Assalaamu alaikum, our brothers and sisters in Islam. It’s a great mercy from Allah to be a Muslim. We are blessed with a lot of things in Islam. Among the blessed things bestowed on us is the day of Arafah. SubhanAllah, there are many virtues of the Day of Arafah we are going to discuss today, and the significance of the Day of Arafah is unmatched.
The Day of Arafah falls every year on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, the final month of the Hijri calendar, just a day before Eid al-Adha. On this day, pilgrims gather at the plain of Arafat, engaged in dua, dhikr, tears, and repentance with pure devotion.
On this day, millions of pilgrims, clothed in simple white garments, stand shoulder to shoulder on the plain of Arafah under the burning sun. Their heads are bowed, their hearts trembling, and their tongues moist with dhikr and dua, and above them, Allah is boasting about them to the angels, saying:
“Look at My servants. They have come to Me dusty and disheveled. Bear witness, O My angels, that I have forgiven them.” (Ahmad; authenticated by al-Albani)
Imagine this, that’s how they will earn Allah’s forgiveness. Can you see one of the virtues of the day of Arafah? The significance of the day of Arafah isn’t just for those performing Hajj, but also for those not performing Hajj too. It’s a day to draw closer to Allah by fasting. If Allah is that generous to those on the plain of Arafah, do you really think He’ll turn away His slaves who fast and make dua on this day?
Whether you’re standing on the plains of Arafah in Ihram, raising your hands in humble supplication, or sitting in your living room a thousand miles away, you will benefit from the rewardable virtues of the Day of Arafah. You’re not left out at all. Let’s talk about the significance of the day of Arafah now.
The significant virtues of the Day of Arafah for all believers
The significance of the Day of Arafah cannot be underrated, and there are many virtues of the Day of Arafah we are going to discuss today, which are as follows…
1. It is the day Allah perfected our religion
This, indeed, is the biggest favor from Allah to this Ummah, for He has completed their religion for them, and they, thus, do not need any other religion or any other Prophet except Muhammad. (Ibn Kathir). Allah says that..
“This day I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favor upon you, and have approved for you Islam as your religion.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:3)
The above verse was revealed on the Day of Arafah, during the Farewell Hajj of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. And what a moment it was. In a single declaration, Allah wrapped up centuries of divine revelation He has been sending down, countless prophetic missions, and the final seal of guidance for humanity. What a great day this is!
This is among the significant virtues of the Day of Arafah, a day when the religion of Islam was declared complete, whole, and preserved for all time. On this day, our Prophet ﷺ stood before an ocean of believers at Mount Arafah. The sun was high, and the day was intense, and he was giving the farewell lecture. Ibn Kathir رحمه الله, in his Tafsir, explained:
“This noble verse was revealed on a Friday, the Day of Arafah, and both are days of Eid for this Ummah.”
The significance of the day of Arafah was also recognized by the jews then that one of them once told Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه:
“There is a verse in your Book that if it had been revealed to us (the Jews), we would have taken that day as a festival.”
Umar responded:
“By Allah, I know the day and the place in which this verse was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ: it was while he was standing at Arafah on a Friday.”
(Bukhari 45, Muslim 3017)
Think about that. For the Jew to recognize the significance of the Day of Arafah, what about we Muslims? We should know that this day is really a great day. On this verse, scholars were able to deduce that there is no chance for innovation in Islam again, and everything has been perfected.
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:
“There is no need for anyone to add to this religion after its completion. Everything that brings a person nearer to Allah has been clarified. Innovation is not from the religion, because Allah has perfected it.”
2. The day that Allah swears by
Among the most powerful indications of the significance of the Day of Arafah is that Allah swore by it in the Qur’an. When Allah swears by something, it’s something big to Allah, as explained by scholars. In the Qur’an, when Allah takes an oath by something, He is declaring it significant beyond human comprehension. Allah says..
“By the sky containing constellations, and [by] the promised Day. And [by] the witness and what is witnessed.” (Surah Al-Burooj 85:1–3)
According to many classical scholars of Tafsir, including Ibn Kathir and Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه), the “witnessed day” is Yawm al-Arafah, the Day of Arafah. This means the virtues of the Day of Arafah are so great that Allah swears by it and uses it to testify to the truth.
3. Fasting on the day of Arafah wipes out two years of sins
One day. Just by performing one simple act in it and you earn two years of sins forgiven. Yes, that’s the mercy and generosity of Allah, and this is one of the unmatched virtues of the Day of Arafah. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said…
“Fasting the day of Arafah, I hope, will expiate the sins of the year before it and the year after it.” (Sahih Muslim 1162)
And nothing brings you closer to the mercy of Allah than fasting on Arafah with sincerity, gratitude, and longing for Allah’s forgiveness and mercy.
This reward is specifically for those who are not performing the Hajj. Pilgrims on Arafah are not to fast, as the Prophet ﷺ did not fast on this day during Hajj, and scholars explain that the pilgrims need full strength to engage in standing at Arafat, supplicating, and fulfilling the rites of Hajj.
4. A day of massive forgiveness and freedom from the fire
“There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah.” (Sahih Muslim 1348)
The above hadith makes it undeniably clear that the significance of the day of Arafah cannot be underestimated. This is the day when Allah frees more people from Hell than any other. Not the night of Laylatul Qadr, or Ramadan, but on the day of Arafah. That’s the significance of the Day of Arafah. It’s a great day of divine mercy and pardon. A moment where Allah’s mercy overshadows His wrath.
4. The day Allah boasts of the pilgrims to the Angels
Imagine on this great day, Allah, the King of all kings, Ar-Rahman, the One whose mercy knows no limits, descends on the Day of Arafah to the lowest heaven, not because He needs anything from us but to witness His humble servants, covered in dust, eyes swollen from tears, hearts trembling in hope, hands raised in desperation. And He boasts about them to the angels.
“There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah. He comes close and then boasts about them to the angels and says, ‘What do these people want? (Sahih Muslim 1348)
Allah descends to the lowest heaven and He boasts to the inhabitants of the heavens about the inhabitants of the earth, saying: Look at My servants, appearing disheveled and dusty! They came from every mountain pass hoping for My mercy. They do not see My punishment, yet they do not see that on no day are more saved from Hellfire than the day of Arafat.” (Ibn Hibban 3853)
What a great honour this is to the pilgrims. Allah will honor and magnify the actions of His righteous servants, especially on this blessed day, boasting about them to His angels. This is one of the greatest virtues of the day of Arafah that we should take note of. May Allah make it easy for us to observe Hajj and be among those that Allah will honour to on this great day like this.
Imam Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله explains in Zaad al-Ma’ad:
“The greatest gathering of mercy is on the Day of Arafah. And the greatest boasting is when Allah mentions the pilgrims by name to the angels, praising them for their sincerity and effort.”
This shows the virtues of the Day of Arafah in a way above other days. You’re not just doing acts of worship, but being witnessed and honored by the Lord of the Worlds.
6. A great day of the best Du‘a in it
Our Prophet ﷺ made it known to us that the best dua is the dua of the day of Arafah. He ﷺ said..
“The best du‘a is the du‘a of the Day of Arafah, and the best thing that I and the Prophets before me have said is..
Lā ilāha illa-Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr.” (Tirmidhi 3585)
Our Prophet ﷺ mentioned in the hadith above that the greatest statement ever uttered by the Prophets before him on this very day is the dua above.. This means that we need to moisten our tongue with this dua on this day.
This particular dua is a total declaration of tawheed (Oneness of Allah). By repeating this du‘a with sincerity on Arafah, you’re aligning yourself with the greatest truth of Allah’s existence, therefore can lead to you gaining the favor of Allah on this day and make any dua you make after it to be answered. Other Dhikr you can include is..
SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, and especially the tahlil (Lā ilāha illa-Allāh).
Ask for forgiveness constantly by saying “Astaghfirullah” with sincerity. Let your day revolve around Allah. Let your heart be heavy with His remembrance. The virtues of the day of Arafah include a reward for every second you spend worshiping.
7. Allah takes a covenant from the children of Adam at Arafat
Long before you and I walked this earth, before nations rose, before prophets were sent, or even the Qur’an was revealed, Allah took a covenant for us all through the loins of our father, Adam on the plain of Arafah. This means that the place of Arafah can also be called a place of our origin too where Allah took a covenant from us. Allah says..
“And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam—from their loins—their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes, we have testified.’” (Surah Al-A‘raf 7:172)
This verse adds another deep layer to the significance of the Day of Arafah. Imagine that every soul created and those that would ever be created were gathered before Allah on Arafah. And Allah asked:
“Am I not your Lord?” We all responded:
“Yes. We testify.”
That testimony is the very foundation of tawheed. It means that belief in Allah is embedded in your fitrah (natural disposition), long before culture, society, or upbringing could shape you. Ibn Kathir said that this verse establishes Allah’s proof over humanity that no soul can claim ignorance of their Creator. Because we were there. You and I were there. Our recognition of Allah’s Lordship was recorded before we were born.
8. An Eid for the Ummah
Among the virtues of the day of Arafah is that it is a day of Eid for us, but few know. Did you know the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ referred to the Day of Arafah as a festival for the Ummah? While Eid al-Adha is traditionally associated with celebration. Arafah, falling just a day before, is a day wrapped in Allah’s generosity, forgiveness, making it a day of joy for those who understand its massive reward.
“The Day of Arafah, the Day of Sacrifice, and the days of Tashreeq are our festival people of Islam. They are days of eating and drinking.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood and declared sahih by Shaykh Al-Albani)
Though pilgrims spend it in supplication and standing before Allah, for non-pilgrims, Arafah is also a day of celebration for them, marked by fasting, gratitude, and a means of drawing near to Allah. For both, the day of Arafah is a spiritual celebration. It’s a day where:
- Sins are forgiven
- Du‘as are accepted
- Hearts are humbled
- Mercy pours down
- Allah boasts of the pilgrims
The virtues of the Day of Arafah are so tremendous that we can’t comprehend them. We should make sure to maximize this day very well.
How to maximize the day of Arafah (for pilgrims and non-pilgrims)
The virtues of the day of Arafah are so vast that Allah made this day a golden opportunity for every Muslim, not just those blessed to stand on the plains of Arafat. Whether you’re at Hajj or at home, there are specific actions you can do to commemorate the significance of the Day of Arafah. Let’s break it down by situation:
What pilgrims do on the Day of Arafah (at Arafat)
1. Stand in Wuquf (from Dhuhr to Sunset)
- This standing (wuqūf) is the essence of Hajj. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Hajj is Arafah.” (Tirmidhi)
- Pilgrims gather at the plains of Arafah in humility, seeking forgiveness with their hearts turned to Allah.
2. Increase dua and dhikr
This is the moment to pour your heart out, ask for everything: forgiveness, Jannah, protection from the Fire, guidance, family blessings, and steadfastness in faith.
3. Listen to the Khutbah at Masjid al-Namirah
The sermon given on Arafah reminds pilgrims of the purpose of Hajj and the message of Islam.
What non-pilgrims should do on the day of Arafah
1. Fast the day of Arafah (if not performing Hajj)
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “It expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year.” (Deenminder)
2. Make intense dua
- Mositen your tingue with the dua of Arafah “Lā ilāha illa-Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr.”
- Make time for sincere, heartfelt dua. Cry. Reflect. Return to Allah fully.
- Use this chance to beg for what your heart longs for, worldly and eternal.
3. Recite Takbeer, Tahleel, and Istighfar
- Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, wa Lillahil-hamd.
- “Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh.”
- Engage your tongue in the remembrance of Allah constantly throughout the day.
4. Give charity (sadaqah) and prepare for Qurbani
- Show gratitude by giving generously. Your charity during these blessed ten days of Dhul Hijjah is more rewarding than any other day
- Prepare your Qurbani for Eid al-Adha.
This day only comes once a year. Allah, in His unlimited mercy, offers us a chance to wipe our sins, reconnect with Him, and get our prayers answered. My dear brothers and sisters, don’t let this day pass like any other. Plan for it, prepare for it, and observe the required worship in it. May Allah accept from us all. The virtues of the Day of Arafah are too great to ignore. This is the day:
- When sins are wiped clean, past and future (for those who fast).
- When Allah perfected our religion at Arafat.
- Allah swore by it
- When the best dua is encouraged to keep saying.
- When Allah’s forgiveness and freedom from Hellfire reach their peak.
- When Allah boasts to the angels about His humble, dusty servants.
- When our very origin, the covenant of Adam’s children, was declared.
- And when the Prophet ﷺ described it as a day of celebration and gratitude.
Fast with sincere intention. Make dua like you’ve never made before. Remember Allah with your heart and tongue. Repent sincerely. And be among those who honor the significance of the Day of Arafah with sincere action.
Don’t keep this blessing to yourself. Share this article with your loved ones so they, too, can reap the rewards of this unmatched day. Together, let’s remind one another of the mercy and magnificence of Yawm Al Arafah.
May Allah write us among those freed from the fire, whose duas are accepted, and whose fasts are counted with reward. Aameen.
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