Fasting the Day of Arafat

Abu Qatadah reported that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “Fasting on the day of Arafat is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it…” [This is related by “the group,” except for al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]Abu Hurairah also relates that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “There are no days […]

Abu Qatadah reported that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “Fasting on the day of Arafat is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it…” [This is related by “the group,” except for al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]
Abu Hurairah also relates that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “There are no days more loved to Allah for you to worship Him therein than the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year, and to offer Salatul Tahajjud (late night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [Lailatul Qadr].” [This is related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi] .
Also, Hafsah bint Umar reported that: “There are five things that the Prophet (saw) never abandoned: fasting the day of ‘Ashurah, fasting the [first] 10 [days of Dhul-Hijjah], fasting 3 days of every month and praying two raka’ah before the dawn prayer.” [This is related by Ahmad and an-Nasa’i]
These statements are proof that fasting on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, the day before ‘Eid ul-Adha was a lifelong practice of the Prophet  (saw),Fridays inclusive.
Abu Hurairah stated: “The Messenger of Allah (saw) forbade fasting on the day of Arafah for one who is actually at ‘Arafah.” [This is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah]
Umm al-Fadl (ra), was reported as saying: “The companions doubted whether the Prophet was fasting on Arafah or not. She decided to prove to them that he was not, so she said, ‘I sent to him milk, which he drank while he was delivering the khutbah (sermon) on Arafah.’ “ [Recorded by al-Bukhari]
Prohibiting the pilgrims from fasting on these days is a great mercy for them, for fasting will exert hardship on the person performing the hajj.
May Allah (swt) guide us and accept our ibadah. Ameen.