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Key points
- The Prophet ﷺ said, “Hajj is Arafah” (Tirmidhi 889). A pilgrim who misses the standing at Arafat misses the Hajj.
- The Day of Arafah is 9 Dhul Hijjah, expected around 15 May 2027. The standing (wuquf) is from after midday until sunset.
- There is no special ritual for climbing Jabal al-Rahmah. Standing anywhere inside the boundary of Arafat is enough.
- Those not on Hajj are encouraged to fast that day. Pilgrims at Arafat do not fast, as the Prophet ﷺ did not.
Why Arafat matters so much
Arafat is a wide plain about 20 km east of Makkah. On the 9th of Dhul Hijjah every pilgrim must be there. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Hajj is Arafah” (Tirmidhi 889): without this standing there is no Hajj, while most other mistakes can be made up.
It is also a day of forgiveness. The Prophet ﷺ said there is no day on which Allah frees more of His servants from the Fire than the Day of Arafah (Muslim 1348). Many pilgrims say these few hours are the moment they remember most from their whole journey.
The day, hour by hour
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Step 1
Morning: leave Mina
After sunrise on the 9th, groups move from Mina to their camps in Arafat by bus, train or on foot. The journey can take a few hours, so keep water and some food with you.
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Step 2
Midday: Dhuhr and Asr together
After the sun passes its highest point, the khutbah is given at Masjid Nimrah, and pilgrims pray Dhuhr and Asr together, shortened, at the time of Dhuhr.
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Step 3
Afternoon: the wuquf
This is the heart of the day. Stand or sit facing the qiblah, raise your hands, and make du’a, dhikr and istighfar until sunset. Keep talk and phone use to a minimum.
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Step 4
Sunset: leave for Muzdalifah
Only after the sun has set, leave Arafat calmly for Muzdalifah, where Maghrib and Isha are prayed together. Allah says, “When you leave Arafat, remember Allah at al-Mash’ar al-Haram” (2:198).
What to say at Arafat
There is no fixed list of du’as. Ask Allah in your own language for this life and the next, for your parents, family and everyone who asked you to pray for them. Many pilgrims repeat these words, which the Prophet ﷺ described as the best said on this day.
The dhikr of the Day of Arafah
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir.
There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things.
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3585 (scholars differ on its grading)
Prepare a written list of du’as before the day. When the moment comes, it is easy to forget what you wanted to ask.
Jabal al-Rahmah: what is true
Jabal al-Rahmah, the Mount of Mercy, is a rocky hill in Arafat with a white pillar on top. The Prophet ﷺ stood near its foot during his Farewell Hajj, and many pilgrims like to see it.
But climbing it is not part of Hajj, and there is no special reward in touching the pillar or praying on top. The Prophet ﷺ said that the whole of Arafah is a place of standing (Abu Dawud 1937). Stay in your camp if the hill is crowded, especially with elderly parents: your du’a there is just as valid.
Illustrative imageThe boundary of Arafat
Large signs mark where Arafat begins and ends. The wuquf only counts inside these limits, so if you are in a camp near the edge or walking with family, check that you are inside. Part of Masjid Nimrah lies outside the boundary, which is why pilgrims who pray there move inside Arafat for the wuquf.
Staying safe in the heat
- In mid-May the afternoon at Arafat is very hot. Stay in the shade of the camp or under an umbrella
- Drink water often in small amounts; do not wait until you feel thirsty
- Older pilgrims can make du’a sitting or lying down. Comfort that lets you focus is better than standing until you fall ill
- Do not wander off to find a better spot. Getting lost at Arafat on the 9th is one of the most common problems
Questions
It is 9 Dhul Hijjah 1448, expected around 15 May 2027 in Saudi Arabia. The final date depends on the sighting of the moon.
Related on our site
Official guidance
- Jami at-Tirmidhi 889: “Hajj is Arafah”
- Sahih Muslim 1348: no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than Arafah
- Jami at-Tirmidhi 3585: the du’a of the Day of Arafah
- Sunan Abi Dawud 1937: the whole of Arafah is a place of standing
- Sahih Muslim 1162: the fast of the Day of Arafah
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1661: the Prophet ﷺ was not fasting at Arafah
- Qur’an 2:198: when you leave Arafat, remember Allah
This guide is general travel information. For religious rulings, please ask a qualified scholar.
