“The Day of Arafah, the Day of Sacrifice, and the days of Minā are our Eid, we Muslims.”

Our shaykh said: The Day of Arafah is an Eid specifically for those at Arafah because they gather there on that day. By contrast, people in the towns gather on the Day of Sacrifice, so that is their Eid. The point is that when the Day of Arafah falls on a Friday, two Eids coincide.

Sixth: It coincides with the day on which Allah perfected His religion for His believing servants and completed His favor upon them. As established in Sahīh al-Bukhārī (1), Tāriq ibn Shihāb said: A Jew came to Umar ibn al-Khattāb and said, “O Commander of the Faithful, there is a verse you recite in your Book. Had it been revealed to us Jews, we—knowing (2) the day on which it was revealed—would have observed that day as an Eid.” Umar asked, “Which verse?” He replied:

“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and chosen Islam as your religion.” [Al-Mā’idah: 3]

Umar ibn al-Khattāb said, “I certainly know the day on which it was revealed and the place where it was revealed: it was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on a Friday, while we were standing with him at Arafah.”

Seventh: It falls on the same day of the week as the greatest gathering and the supreme standing on the Day of Resurrection, for the Resurrection will take place on a Friday. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise, on it he was expelled from it, and on it the Hour will begin. It also contains an hour during which no Muslim servant asks Allah for something good without Allah granting it to him” (3).