Fasting The Day of 'Arafah

The Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said:

((يُكَفَّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ ، وَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ))

"It expiates (the sins) of the previous year, and the following year."

All of the evil deeds you did, all of the sins you committed against yourself – of the past year and the year to come – wiped away by fasting this one day!!

And this fast is for those who remained behind, as fasting the Day of 'Arafah by those who are at 'Arafah is not from the guidance of the Prophet(Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) and his Companions.  'Abdullaah bin 'Umar (Radiyallaahu 'anhumaa) was asked about fasting the Day of 'Arafah by those at 'Arafah. He said: "I made Hajj with the Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) and he did not fast it, and with Aboo Bakr and he did not fast it, and with 'Umar and he did not fast it, and 'Uthmaan and he did not fast it. And I do not fast it, nor do I order it, nor do I prohibit it."