The Day of Arafah will begin from this evening, and as much as it is important for us to fill these blessed hours with worship that maximizes reward and forgiveness, it is equally important to first understand why this day is spoken about with such awe in Islam. What is meant by the millions of people weeping as they enter on the plains of Arafah? Why did the Prophet ﷺ connect this day to forgiveness, saving people from hellfire, and completion of Islam?
The answer is that the Day of Arafah is more than just a date on the Islamic calendar. This is a day that the mercy of Allah comes down on us in amazing ways such as forgiving our sins, accepting our duas, changing our destiny from this world to the next world, and reminding humanity that eventually we will return to Allah. Muslims around the world acknowledge this day as one which bears the significance of eternity, irrespective of whether one is performing Hajj or reflecting upon it in solitude at home.
The Day of Arafah falls on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the day before Eid ul-Azha. It is the central day for Hajj and the Prophet’s ﷺ remark about Hajj being Arafah confirms his statement when he stated:
“Hajj is Arafah.” — (Sunan at-Tirmidhi)
Through this statement, it is evident that standing at Arafah is the essence of a peaceful pilgrimage. Without standing at Arafah, Hajj is incomplete. The time from noon until sunset on this day is an opportunity for millions of pilgrims dressed in plain white clothing to make supplication to Allah with their arms raised toward heaven.
1. Islam Was Perfected on This Day
One reason Arafah is recognized as an extraordinary day is that on this date, the religion of Islam was completed, as explicitly stated in the Quran:
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My blessing upon you and chosen for you Islam as your religion” (Surah al-Maidah 5:3).
According to multiple sources, this verse was revealed to our beloved Prophet ﷺ during his Farewell Hajj while he was on Arafah and on a Friday. Many Islamic scholars throughout history have examined the degree to which this day was honored by Allah when He announced to mankind that He had completed the religion of Islam. There could not have been another day as distinguished as this one.
2. Allah Swears by This Day in the Qur’an
Allah (SWT) states in the Qur’an that He swears by the two days:
“By the witnessing day and the witnessed day.” — Surah Al-Buruj (85:3)
Many scholars explained that the “witnessed day” was the Day of Arafah.
Whenever Allah swears by anything, it indicates something that is of extreme importance, greatness, and value. When Allah (SWT) swears by something, it isn’t an ordinary thing. Because of the way the Day of Arafah has been sworn upon in this context, it indicates the tremendous status of the Day of Arafah in the eyes of Allah (SWT).
3. It Is the Day of the Greatest Forgiveness
The Day of Arafah is also referred to as a day of exceptional mercy and forgiveness. According to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
“There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah.” — Sahih Muslim
Every day throughout the whole year, it is impossible for anyone to be freed from Hellfire like those on Arafah. Furthermore, the hadith goes on to explain that Allah gets close to His servants and tells the Angels about those individuals. Just think about it… just think about being mentioned by Allah to His Angels because of your sincere repentance back to Him! This is why righteous individuals, throughout time, came to Arafah with trembling hearts and filled with hope.
They knew it would be a day where there would be:
Forgiveness
Second Chances
Mercy
Acceptance.
4. Fasting on Arafah Erases Two Years of Sins
Muslims that do not do the Hajj pilgrimage will receive the greatest benefit of fasting on the Day of Arafah, which is one of the most excellent forms of worship.
The Prophet said about this subject:
“Fasting on the Day of Arafah, I hope from Allah, expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year.” — Sahih Muslim
The fast creates an expiation for minor sins. Major sins need to have sincere Tawbā (repentance) to be forgiven by Allah; however, Muslims across the globe look forward every year to fasting on Arafah in expectancy of being purified and forgiven by Allah and becoming closer to Allah.
5. The Best Dua Is Made on the Day of Arafah
According to Sunan al-Tirmidhi, the Prophet ﷺ said, “The best dua is the dua of the Day of Arafah.” thus making Arafah one of the biggest opportunities of the year to ask Allah for anything and everything your heart desires.
Also, the Prophet ﷺ taught us to recite the most excellent dhikr throughout this entire day: “There is no god except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs all dominion and praise, and He has power over all things.” — Sahih Muslim.
From all this we learn another amazing lesson because the essence of Arafah is tawheed, meaning to completely reconnect with Allah.
The day of Arafah is a time to:
Make heartfelt dua
Cry to Allah
Ask for forgiveness
Remember Allah all day long
Ask Allah for Jannah
6. Arafah Reminds Humanity of the Day of Judgment
The plains of Arafah evoke great emotion. Millions of people wearing plain white clothes and having no barriers to entry because they are all equal regardless of their financial situation or status in society. It represents the day of Judgment when we will all stand in front of Allah as one humanity, hoping to receive His mercy. A king and a labourer will stand together before Allah in supplication, equal in their need for Allah’s mercy as both a king and a labourer will call upon Allah to help them.
This scene is perhaps one of the most remarkable in the world because it reflects the Day of Judgment, with all of humanity assembled, having shed their material identities and awaiting Allah’s decree.
Arafah serves as a reminder that we will all one day return to Allah by ourselves without any of the recognition we receive in this life (fame, wealth, beauty, etc) – and no one will care about either of those things, because what is left is only pure intentions and actions done for Allah. That is what causes hearts to be so soft on this day.
What Should We Do on the Day of Arafah?
Some of the most rewarding actions to do on this blessed day are:
Fasting on This Day – particularly for those who are unable to go on Hajj.
Making Constant Dua – always ask Allah for everything you want from Him: forgiveness, guidance, provision, marriage, health, righteous children, success, peace, and paradise (Jannah).
Increase Your Dhikr – especially: subhanAllah, alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illa Allah, Third Kalma.
Seek Forgiveness Frequently – by saying: astaghfirullah wa atubu ‘ilayh.
Send Salawat to the Prophet (saw) – by increasing your saying: Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad.
Recite “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir” 100 times
Read Qur’an – regardless of how many pages, it carries a tremendous reward if done with reflection.
Give Sadaqa – because every act, no matter how small, is beloved to Allah.
And that is exactly what makes this day so powerful for every Muslim. So do not let these precious hours pass like any ordinary day. Because perhaps this Day of Arafah could be the day that changes your life forever.