi khair,
Yusuf Estes