Should I fast on the Day of Arafah?
Yes, if you're not on Hajj and you're able to. Fasting the Day of Arafah, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, is one of the most rewarded voluntary fasts in Islam. It isn't obligatory, so there's no sin in skipping it, but the Prophet ﷺ said it can wipe out the sins of two years.
Why this fast matters so much
Asked about fasting on the day of Arafah, the Prophet ﷺ said it expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year (Sahih Muslim 1162). Scholars explain that this refers to minor sins; major sins still need sincere repentance. Arafah is also the day the verse about the completion of Islam was revealed (Sahih al-Bukhari 45).
Who should and shouldn't fast it
- Not on Hajj: strongly recommended for everyone who can.
- Pilgrims at Arafah: they usually don't fast, so they have strength for dua. When people doubted whether the Prophet ﷺ was fasting at Arafah, he drank milk in front of them (Sahih al-Bukhari 1988).
- On your period, ill or traveling: you don't fast. You can still spend the day in dhikr and dua.
- Health conditions: if fasting harms you, don't. A voluntary fast is never worth damaging your health.
Note that Eid al-Adha is the very next day, and fasting on Eid itself isn't allowed. See Can I fast on the day of Eid?
Which day is Arafah where I live?
Sometimes your local Islamic calendar and Saudi Arabia's differ by a day. Scholars differ here: some say fast on the day pilgrims stand at Arafah, others say fast on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah in your own local calendar. Both views are respected. The simplest approach is to follow your local mosque.
How to fast it in practice
- Intention: decide the night before. You can eat suhoor before dawn, just like Ramadan.
- Make-up fasts: if you owe days from Ramadan, scholars differ on combining them with Arafah. Many say make-up fasts come first when time is short, so ask a teacher you trust.
- Use the day: make a dua list, recite "La ilaha illa Allah" often, and give some charity.
If you're still building your fasting habit, Arafah is a great first voluntary fast: one day, huge reward. See Do I have to fast Ramadan in my first year as a Muslim? It's also part of the blessed first ten days. See What are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah?
- Fasting Arafah is a recommended, not obligatory, fast.
- It expiates the sins of the previous and coming year.
- Pilgrims at Arafah don't usually fast; everyone else is encouraged to.
- Don't fast the next day: it's Eid al-Adha.
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