Arafah || Imam Al-Ghazali's Ihya' Ulum al-Din

Bismillah.

Assalamu alaykum wbt and greetings,

What are the virtues of fasting on the day of Arafah?

Abu Hafsah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said:

"Fasting on the Day of 'Arafah absolves the sins for two years: the previous year and the coming year, and fasting on 'Ashura, (the tenth day of Muharram) atones for the sins of previous years." [Reported by all except al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]

In another saying the Prophet's wife Hafsah, may Allah be pleased with her, said:

"Four things the Messenger of Allâh never neglected: Observing fast on the day of 'Ashura, 'Arafat, three days every month, and offering fajr sunnah prayers early in the morning." [Muslim]

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,peace be upon him, as his wife reported.

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Disciplining the soul by Shaykh Yahya Rhodus based on Imam Al-Ghazali's Ihya' Ulum  al-Din (Revival of Religion Sciences)

(before anything, forgive me for being untidy/disorganized. it's just a bunch of words/sentences which I find meaningful)

Video link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FW9aAHJGFg

The following are some excerpts extracted from Ihya’ ulum al-Din:

Talks about the art of a tremendous character.

When asked about good character: hold to forgiveness and enjoin kindness, turn aside from the ignorant ones. It is that you should seek reconciliation with those who avoid you, give to those who withhold from you and forgive those who deal with you unjustly.

I was sent only to perfect the Noble qualities of a character

The heaviest in the scales shall be the fear of God and good character

The Prophet SAW was asked: What is religion? Good character. Good character. Good character. This was his reply when he was asked for 3 consecutive times.

Someone asked the Prophet SAW: Give me some advice. Fear God, whoever or wherever you may be. Give me more advice. Follow a sin with a good deed and you will erase it. Give me more advice. When you deal with people, do so with goodness of character. And then he asked the Prophet: Which was the best of deeds? To have good character.

The Prophet SAW said: Never shall God make good the character and create a form of a man and then allow him to be devoured by hell.

The very first thing to be weight in the scale shall be good character and generosity.

When God created faith: It said O’ Lord God strengthen me and He strengthened it with good character and generosity. When He created disbelief:  It said, O’ Lord God strengthen me and He strengthened it with adverse and bad character.

Verily God has chosen this religion for himself. Thus nothing is appropriate for your religion except generosity and good character. Ornament therefore, your religion with them.

Goodness of character is God’s greatest creation.

Which believer is best in faith? He who is best in character.

Blog writer interrupts: SubhanAllah subhanAllah! See how much our religion emphasize on GOOD CHARACTER? Time and again, "good character" is repeated! And yet, is that what we are portraying to others about our faith? Astaghfirulla astaghfirulla. May Allah make us amongst those with good character!! Amin amin ya Rabb.

Bad character corrupts one’s works just as vinegar corrupts honey.

Someone used to frequently pray: 

Lord God, I ask thee for health, content me with my Lord and good character.

I'd say that that is indeed a very simple, short yet full of meaning du'aa, mashaAllah!

That's it for today and salam Eid-ul-adha to all tomorrow.

May Allah make us amongst people of Jannah and continuously guide us.

WAllahu'alam,

Nur Li Lian Chong