Day of Arafah 2026: it's on Tuesday 26 May 2026
The Day of Arafah — Yawm 'Arafa, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah 1447 — falls on Tuesday 26 May 2026, the eve of Eid al-Adha. It is one of the most blessed days of the Islamic year: fasting is highly recommended and expiates the sins of two years. Here is everything you need to know.
The essentials in 30 seconds
- 📅 Date: Tuesday 26 May 2026 (9 Dhul Hijjah 1447)
- 🌙 Eve of: Eid al-Adha (Wednesday 27 May 2026)
- 🤲 Recommended: fast and multiply supplications
- ✨ Reward: expiation of the sins of the past year and the year to come
- 🚫 Exception: Hajj pilgrims do not fast on this day
When exactly does the Day of Arafah fall in 2026?
The Day of Arafah is observed on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah every Hijri year. In 2026, this corresponds to Tuesday 26 May 2026 according to the astronomical calculations adopted by the majority of Muslim federations in France and internationally.
This date is consistent with the confirmed date for Eid al-Adha (Wednesday 27 May 2026), since Arafah always falls on the eve of the day of sacrifice (Yawm an-Nahr).
For pilgrims present in Makkah, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah is the day of the great standing on Mount Arafah, about 20 km from Makkah. It is the central rite of Hajj: without this standing (wuquf), the pilgrimage is invalid.
Why is the Day of Arafah so important?
According to many scholars, the Day of Arafah is the best day of the Islamic year. Several authentic hadiths underline its exceptional importance:
“There is no day on which Allah frees more of His servants from the Fire than the Day of Arafah.”
— Reported by Muslim (no. 1348), on the authority of 'A'ishah رضي الله عنها
It was also on this day, during the Farewell Pilgrimage (10 AH), that the verse completing the religion was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.”
— Qur'an, Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:3)
This verse, revealed on a Friday upon Mount Arafah, marks the completion of revelation. The Day of Arafah thus carries a major historical, spiritual and eschatological dimension all at once.
The fast of the Day of Arafah: rules and reward
The fast of the Day of Arafah is a Sunnah mu'akkadah (confirmed Sunnah) for every Muslim who is not on pilgrimage. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Fasting the Day of Arafah — I hope from Allah that it expiates the sins of the past year and those of the year to come.”
— Reported by Muslim (no. 1162), on the authority of Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه
In practice, the fast follows the same rules as any Islamic fast:
- • Start: at the appearance of dawn (Fajr) — in France on 26 May 2026, around 4:00–4:30 AM depending on the city
- • End: at sunset (Maghrib) — around 9:30–9:45 PM in France
- • Intention: formulated the night before or before dawn (niyyah)
- • Prohibitions: eating, drinking, smoking and marital relations during the day
Important: pilgrims present at Arafah do not fast on this day, in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, who did not fast during the Farewell Pilgrimage. The fast is reserved for non-pilgrims.
For women in menstruation or post-partum, the sick, travellers, or elderly people who cannot fast: there is no obligation, and the reward of good deeds on that day remains accessible through other means (dhikr, sadaqah, du'as).
Recommended du'as and supplications
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The best supplication is that of the Day of Arafah, and the best thing that I and the prophets before me have said is:
“La ilaha illa Allah, wahdahu la sharika lah, lahu-l-mulk wa lahu-l-hamd, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir”
(There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, Alone with no partner. To Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is over all things omnipotent.)
— Reported by Tirmidhi (no. 3585)
In addition to this declaration of tawhid, it is recommended to use this day to:
- • Multiply dhikr (Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar)
- • Seek forgiveness (istighfar) for yourself, your family and the whole community
- • Make personal du'as — it is a day when supplications are particularly answered
- • Read the Qur'an and reflect on its meanings
- • Give sadaqah to those in need
Many scholars recommend dedicating especially the hours before sunset to supplication, as it is the moment when the pilgrims at Arafah are themselves in their peak standing of du'a.
The link between the Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha
The Day of Arafah is not an isolated event: it is the direct prelude to Eid al-Adha. The sequence of the 3 key days:
- 8 Dhul HijjahMonday 25 May 2026 — Yawm at-Tarwiyah, the day pilgrims set out for Mina
- 9 Dhul HijjahTuesday 26 May 2026 — Yawm 'Arafa, Day of Arafah (fasting and supplications)
- 10 Dhul HijjahWednesday 27 May 2026 — Yawm an-Nahr, Eid al-Adha and the ritual sacrifice
The sacrifice (qurbani) is the central act of the day of Eid. According to the four Sunni schools of jurisprudence, it can be performed by oneself or delegated to a third party (tawkil) — a practice that goes back to the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ.
If you have not yet arranged your sacrifice, the Day of Arafah is the last ideal moment to do so — the very eve of the day itself. The sacrifice remains valid during the 4 days that follow Arafah (27, 28, 29 and 30 May 2026), but the key point is to have it arranged before you enter this blessed day.
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And after Arafah? The days of Tashriq
Just after Eid al-Adha (27 May) come the days of Tashriq (28, 29 and 30 May 2026). During these 3 days:
- • The sacrifice remains valid until sunset on 30 May
- • The takbir (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah…) is maintained after every obligatory prayer, up to and including the 'Asr prayer on 30 May
- • Fasting is prohibited on these days according to the majority of schools, as they are “days of eating, drinking and remembrance of Allah”
To go further on the full Dhul Hijjah calendar, see our dedicated article on the date of Eid al-Adha 2026.
What if I can't fast on the Day of Arafah?
Fasting is just one of many doors of worship open on this day. If you are unable to fast (illness, travel, menstruation, post-partum, breastfeeding…), you can still fully benefit from the barakah of the Day of Arafah through:
- • Multiplying personal supplications — it is the day when they are most readily answered
- • Giving sadaqah: donating to those in need, supporting a religious cause
- • Reciting and reflecting on the Qur'an
- • Maintaining dhikr throughout the day, particularly the formula of tawhid
- • Preparing your Eid sacrifice (qurbani) if it is not yet done — it is a major act of worship in itself
The sincere intention and effort you put in on this day are themselves acts of worship that are rewarded, whatever form they take.
Frequently asked questions about the Day of Arafah
Is the Arafah fast obligatory?+
No, it is not an obligation (fard), but a Sunnah mu'akkadah (confirmed Sunnah). The Prophet ﷺ strongly encouraged this fast, mentioning its unique reward (expiation of the sins of 2 years). Not fasting it is not a sin, but it means missing out on an exceptional spiritual opportunity.
Should you also fast the 8 days before Arafah?+
Fasting the first 9 days of Dhul Hijjah (from 17 to 25 May 2026 in France) is a Sunnah according to several hadiths. The Prophet ﷺ said that the deeds of these first 10 days are the most beloved to Allah. But this fast is not conditional: you can perfectly well fast only the Day of Arafah (9 Dhul Hijjah) if you cannot manage the others.
Does the Day of Arafah fall on the same day everywhere in the world?+
The majority of countries align with the Saudi date (Tuesday 26 May 2026), because that is the day pilgrims perform the standing at Arafah in Makkah. Some countries may shift by a day based on local moon sighting. In France, most federations follow the Saudi date, so Tuesday 26 May 2026.
What if I forget to make the intention to fast the night before?+
For a voluntary fast such as Arafah, the intention can be made during the day, as long as you have neither eaten nor drunk since dawn. This is a concession granted for voluntary fasting. If you wake up on the morning of 26 May 2026 and have not yet consumed anything, you can form the intention then and start the fast.
What is the difference between Arafah and the Hajj pilgrimage?+
The Hajj is the full pilgrimage to Makkah (the 5th pillar of Islam), spanning several days (from 8 to 13 Dhul Hijjah). The Day of Arafah (9 Dhul Hijjah) is one specific day of Hajj, considered its central rite. For non-pilgrims, it is a day of intense worship through fasting and supplications, without having to travel.