THE DU'Ā OF 'ARAFAH

*THE DU'Ā OF 'ARAFAH*

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The best du'a is the du'a of Arafah" [Muwaṭṭa]. The single greatest opportunity for one's du'a to be answered is as a pilgrim doing the Ḥajj, in the state of iḥram, outside the blessed city of Makkah, in the plains of Arafāt on the 9th of Dhull Ḥijjah. That is the day Allah's blessings are showered like no other; that is the day people are freed from Jahannam; that is the day of all sins being forgiven and all prayers granted. 

But what of those (like all of us this year!) who are not at the plains of Arafāt? Do the blessings still apply? 

Ibn `Abbas (r) would spend most of the day in the masjid of his city on the 9th, and make extra du'as and dhikr. And this is reported from some of the other Companions and early scholars. And Imam Aḥmad was asked about gathering in the masjid for worshipping on this day for the one not doing Ḥajj, and he replied, "There is no issue with that! It's just du'a and dhikr!" meaning, "Why would extra du'a and dhikr be problematic?" 

So while it is true that the primary intent of this ḥadith, and the ultimate blessings of du'a, apply to the pilgrim himself, there is no problem in utilizing this most holy of days to do some extra worship and hoping for the best from Allah. 

Therefore, along with the fasting of this day (which forgives two years of minor sins), make sure you also spend some time doing dhikr and making du'a to Allah, wherever you are. 

And the best dhikr to do on this day, as reported in the hadith, is 

لا إلـٰه إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك، وله الحمد، وهو على كل شيء قدير