Day of Arafah

The Day of 'Arafah (Arabic: يوم عرفة) is the holiest day in Islam that falls on the 9th day of Dhul Hijja (ذو الحجة) of the lunar Islamic Calendar. This happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan. It is the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage and the day after is the first day of the major Islamic Holiday of Eid ul-Adha. ^[3] At dawn of this day, Muslim pilgrims will make their way from Mina to a nearby hillside and plain called Mount Arafat and the Plain of `Arafah. It was from this site that Prophet Muhammad in gave one of his last famous sermons in the final year of his life. Muslims hold that part of the Qur'anic verse announcing that the religion of Islam had been perfected was revealed on this day.

Virtues of the Day of Arafah

There are numerous virtues claimed for the 9th of Dhu ’l-Hijjah which is known as yawm al-‘Arafah. This is the day where the pilgrims assemble on the plain of ‘Arafah to complete one of the essential rituals of the Hajj.
The completion of Allah’s blessing refers to forgiveness for ones sins by Allah, as without it the blessings of Allah cannot be complete. This brings to light the importance of being forgiven by Allah.
Those not performing pilgrimage are recommended to fast on 'Arafah day. It is expected that Allah will expiate the small sins committed In two years the year before and the year to come .
Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers

Dua to be read at Arafat Recite: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٍ . اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورَاً وَفِي سَمْعِي نُورَاً وَفِي بَصَرِي نُورَاً اللَّهُمَّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَسَاوِسِ الصُّدُورِ وَشَتَاتِ الْأَمْرِ وَفِتْنَةِ الْقَبْرِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَلِجُ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَشَرِّ مَا يَلِجُ فِي النَّهَارِ وَشَرِّ مَا تَهِبُّ بِهِ الرِّيَاحُ "There is none worthy of worship besides Allah, He is all by Himself, He has no partner, His is the Kingdom, for Him is all praise, He has power over all things. O Allah, make Nur in my heart, in my ears Nur and in my eyes Nur. O Allah open my chest (bossom), make my tasks easy and I seek refuge in You from the whispers of the chest, from disorganisation in working and from the punishment of the grave. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evils that come with the wind".
(Hisnul Hasin)

Occurrence in Hadith Literature

Abu Qatada al-Ansari reported that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was asked about his fasting. He was asked about perpetual fasting, whereupon he said: He neither fasted nor did he break it, or he did not fast and he did not break it. He was then asked about fasting for two days and breaking one day. He (Muhammad (S.A.W) said: And who is strong enough to do it? He was asked about fasting for a day and breaking for two days, whereupon he said: May Allah bestow upon us strength to do it. He was then asked about fasting for a day and breaking on the other, whereupon he said: That is the fasting of my brother David. He was then asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It was the day on which I was born and on which I was commissioned with prophet-hood or revelation was sent to me, (and he further said): Three days' fasting every month and during the whole of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fast. He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Arafah (9th of Dhu'I-Hijja), whereupon he said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year. He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Ashura (10th of Muharram), whereupon he said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year. The Book of Fasting (Kitab Al-Sawm) Muslim :: Book 6 : Hadith 2603
In Sahih Muslim it was narrated from 'Āishah (R.A) that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:^[4]

'There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah. He comes close and expresses His fulfillment to the angels, saying, 'What do these people want?'