What is the Day of Arafah?
The Day of Arafah (Arafat) is one of the most important days for Muslims.
Allah (SWT) refers to this day in Surah al-Maidah of the Holy Quran.
“Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your way.”(Quran 5:3)
It’s the day on which He perfected His religion, completed His favours upon His beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and chosen Islam as a way of life!
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 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 reveals before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.” (Muslim)
When is the Day of Arafah 2024?
The Day of Arafah is on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar. This year, it will fall on June 15, 2024.
The Day of Arafah is considered the most important day of Hajj. Pilgrims leave for the plains of Arafah just after dawn. The pilgrims spend the entire day standing (or sitting) around the Mount of Mercy, asking Allah for forgiveness and making supplications.
Fasting on the Day of Arafah
It is Sunnah for Muslims to fast on the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, because fasting is one of the best of deeds.
In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah says:
“All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.” (Bukhari)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said
“Fasting the day of Arafah is an expiation for all the sins of the previous year and expiation for all the sins of the coming year.”
What to do on the Day of Arafah?
On this day especially, be sure to increase your dhikr, recitation of the Quran, good deeds and duas before the morning of Eid.
Be sure to ask for forgiveness – even if you’re not able to stand on the plains of Arafat like the pilgrims of Hajj do.
-
Make lots of dua, asking Allah (SWT) for forgiveness. Don’t forget to include your friends, relatives, neighbours as well as the wider Ummah in your dua on this special day.
-
Give your Zakat and Sadaqah during the blessed days of Dhul Hijjah and reap the rewards of this blessed month. Don’t forget to donate your Qurbani in time for Eid!
-
The takbeerat of Eid should be recited by everyone out loud after each prayer from Fajr on the Day of Arafah (the 9th of Dhul Hijjah), as well as throughout Eid until after Asr on the 13th of Dhul Hijjah.
Allahu Akbar (x3)
La illaha il Allah
Allahu Akbar (x2)
Wa lillahil Hamd