The day of Arafat (9th of Dhul Hijjah) will be on Monday (8/20). It is a very blessed day that should not be neglected.

1. Fasting on this day is an expiation for two years.

It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafat. He said, “It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year.” (Muslim)

2.  It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allah’s favor was completed.

On the authority of ‘Umar bin al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, that a Jewish man said to him: “O Commander of the Faithful! There is a verse in your Scripture, were it revealed to us Jews we would have taken it as a holiday.” ‘Umar asked, “Which verse?” The man said,

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا

This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favor unto you, and I am pleased to have Islam as your religion. (Quran 5:3)

‘Umar said, “I know the day and place this [verse] was revealed. It was revealed as the Messenger of Allah, peace upon him, was standing on the Mount of Arafa on the Day of Jumu’ah.” (al-Bukhari and Muslim)

3. It is a day by which Allah swore an oath.

وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ

And [by] the witness and what is witnessed (Quran 85:3)

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of ‘Arafat, and the witnessing day is Friday.” (al-Tirmidhi)

4. It is the day of forgiveness of sins and freedom from the Fire

‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafat. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?’” (Muslim)

Source: http://islamqa.info/en/7284

The following farms have animals available for sacrifice. The cost will be between $2.00-$2.50 per live pound. Expect to pay between $150 to $200 for a younger lamb and closer to $250 for an older lamb or sheep. All cutting knives for slaughtering and cleaning the animal should be brought with you.

The following farm will have many lambs about 8-9 months as well as an indoor slaughter facility. There are also goat and cows, but they may not be old enough for the sacrifice.

• Witmer’s Live Animal Market – 6146 Broadway Rd, Auburn, NY 13021 – No need to reserve ahead of time but for questions contact Lamar at (315) 246-1154.

Pictures of animals can be found here:

https://ithaca.craigslist.org/grd/d/lamb-sheep-goat-beef/6664836807.html

For the following farms, please call ahead:

• Farm with about 10 lamb at least 6 months – 1184 Slaterville Rd, Dryden, NY – Contact Hicham for reservation at (607) 339-7979.
• Farm with 3-4 rams (male sheep) almost 2 years old – Ellis Hollow Farm, 832 Ringwood Rd, Ithaca, NY – Call Nancy (607) 539-7902 or text (607) 351-0113
• Farm with 2 ewes (female sheep) about 16 months old – 4041 County Route 2, Burdett, NY 14818 – Contact Jeromy (607) 351-6772 at least 3-4 days in advance

Note about ages of animals

When sacrificing an animal for udhiyah, there are certain conditions that must be met. One of the conditions is that the animal must be a certain age, which is six months for a sheep and the age at which the animal is considered to be an adult for any other animal, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Do not sacrifice anything but an adult animal, unless it is difficult for you, in which case you may slaughter a six-month old lamb (jadh’ah).” Narrated by Muslim.

A mature animal means one that is considered to be an adult:

• In the case of camels it means one that is five years old.
• For cattle, it means one that is two years old.
• For goat and sheep it means one that is a year old.

While it may be permissible to sacrifice a six-month old lamb, some scholars mention that the size of the lamb should be like that of the one year old sheep.

So it is not correct to sacrifice a camel, cow or goat that has not yet reached maturity, or a sheep that is less than six months old.

Source: https://islamqa.info/en/36755

The first day of Dhul Hijjah is tomorrow (8/12). Among the great seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, which Allah has favored over other days. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2/457

So Muslims should start these days with sincere repentance to Allah and aim to do righteous deeds, and then attempt to doing the following:

Fasting

It is Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) encouraged us to.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah. It was narrated from Hunaydah ibn Khaalid from one of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays. Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 4/205 and by Abu Dawood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2/462.

Reciting tahmeed, tahleel and takbeer a great deal

It is Sunnah to recite takbeer (saying Allahu akbar (Allah is most great)), tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allah)), tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allah (There is no god but Allah)) and tasbeeh (saying Subhaan-Allah (Glory be to Allah)), during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, saying these words out loud in every place in which it is permissible to remember Allah.

The majority are of the view that the “appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, because it was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the appointed days are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.” Narrated by Ahmad, 7/224; its isnaad was classed as saheeh by Ahmad Shaakir.

The takbeer is as follows:

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allah, Allahu akbar, wa Lillah il-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god but Allah; Allah is Most Great and to Allah be praise).

Udhiyah (sacrifice)

One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to Allah in these ten days is to slaughter the sacrifice and to look for a good, fat animal and to spend money on it for the sake of Allah.

Upon making intention for sacrifice, the person should refrain from cutting his hair and nails. Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When you see the new moon of Dhu’l-Hijjah – according to another version, When the ten days (of Dhu’l-Hijjah) begin – and any one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him refrain (from cutting) his hair and nails.” Narrated by Ahmad and Muslim. According to another version, “Let him not remove anything from his hair and nails until he has offered the sacrifice.” And according to yet another version, “He should not touch his hair or skin.”

Repentance

Sincere repentance. One of the most important things to do during these ten days is to repent sincerely to Allah and to give up all kinds of disobedience and sin. Repentance means coming back to Allah and foregoing all the deeds, open and secret, that He dislikes, out of regret for what has passed, giving it up immediately and being determined never to return to it, but to adhere firmly to the Truth by doing what Allah loves.

Doing Hajj and ‘Umrah

One of the greatest deeds that can be done during these ten days is Hajj to the sacred House of Allah. Whoever Allah helps to go on Hajj to His House and do the rituals in the required manner will – in shaa Allah – be included in the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “An accepted Hajj brings no less a reward than Paradise.”