27.04.2026
The Day of Arafah is unlike any other day in the Islamic calendar. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described it as the day Allah descends to the lowest heaven and draws near to His servants. It is the centrepiece of the Hajj pilgrimage — the day pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafah outside Makkah — but its spiritual weight extends to every Muslim on earth, whether they are performing Hajj or not. In 2026, Arafah falls on Tuesday, May 26, the day before Eid al-Adha.
What Is the Day of Arafah?
Arafah is the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar year. On this day, Hajj pilgrims travel to the plain of Arafah and stand in prayer and supplication from midday until sunset — an act considered the essential pillar of Hajj itself. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Hajj is Arafah." (Sunan al-Nasa'i, authenticated by al-Albani)
The day carries immense theological significance beyond the pilgrimage. It was on this day that the following verse of the Quran was revealed: "This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion." (Quran, Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:3) The revelation occurred during the Prophet's ﷺ farewell pilgrimage, while he stood on the plain of Arafah.
The Reward of Fasting on Arafah
For Muslims who are not performing Hajj, fasting on the Day of Arafah is among the most recommended voluntary acts of worship in the year. The Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah and replied: "It expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year." (Sahih Muslim, hadith 1162)
Scholars across all four Sunni schools of thought consider fasting on Arafah a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah Mu'akkadah) for those not performing Hajj. There is no scholarly dispute on this point — it is one of the most unanimously recommended fasts in the Islamic calendar outside of Ramadan.
What About Pilgrims Performing Hajj?
Scholars differ on whether those performing Hajj should fast on Arafah. The majority position (including the Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools) is that it is recommended for pilgrims not to fast on this day, so that they have the strength to make supplication throughout the long afternoon standing. Imam al-Nawawi writes in al-Majmu' that fasting may weaken the pilgrim and diminish their ability to perform the essential rites of the day. The Hanafi school allows it but does not specifically recommend it. If you are on Hajj in 2026, the general scholarly guidance is to not fast so you can fully engage in the standing at Arafah.
What to Do on the Day of Arafah If You Are Not on Hajj
For the vast majority of Muslims who are not performing Hajj, the Day of Arafah arrives like a window left open for one afternoon. The Prophet ﷺ said 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." (Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith 969) The 9th — Arafah — is the pinnacle of those ten days, and it asks very little in the way of ritual beyond simply showing up to it.
Fasting is the most widely observed way of marking the day. The scholars across all four major schools consider it a confirmed Sunnah for those not on Hajj, and the reward the Prophet ﷺ described — expiation of the previous year's sins and the coming year's — makes it arguably the most meaningful voluntary fast in the Islamic calendar outside of Ramadan. It is not obligatory, but very few people who know its virtue choose to miss it.
The afternoon — from after Dhuhr until sunset — is when the day reaches its depth. This mirrors the time when pilgrims stand on the plain of Arafah itself, and scholars describe it as the most answered window for supplication in the entire year. Ibn al-Qayyim wrote that dua on Arafah is received more than on any other day, including Laylat al-Qadr. There is no prescribed script for what to ask; the door is wide open. The Prophet ﷺ did share one dhikr as the best of the day: "La ilaha illallah, wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadeer" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, hadith 3585), though beyond this, any sincere supplication carries the weight of the occasion.
The Takbeer of Eid begins at Fajr on this day — "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil hamd" — and continues through the 13th of Dhul Hijjah. It fills the days around Eid in homes, mosques, and streets. Many Muslims also find the Day of Arafah a natural occasion to sit with the Quran, whether reading or listening, as part of a day that is meant to feel different from any other.
The Day of Arafah is tomorrow's sacrifice made meaningful. Give your Qurbani before Eid al-Adha arrives and ensure a family in need celebrates the Feast of Sacrifice.
Arafah and Eid al-Adha: The Day Before the Feast of Sacrifice
For the vast majority of Muslims who are not performing Hajj, the Day of Arafah arrives like a window left open for one afternoon. The Prophet ﷺ said 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." (Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith 969) The 9th — Arafah — is the pinnacle of those ten days, and it asks very little in the way of ritual beyond simply showing up to it.
Fasting is the most widely observed way of marking the day. The scholars across all four major schools consider it a confirmed Sunnah for those not on Hajj, and the reward the Prophet ﷺ described — expiation of the previous year's sins and the coming year's — makes it arguably the most meaningful voluntary fast in the Islamic calendar outside of Ramadan. It is not obligatory, but very few people who know its virtue choose to miss it.
The afternoon — from after Dhuhr until sunset — is when the day reaches its depth. This mirrors the time when pilgrims stand on the plain of Arafah itself, and scholars describe it as the most answered window for supplication in the entire year. Ibn al-Qayyim wrote that dua on Arafah is received more than on any other day, including Laylat al-Qadr. There is no prescribed script for what to ask; the door is wide open. The Prophet ﷺ did share one dhikr as the best of the day: "La ilaha illallah, wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadeer" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, hadith 3585), though beyond this, any sincere supplication carries the weight of the occasion.
The Takbeer of Eid begins at Fajr on this day — "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil hamd" — and continues through the 13th of Dhul Hijjah. It fills the days around Eid in homes, mosques, and streets. Many Muslims also find the Day of Arafah a natural occasion to sit with the Quran, whether reading or listening, as part of a day that is meant to feel different from any other.
Arafah 2026 is Monday, May 26 — Eid al-Adha follows the next morning. Give your Qurbani now through Human Appeal and reach a family in 41 countries.
