The Day of Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah) is not just another day, but a day that Allah perfected Islam for us, the day He descends to the lowest heaven, boasting to the angels about His servants standing in devotion on Arafat. It is the day when sins are forgiven, duas are answered, and the gates of mercy swing wide open. The best dua of the day of Arafah was mentioned to us by our Prophet ﷺ, and we are going to learn that today.
Hadith on the Best Dua of the Day of Arafah (English)
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The best supplication is that which is made on the day of Arafat. The best of it is what was said by myself and the Prophets before me is…
‘There is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, unto Him belongs the dominion and all praise, and He has power over all things.’
Best dua of the day of Arafah (Arabic)
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Best dua of the day of Arafah (Transliteration)
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir.
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3585)
Explanation of the Hadith on the Dua for Arafah
Yawm al-Arafah — The Day of Arafah is the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah and one of the most sacred days in Islam. This is when millions of pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafah, standing in humility before their Creator. They weep, they beg, and they pour their hearts out, knowing with certainty that Allah is near.
The Day of Arafah is a day when Allah’s mercy descends in abundance. The day He frees people from the Fire, the day He descends to the nearest heaven and answers people’s dua. Our Prophet ﷺ now mentioned that the best dua is the dua of the day of Arafah. He didn’t stop at that, he also mentioned the best dua of the day of Arafah that he and other prophets before said on this day of Arafah.
This dua for for the day of Arafah is the essence of faith itself. This dua gathers all forms of worship, affirmation of Allah’s Lordship, Oneness, praise, and recognition of Allah’s power. It embodies the very purpose of creation, which is to worship Allah only without associating anything with Him.
“I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Quran 51:56)
Some scholars explained that this dua for Arafah encompasses Tawheed
- The oneness of Allah’s Lordship (He alone controls everything),
- His right to be worshipped exclusively,
- His names and attributes, such as His power over all things.
In fact, declaring this on the Day of Arafah carries more weight than a thousand whispered duas. It’s like standing before your Lord and declaring: “Ya Allah, I belong to You. You own everything. And You can do anything and You alone, I trust.
What Other Duas can I Make on Arafah?
The Day of Arafah isn’t limited to just one dua. It’s a day of divine opportunity to pour your heart out in every language, for every need, at every level of your life, sincerely. While the best dua of the Day of Arafah is the recommended dua to say most on this day, there are other personal du’as you can add to it if you want.
You can center your other duas in asking for wealth, gealness and others. The most important thing is to make sure that you increase in saying the best dua of the day of Arafah. And do not forget to fast on this day too, because fasting on the day of Arafah wipes out two years of sin.
Other Things to do on The Day of Arafah
The Day of Arafah isn’t just about standing on the plain of Arafat for the pilgrims only. It’s a day filled with opportunities for all Muslims, including those who are not performing Hajj. From dawn until sunset, the gates of the heavens remain open, and Allah’s mercy showers down in abundance, forgiving us our sins and answering our dua.
While the best dua for the day of Arafah is part of the worship of the tongue that one should engage in, there are several other deeply rewarding actions that one should engage in, too.
1. Fasting on Arafah (for non-pilgrims)
The Prophet ﷺ said about fasting on this day…
“It expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year.” (Sahih Muslim, 1162)
That’s two entire years of sins forgiven for the sake of one sincere day of fasting. If you’re not performing Hajj, fasting on the day of Arafah is one of the most powerful acts you can do to draw closer to Allah. It prepares the soul, softens your heart, and puts you in the perfect mindset to remember saying the dua for Arafah.
2. Increase in dhikr (remembrance of Allah)
The day of Arafah is a day when the tongue should be busy with Tahleel (La ilaha illallah), Takbir (Allahu Akbar), Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah), and especially Istighfar (seeking forgiveness). These phrases are beloved to Allah, and they raise ranks and erase sins. The most emphasized one on the day is…
“Laa ilaaha illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer.”
The above dua is the best dua of the day of Arafah, as stated by the Prophet ﷺ, and should be repeated throughout the day with mindfulness and humility.
3. Give charity
While there’s no specific charity required for Arafah, it’s a day among the best ten days beloved to Allah when good deeds are multiplied, and a better way to gain Allah’s pleasure by easing the burden of others. Our Prophet ﷺ said:
“No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.” Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Not even Jihad?”
He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 969)
Even a small act of giving or helping someone with food, donating online, or gifting something valuable, can be a means for your dua to be accepted. If you’re asking Allah for provision in your dua, begin by providing for someone else.
4. Make deep, personal supplications
Make this day a moment to pour your heart out to Allah. Seek forgiveness for your sins, pray for your family, your future, and your hereafter. Don’t limit yourself. Ask Allah for everything, forgiveness, health, ease, righteous children, success, closeness to Him, protection from Hellfire, and entrance into Jannah. While the best dua of the day of Arafah is powerful, personal duas can be made too on this day too.
We ask Allah to make the Day of Arafah for us a witnessed day, on which our sins are forgiven, our ranks are raised, our prayers are accepted, and we are written among those freed from the fire. Aameen
