يَوْمُ عَرَفَة

What is the Day of Arafah?

• 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.

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)

• 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 witnessed and what is witnessing ” (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. …(Muslim)

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

Allah boasts about the people of Arafat to the people of heaven, saying to them: Look at My servants who have come to Me disheveled and covered in dust.

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”.

TO learn more about the day of Arafa: Watch this video