MUHAMMADIYAH.ID, YOGYAKARTA – The Central Board of Muhammadiyah declared a pronouncement of No. 06/Edr/I.0/E/2020 stating that the Day of Arafah 1441 H is on Thursday, 30 July 2020.
Fasting on the Day of Arafah is performed on the 9th day of Dzulhijjah or a day before we pray Eid al-Adha.
The fasting is highly recommended worship (sunnah muakkadah) for Muslims as mentioned on a hadith of Prophet Muhammad that Muslim doing fasting on the Day of Arafah will entail a great reward; Allah forgives the sins of two years.
Decree of Tarjih on National Congress (Munas) XXVI/2003 (which has yet been declared by the Central Board of Muhammadiyah) on advantages of fasting of tathawwu’ mentions that the reward will be obtained if the Muslims commit to forbidding sins.
Regarding a COVID-19 pandemic that the hajj pilgrimage may be cancelled, Muhammadiyah conducted a press conference on Guidance on Fasting on the Day of Arafah, Eid al-Adha, Qurbani (Sacrifice in Eid al-Adha), and Qurbani Protocols in This Pandemic on Wednesday (24/6). Head of Majlis of Tarjih and Tajdid of Muhammadiyah Syamsul Anwar informed that fasting on the Day of Arafah can be done because it does not rely on whether or not wuquf is performed.
“On the fatwa of Majlis of Tarjih, fasting on the Day of Arafah can be practiced when hajj pilgrims do wuquf on 9 Dzulhijjah,” explained Syamsul followed by mentioning an example that Prophet Muhammad and his companions remained fasting on the Day of Arafah although they did not perform the hajj pilgrimage.