A Day of Prayer and Supplication

The Significance of Arafah in Hajj, where pilgrims gather at the mountain plain of Arafah, praying and supplicating to their Lord.

The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah is the Day of Arafah; since it is on this day, the pilgrims gather at the mountain plain of Arafah, praying and supplicating to their Lord. In fact, one hadith says that ‘Hajj is Arafah' (Abu Dawud). This means Arafah is the sum and substance of Hajj. Make your Qurbani donation here today!

The day of Arafah is also significant because this amazing ayah was revealed on this day:

This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion."

(Surah al Maa'idah 5:3)

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What is Dhul Hijjah?

Arafah was the day on which Allah (SWT) perfected His religion, completed His favours upon His beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and approved Islam as a way of life.

Imam Ibn Kathir in his tafsir says:

Imam Ahmad recorded that Tariq bin Shihab said, "A Jewish man said to `Umar bin Al-Khattab, `O Leader of the Believers! There is a verse in your Book, which is read by all of you (Muslims), and had it been revealed to us, we would have taken that day (on which it was revealed) as a day of celebration.'

Umar bin Al-Khattab asked, `Which is that verse?'

The Jew replied: "This day, I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion."

Umar replied, "By Allah! I know when and where this verse was revealed to Allah's Messenger. It was the evening on the Day of `Arafah on a Friday."

The day of Arafah is also significant because Allah swore by this day in Surah al Burooj. It is known that Allah swears by nothing except that which is great and mighty, so the Day of Arafah is greatly significant:

"By the sky containing great stars. And [by] the promised Day. And [by] the witness and what is witnessed" (85: 1-3)

It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

"The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of ‘Arafah, and the witnessing day is Friday." (Tirmidhi)

It is a recommended Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) for those who are not pilgrims to fast on this day since the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah, so he said:

"It expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year." (Muslim)

The Prophet (PBUH) also said:

"There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of 'Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on 'Arafah), and then He revels before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking." (Muslim)

When is the Day of Arafah 2023?

It falls on the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah. For those wondering, “When is 9th Dhul Hijjah?” it is expected to fall on Wednesday, 28 June 2023, although this is subject to the sighting of the moon.

"There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of 'Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on 'Arafah), and then He revels before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking." (Muslim)

Things to Do on the Day of Arafah

1. Fasting on the Day of Arafah

The Day of Arafah fasting is highly encouraged and recommended for those not going on Hajj.

"Fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year." (Muslim)

2. Du'aa of Arafah

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said of the Day of Arafah dua:

 "The most excellent dua is the dua on the Day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said is "There is nothing that deserves to be worshipped in truth except Allah; he is Alone and has no partner, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is All-Powerful over all things.'" (Muwatta)

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، له الملك ، وله الحمد ، وهو على كل شيء قدير

3. Making Tahleel, Takbeer, Tahmeed and Tasbeeh

It is a Sunnah of our Prophet (PBUH) to recite the Tahleel, Takbeer, and Tahmeed as many times as possible on the day of Arafah and also on the days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah).

Tahleel is to say "Laa ilaaha il-lal-laah"

Takbeer is to say "Allahu Akbar"

Tahmeed is to say "Alhamdulillaah"

Tasbeeh is to say "Subhanallaah".

3. Seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah 

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

"On this day, Allah, the most Exalted, descends to the nearest heaven, and He is proud of His servants on the earth and says to those in heavens, look at My servants, they have come from far and near, with hair dishevelled and faces covered with dust, to seek my Mercy. Even if their sins are as much the sand or the froth of the sea, I shall forgive them."