Day of Arafah

The vigil at Arafat

Pilgrims leave Mina at dawn to assemble across the barren plain of Arafat and near Mount Arafat, a granite hill also called the Mountain of Mercy. Before midday, worshippers gather to combine their noon and afternoon prayers at Masjid al-Namirah. From midday until sunset, the gathering enters the central rite known as wuquf, or standing before God. During these hours, pilgrims listen to sermons, recite personal supplications, and ask forgiveness for past shortcomings. Completing this afternoon vigil is an essential requirement of the pilgrimage, without which a person's Hajj is invalid.

Fasting and prayers worldwide

While pilgrims on site do not fast so they can endure the physical demands of the day, fasting is strongly recommended for Muslims observing elsewhere. According to tradition, Prophet Muhammad stated that fasting on this day atones for the sins of both the prior year and the year ahead. In addition to abstaining from food, believers who cannot be in Mecca often gather in local mosques for supplication. Shia Muslims customarily recite the Arafah prayer during the afternoon, following the practice of Husayn ibn Ali. Some communities also hold symbolic vigils to pray for support and shared needs.

Origins and religious meaning

The observance marks the final period of Prophet Muhammad's life, when he delivered the Farewell Sermon from Mount Arafat to the companions who joined him on the pilgrimage. According to tradition, parts of the Quranic revelation announcing the completion of the Islamic faith were delivered at this time. Islamic teachings describe the Day of Arafah as a time of immense mercy, when God draws near and forgives countless people. It is immediately followed by Eid al-Adha, the major festival marking the end of the main pilgrimage rites.

How Day of Arafah is kept

At daybreak, pilgrims journey from Mina to the Plain of Arafat. Before noon, they assemble at Masjid al-Namirah to combine the Dhuhr and Asr prayers. From midday until dusk, worshippers stand in a contemplative vigil called wuquf, listening to scholars deliver sermons, offering deep repentance, and reciting supplications. Shia worshippers recite the traditional Arafah prayer during this window. At the same time, Muslims across the globe who are not on the pilgrimage spend the day fasting, seeking forgiveness, and praying in local mosques.

When and where

The Day of Arafah takes place once each year on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the lunar Islamic calendar. It occurs on the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage, one day before the festival of Eid al-Adha.

The core rites take place on the Plain of Arafat and Mount Arafat, a rocky hill situated about twenty kilometres southeast of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Muslims across the world also observe the day in their local communities and mosques.

What Day of Arafah means

For Muslims, the Day of Arafah represents supreme repentance, mercy, and renewal. Standing before God on the plain mirrors the assembly of believers during the Prophet's Farewell Sermon. It is considered a blessed occasion where sincere prayers are accepted, sins are forgiven, and individuals seek spiritual reconciliation with their Creator.

Days Day of Arafah is marked

Day of Arafah dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.

Questions people ask about Day of Arafah

See also

Eid al-FitrThe feast that ends Ramadan, opened with morning prayers, sweets and visits homeIhramA sacred state and simple dress that Muslims enter for Hajj and UmrahUmrahA pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims may make at most times of year, unlike the HajjSuhurThe pre-dawn meal Muslims eat before a day of fasting in Ramadan

Good reading and sources

• Day of Arafah on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.