The Day of Arafah is the ninth day of the last month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar-Dhul Hijjah. It is the day when the pilgrims gather on Mount Arafah under the same sky in the state of Ihram. All the differences cast, races, colours etc., will equal zero.
The Prophet also explained the significance of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even Jihad for Allah?” He said, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause (of Allah), and came back with nothing” (Bukhari).
The significance of the first ten days of the Dhul Hijjah is explained in the above Hadith. It is the most sacred ten days of the Islamic Lunar Calendar.
When is the day of Arafah 2022?
The day of Arafah will be between 08th and 09th July 2022. On the 09th of Dhul Hijjah, when the Pilgrims will be gathered on Mount Arafat, Khutba e Hajj will be delivered.
Virtues of The Day of Arafah
The Day of Arafah is the most virtuous Day of the Islamic Calendar. On the Day of Arafah, the supplications are answered, sins are forgiven, and Allah boasts to the angels of the People of Arafah.
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The religion of Islam was perfected.
It is the Day when Allah has perfected the religion and completed His favors upon the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It is mentioned in the Quran,
ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَٰمَ دِينًا ۚ
This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. (AlQuran 5:3)
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 an ayah in your Book, which is read by all of 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.”
Caliph Umar (RA) replied,
“By Allah! I know when and where this verse was revealed to Allah’s Messenger. On a Friday, it was the evening on the Day of `Arafah.”
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Allah swears by this day.
The Day of Arafah is also significant because it is known that Allah swears by nothing except that which is great and mighty.
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلْبُرُوجِ
By the sky containing great stars
وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْمَوْعُودِ
And [by] the promised day
وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ
And [by] the witness and what is witnessed,
Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said,
The Promised Day is the Day of Judgement, the witnessed day is the Day of Arafah, and the witnessing day is Friday.
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The last sermon of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
On the 9th of Dhull Hijjah, when Prophet Muhammad (SAW) went to practice the spiritual worship Hajj with His companions, the last sermon was delivered on the mount Arafah in Mecca. It is also known as Farewell Pilgrimage.
What should pilgrims do on the Day of Arafah?
The Day of Arafah is the second and most important day of the Hajj. A hajj is incomplete without the Day of Arafah.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said
“Al-Hajj Arafah”, which means “Arafah is the Hajj.”
Mount Arafah
On the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the Arafah Day, after the Dawn Prayer, Pilgrims start walking towards the Arafah while reciting Talbiyah, Istighfar and Making Supplications.
Talbiyah
لَبَّيْكَ اللهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ – لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ – إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ – لَا شَرِيْكَ لَكَ
labbayka -llāhumma labbayka, labbayka lā šarīka laka labbayka, ʾinna -l-ḥamda wa-n-niʿmata laka wa-l-mulka lā šarīka lak
“Here I am [at your service] O God, here I am. Here I am [at your service]. You have no partners (other gods). To You alone is all praise and excellence, and to You is all sovereignty. There is no partner to You.”
A sermon will be delivered from Masjid-e-Nimra on Mount Arafah on the second day of Hajj. Upon reaching Mount Arafah, pilgrims observe Dhuhr and Asar Prayer combined and shortened the two rakats instead of four.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“On the Day of Arafah, Allah, the Most Blessed, 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 as the sand or the foam of the sea, I shall forgive them.”
Fasting
Pilgrims aren’t recommended to fast on the Day of Arafah.
What to do on the Day of Arafah?
The Day of Arafah has great significance and importance in Islam.
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Fasting on the Day of Arafah
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) recommended non-pilgrims to fast on the day of Arafah. According to a Hadith, those who fast on the Day of Arafah will receive forgiveness of their sins for the previous year and the following year.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said,
Fasting on the Day of Arafah removes the sins of the past year and the following year. (Muslim)
The Prophet Muhammad’s Farewell Sermon and completion of the message of Islam. The believers who did not go to Hajj fast to repent their sins on the second day of Hajj, the day of Arafah.
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Dua for the day of Arafah
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said to recite the following dua on the Day of Arafah.
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، له الملك ، وله الحمد ، وهو على كل شيء قدير
There is no God, but Allah, He is Alone and has no partner, and to Him belongs all praise, and He is All-Powerful over all things.'”
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Making tahleel, Takbeer, Tahmeed and Tasbeeh.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) recommended reciting the following Tasbeehs on the Day of Arafah as much as possible.
Takbir means Allahu Akbar
Tahmeed means Alhumdulilah
Tahleel means Laa illaha Il-lal-laah
Tasbeeh means SubhanAllah
- Seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah.
Seek forgiveness as much as possible from Allah Almighty on the Day of Arafah. It allows Muslims to be forgiven for the sins of the last year and the coming year.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
There is no day on which Allah frees people from the fire more than on the Day of Arafah.
