The day of Arafah is one of the important days in the Islamic Calendar. It is the ninth day of the month of Dhul Hijjah and the day before Eid al-adha. On this day, pilgrims performing Hajj gather on the plain of Arafah and spend the day supplicating to Allah. 

This day is also significant in Islam as it is the Day the Prophet (ﷺ) gave his farewell sermon, and the day this verse was revealed in the Qur’an:

“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.” (Surah al-Ma’idah, verse 3)

There are various acts of worship Muslims are recommended to perform on this day such as fasting, supplicating (du‘a) to Allah, glorifying and praising Allah and seeking His forgiveness.

The reward of fasting on the Day of Arafah: 

The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about fasting the day of Arafah and he said, “It will expiate the sins of the previous and upcoming years.” Then, the Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about fasting on the day of Ashura and he said, “It will expiate the sins of the past year.” (Sahih Muslim 1162)

The importance of du’a on the Day of Arafah

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The best supplication is that which is made on the day of Arafah. The best of it is what was said by myself and the prophets before me: There is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, unto Him belong the dominion and all praise and He has power over all things.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3585)

Here are some of the du‘as of the prophets mentioned in the Qur’an:

The du‘a of Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him)

 لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

Transliteration: 

La ilaha illaa anta subhanaka inni kuntu mina adhaalimin

‘There is no God but You, glory be to You for I have certainly been among the wrongdoers. (Surah al-Anbiya, verse 87)

Prophet Yunus made this beautiful du‘a whilst stuck inside a whale, and Allah (exalted is He) saved him from his situation immediately. 

By sincerely repenting to Allah and glorifying Him, Yunus was saved from danger and imminent death by the mercy of Allah. The Prophet (ﷺ) also mentioned the virtue of this du‘a in an authentic hadith:

Sa’d reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The supplication of Jonah, Dhul Nun, when he called upon Allah inside the belly of the whale was this, ‘There is no God but You, glory be to You for I have certainly been among the wrongdoers,’ (21:87). Verily, a Muslim never supplicates for anything with it but that Allah will answer him.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3505)

By beginning your du‘as with this du‘a it is a way to be certain that Allah will accept your supplication!

The du‘a of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him)

Prophet Musa is the most mentioned prophet in the Qur’an across several surahs. Throughout his lifetime, he made several du‘as which Allah preserved in the Qur’an for us to benefit from and utilise. One such du‘a appears in Surah al-Qasas. Prior to making this dua, Prophet Musa helped two women feed water to their flock at a lake crowded with men. Then he returned to a place of shade and called out to Allah in desperation:

رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَقِيرٌۭ  

Transliteration:

Rabbi innee limaa anzalta ilayya min khairin faqeer

“My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.” (Surah al-Qasas, verse 24)

Allah answered Musa’s du‘a immediately, blessing him with wealth and family! 

Du‘a for an expanded chest and easy task:

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

Transliteration: 

Rabbish rahli sadri wa yassirli amri wah lul uqdatan min lisaani, yaf kahu kauli

“My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance] and ease for me my task and untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech.” (Surah Taha, Verses 25-28)

Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) made this du‘a before facing the tyrannical oppressor, the Pharoah, and Allah granted him ease and success in this task. 

The du‘a of Prophet Ayyub (peace be upon him)

Prophet Ayyub was tested with years of illness, the loss of his wealth and children, and his du‘a after enduring this for years is a beautiful example of the etiquette in which we should ask Allah for aid.

Transliteration

Annee massaniyad–durru wa-anta arhamur-raahimeen

“Indeed, harm has afflicted me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy” (Surah al-Anbiya, verse 83)

Allah responded to this du‘a by removing the hardship from Ayyub and restoring what he had lost. 

The du‘a of Adam and Hawaa (peace be upon them)

After being expelled from paradise with his wife Hawaa, Adam was inspired by Allah to utter words of repentance, and Allah subsequently forgave Him. This du‘a is a great example of the Mercy of Allah and His love of forgiving His slaves. 

Transliteration:

Rabbana dhalamnaaa anfusana wa il-lam tag-fir lana wa tarhamna la-na-koo-nan-na mi-nal-khasireen.

“Both cried out: ‘Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and do not have mercy on us, we shall surely be among the losers” (Surah al-A’raf, verse 23)

The du‘a of Prophet Nuh ( peace be upon him)

Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) spent almost one thousand years calling his people to worship Allah alone, and he was met with their ridicule and mocking of him. In the preceding verses, the people of Nuh mocked him and denied him, calling him a madman, causing Nuh to call out to Allah with this du‘a:

رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَغْلُوبٌ فَانْتَصِرْ

Transliteration: annee maghloobun fantasir

“My Lord, Indeed, I am overpowered, so help.”(Surah al-Qamar, verse 10)

Immediately after, Allah responds by opening the skies and ending down rain, sending water from springs in the earth, and carrying Nuh and those who followed him in the arc to safety.

The du‘as of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him)

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

Transliteration: 

Rabbij alni muqeemas salati wa min zurriyati Rabbana wa taqabbal du’a Rabbanagh fir lee waliwalidayya wa lil mumineena Yawma yaqoomul hisaab

“My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication. Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established” (Surah Ibrahim, verses 40-41)

The du‘a of Ibrahim for Makkah

رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ

Transliteration: 

Rabbij ‘al haazal balada aaminanw wajnubnee wa baniyya an na’budal asnaam

“My Lord, make this city [Makkah] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.” (Surah Ibrahim, verse 35)

After building the Kaaba, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) made du‘a for this city to be protected and for his offspring to be protected from shirk. We can use this du‘a to make du‘a for our own descendants to be safe from shirk and misguidance.  

The du‘as of Prophet Zakariya (peace be upon him)

رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ

Transliteration 

Rabbi laa tadharnee fardanw wa Anta khairul waaritheen

“My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while you are the best of inheritors.” (Surah al-Anbiya, verse 89)

رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاء

Transliteration: 

Rabbi hab lee mil ladunka zurriyyatan taiyibatan innaka samee’ud du’aaa 

“My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.”(Surah Ali’ Imran, verse 38)

Prophet Zakariya (peace be upon him)  saw Maryam (peace be upon her) with rare, out of season fruits in her prayer area, and was inspired to name du‘a for a child which was seemingly impossible. He was immediately given the good news of a baby boy, Yahya!

Many of the above du‘as are du‘as to either seek aid from Allah or to seek forgiveness, which are two of the most important things we should be asking Allah for, as He is the Most Forgiving and the Most Merciful. I hope these du‘as are beneficial for you to utilise this Arafah!