We are now in the ten days of Dhul Hijja, which are believed to be the holiest ten days of the entire year (including Ramadan!). It is recommended to fast if possible on the first 9 of the ten days, or whatever one is capable of. But the tenth is the Eid and it is haram to fast on Eid. The day before the Eid, the 9th of Dhul Hijja, is the Day of Arafa, the day when the pilgrims in Mecca stand on the Mountain of Arafa- the most important part of the Hajj. That day, especially for someone in the Hajj, is probably the greatest day of the year.

What can we who are not in Hajj do that day? The most important thing is to fast, for the Prophet (pbuh) said that he who fasts on the Day of Arafa, all his sins from a year before that day until a year after that day will be forgiven.

But I recently finished reading the travels of the Andalusian Ibn Jubayr, and he described the practice of the scholars (and other people) of Damascus at that time, on the Day of Arafa. It highly impressed him and it definitely impressed me. He said on that day, after the Asr prayer at the mosque, they would take off whatever is on their heads as a sign of humility and in imitation of the people of the Hajj, and they would remain standing in the mosques, praying to Allah, asking to receive a portion of the blessings of the people standing in Arafa, or to be able to do the Hajj in the future. And they would remain thus standing, supplicating, until Maghreb when the Pilgrims leave the mount of Arafa.

May Allah give us a share of the blessings of the Pilgrims on that Day and may He bless us with many many pilgrimages.