Hijri Calendar
Day of Arafah
Yawm ʿArafah
The 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the pinnacle of Hajj when pilgrims stand at Arafat; fasting it for non-pilgrims expiates the sins of two years.
What is the Day of Arafah?
The Day of Arafah is the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah and the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage. On this day pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat, standing in prayer and supplication from noon until sunset — an act called the wuquf (standing), without which the Hajj is invalid. For Muslims not on Hajj, fasting this day is among the most virtuous acts of the year.
Why is the Day of Arafah So Important?
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Hajj is Arafah" (Tirmidhi 889) — meaning the standing at Arafat is the essence of the entire pilgrimage. It was on this day, during the Farewell Pilgrimage, that the verse was revealed: "This day I have perfected for you your religion" (Quran 5:3). It is the day on which Allah frees the most people from the Fire.
The Standing at Arafat (Wuquf)
From after Dhuhr on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah until sunset, the millions of pilgrims stand on the plain of Arafat in humble supplication, repentance, and remembrance. The Prophet ﷺ delivered his Farewell Sermon here. Missing the standing at Arafat means the Hajj of that year is not valid.
Fasting the Day of Arafah
For those not performing Hajj, fasting on the Day of Arafah is highly recommended. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Fasting the day of Arafah expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year" (Muslim 1162). Pilgrims at Arafat do not fast, so they may devote their full energy to supplication.
The Best Dua
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best supplication is the supplication on the day of Arafah, and the best that I and the prophets before me said is: La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah..." (Tirmidhi 3585). It is a day to pour out one's heart in dua.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should pilgrims fast on the Day of Arafah?
No. The Prophet ﷺ did not fast at Arafat, so that pilgrims have strength for worship and supplication. Fasting is for those not on Hajj.
What is the difference between Arafah and Eid al-Adha?
The Day of Arafah is the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the standing at Arafat; Eid al-Adha is the 10th, the day of sacrifice that follows it.
Etymology & origin
Arafah (عرفة) comes from the root ʿ-R-F (ع-ر-ف), meaning "to know" or "to recognise". Several explanations are given for the name of the plain and the day: that Adam and Hawwa recognised one another there after descending to earth, that Jibril taught (ʿarrafa) Ibrahim the rites there, or that pilgrims come to know Allah through devotion. The Day of Arafah is thus, by its very name, a day of recognition and acquaintance with the Divine.
References
- Quran:
- 2:198, 5:3, 22:27, 89:2
- Hadith:
- Tirmidhi 889 (Hajj is Arafah); Muslim 1162 (fasting Arafah expiates two years); Muslim 1348 (Allah frees most people from the Fire on Arafah); Tirmidhi 3585 (best dua is on the day of Arafah); Bukhari 45 (verse "This day I perfected your religion" revealed on Arafah)
Related terms
Arafat
The plain east of Mecca where pilgrims gather on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah for the standing (wuquf), the essential pillar without which Hajj is invalid.
Dhul-Hijjah
The twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar, in which the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid al-Adha take place; its first ten days are especially blessed.
Eid al-Adha
The "festival of sacrifice" on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son and marking the climax of Hajj.
Farewell Pilgrimage
The Prophet's only Hajj (632 CE), during which he delivered the Farewell Sermon affirming human equality, sanctity of life, and the completion of the religion.
Hajj
The fifth pillar of Islam: the pilgrimage to Mecca performed during Dhu al-Hijjah, obligatory once for every able-bodied financially capable Muslim.
Sawm
The fourth pillar of Islam: abstaining from food, drink, intimacy and sinful acts from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib) during Ramadan.