What to Do on the Day of Arafah: A Checklist

On the day of Arafah, Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), 'This day I have completed your religion for you, perfected my favour upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion' (Quran 5:3).

The day of Arafah marks a significant milestone, and is the best day of the entire year.

So what are some things we can do on the day of Arafah? Here is a checklist for you to plan your entire day of Arafah starting from sunset.

Recite evening adhkar after Maghrib the night before Arafah

Imam Al Nawawi said: “The verses of the morning and evening adhkar encourage starting and ending the day with dhikr. This is so that one may commence and end with the worship of Allah, and the dhikr will expiate for the sins perpetrated in between these two periods.”

Read Surah Mulk before you sleep

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "It (Surah Mulk) is the defender, it is the deliverer - it delivers from the punishment of the grave." (Tirmidhi)

Sleep early to strengthen yourself for Tahajjud

Narrated Aisha (RA): “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would not sleep before the evening prayer and he would not stay up after it.” (Sunan ibn Majah)

Wake up early and pray Tahajjud

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Hold tight to night prayer, for it was the way of the righteous before you, a way of drawing closer to your Lord, an expiation for wrong deeds, and a shield from sin.” (Tirmidhi)

Make intention to fast for the day of Arafah

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Fasting on the Day of Arafah absolves the sins for two years: the previous year and the coming year.” (Muslim)

Have Suhoor

The Prophet (ﷺ) said “Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing.” (Bukhari)

Recite morning adhkar after Fajr

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever performs Fajr and remains seated, the angels supplicate for him. And their supplication is: ‘O Allah, forgive him, O Allah, have mercy on him.’ And whoever waits for ṣalāh, the angels supplicate for him. And their supplication is: ‘O Allah, forgive him, O Allah, have mercy on him’” (Aḥmad).

Pray Salatul Doha

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits and remembers Allah until the sun rises, then prays two rak‘ahs, he will have a reward like that of Hajj and ‘umrah, complete, complete, complete.” (Tirmidhi)

Make duas after every prayer

Abu Umamah reported: It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, which supplication will be heard best?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “One in the last part of the night and at the end of the prescribed prayers.” (Tirmidhi)

Read Quran throughout the day

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will receive one good deed as ten good deeds like it. I do not say that alif-lam-meem is one letter, but rather alif is a letter, lam is a letter, and meem is a letter.” (Tirmidhi)

Engage in continuous dhikr throughout the day

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The most excellent dua is the dua on the Day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said is "There is nothing that deserves to be worshipped in truth except Allah; he is Alone and has no partner, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is All-Powerful over all things.'" (Muwatta)

Give in charity

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There is no day upon which Allah frees more of His servants from the Hellfire than the day of Arafat.” (Muslim)

This Dhul Hijjah, remember the brothers and sisters closest to you right here in Canada who need your support to protect them from hunger, eviction and piling debt.