Short answer
Yes. For anyone not performing Hajj, fasting on the Day of Arafah (9 Dhul Hijjah) is a highly recommended sunnah, which the Prophet ﷺ said expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year. Pilgrims standing at Arafah are advised not to fast, so they have strength for dua.
Fasting on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah is mustahabb for those not on Hajj. For a pilgrim at Arafah it is makruh if it would weaken them from the standing and dua; otherwise it is permitted. The expiation in the hadith refers to minor sins, while major sins need tawbah (repentance).
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- It is sunnah for the pilgrim not to fast at Arafah, even if they are strong.
- Maliki
- Fasting is disliked for the pilgrim at Arafah.
- Hanbali
- For the pilgrim, not fasting at Arafah is better.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah and said that he hoped from Allah that it would expiate the year before it and the year after it. Few voluntary fasts carry a promise this large, so it is one of the most valued fasts of the year.
For pilgrims. On the Day of Arafah during his Hajj, people were unsure whether the Prophet ﷺ was fasting, so a cup of milk was sent to him while he stood on his camel, and he drank it in front of them. The day of Arafah is for the pilgrim's dua, and the schools all advise pilgrims not to weaken themselves by fasting.
- The fast is on 9 Dhul Hijjah, the day before Eid al-Adha.
- Scholars differ on whether people outside Saudi Arabia follow their local Islamic date or the day the pilgrims stand at Arafah. Follow your local scholars and masjid, and do not argue over it.
- If you owe qada, a qada fast on this day counts as qada.
- Fasting on Eid al-Adha itself is forbidden.
The expiation covers minor sins. Major sins and the rights of other people still need sincere repentance and putting things right. For dates and the deeds of the day, see the Day of Arafah.
The evidence
Sahih Muslim 1162
Sahih... صيام يوم عرفة أحتسب على الله أن يكفر السنة التي قبله والسنة التي بعده ...
"Fasting the Day of Arafah, I hope from Allah, expiates the year before it and the year after it."
The virtue of fasting on Arafah.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1988
Sahih... فأرسلت إليه بقدح لبن وهو واقف على بعيره فشربه ...
"She sent him a cup of milk while he was standing on his camel, and he drank it."
The Prophet did not fast on Arafah during Hajj, which is the basis for advising pilgrims not to fast.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Sawm, section on the kinds of fasts. Fasting Arafah is recommended for those not on Hajj, and makruh for the pilgrim if it weakens him.
- Bada'i al-Sana'i, Kitab al-Sawm, section on voluntary fasts. The pilgrim's fast at Arafah is disliked when it weakens him from the standing and dua.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Siyam, chapter on voluntary fasting. The Shafi'i view that the pilgrim should not fast at Arafah.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.