What Are The Recommended Acts (Rituals) For The Day of Arafah?

The ninth day of the month, which is the Day of Arafah and one of the great religious festivals; from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) it is narrated that whoever, on the Day of Arafah, before turning to supplication, prays two rak‘ahs (units of prayer) and confesses his sins before God under the sky and admits his faults, will gain the reward of the people of Arafat, and his past and future sins will be forgiven. Sheikh Mufid mentions that this prayer is performed after the Asr prayer and says that this prayer is especially for those who are nearby but not present in Arafat. Then one should engage in the actions and prayers of Arafah narrated from the pure Imams. These actions and prayers are too numerous to be fully listed here, but we will mention as many as this book can contain.

The Virtue of the Day of Arafah
The Day of Arafah is a day of great virtue. Engaging in supplication after the Zuhr (noon) and Asr (afternoon) prayers and gathering people for prayer on this day is recommended.

Visiting Imam Husayn on the Day of Arafah
Another recommended practice on the Day of Arafah is visiting Imam Husayn (peace be upon him).

How to perform the Prayer of the Day of Arafah?
Sheikh Kaf’ami in the book “Misbah” states: For one who does not find it difficult to pray, fasting on the Day of Arafah is recommended. Performing a ritual bath (ghusl) before noon (before the sun reaches the zenith) is also recommended, as is visiting Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) during the day and night of Arafah.

When the time of noon arrives, one should go under the open sky and perform the combined Zuhr and Asr prayers with proper bowing (ruku) and prostration (sujud). After finishing these prayers, one should pray two rak‘ahs: in the first rak‘ah, after Surah Al-Fatiha, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas (112), and in the second rak‘ah, after Al-Fatiha, recite Surah Al-Kafirun (109). Then, perform four rak‘ahs of prayer, and in each rak‘ah, after Al-Fatiha, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas fifty times.

Faqir (the narrator) says: This prayer is the same as the “Prayer of Imam Ali (the Commander of the Faithful).”

Then Sheikh Kaf’ami says: After the prayer, recite the following glorifications which are narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and mentioned by Sayyid Ibn Tawus in “Iqbal”:

Glorification phrases in Arabic and their meanings:

• "Glory be to Him whose Throne is in the sky, glory be to Him whose rule is on the earth."

• "Glory be to Him whose decree is in the graves."

• "Glory be to Him whose path is in the sea, glory be to Him whose dominion is in the fire."

• "Glory be to Him whose mercy is in Paradise, glory be to Him whose justice is on the Day of Judgment."

• "Glory be to Him who raised the sky, glory be to Him who spread out the earth."

• "Glory be to Him from whom there is no refuge or escape except to Him."

Then say 100 times:

"Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest."

Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas 100 times and Ayat al-Kursi (Verse of the Throne, Quran 2:255) 100 times. Send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad 100 times.

Then say ten times:

"There is no god but Allah alone, without partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise. He gives life and causes death. He causes death and gives life. He is living and does not die. In His hand is all good, and He has power over all things."

Then say ten times:

"I seek forgiveness from Allah, there is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him."

Then say ten times:

"O Allah."

Ten times:

"O Most Merciful."

Ten times:

"O Most Compassionate."

Ten times:

"O Originator of the heavens and the earth, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor."

Ten times:

"O Living, O Sustainer."

Ten times:

"O Most Compassionate, O Most Generous."

Ten times:

"There is no deity except You."

Then say:

"O Allah, I ask You, O One who is closer to me than my jugular vein,
O One who intervenes between a person and his heart,
O One who is seen in the highest vision and the clear horizon,
O One who is the Most Merciful and established over the Throne,
O One like whom there is nothing, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing,
I ask You to send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad."

Ask your needs, which by God's will will be fulfilled.

Then recite this blessing narrated from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him), who said: Whoever wishes to please Muhammad and his family by sending blessings, should say:

"O Allah, O Most Generous Giver, and the Best One Who is asked, and the Most Merciful to those who ask for mercy,
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family among the earlier and send blessings upon Muhammad and his family among the later generations,
And send blessings upon Muhammad and his family among the highest angels and among the messengers,
O Allah, grant Muhammad and his family al-Wasilah (the highest station) and virtue and honor and exalted rank.
O Allah, I believe in Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) though I have not seen him, so do not deprive me of seeing him on the Day of Resurrection,
And grant me his companionship, and let me die upon his religion, and give me to drink from his pond a refreshing drink so that I shall never thirst afterward. Truly You have power over all things.
O Allah, I believe in Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) though I have not seen him, so make me recognize his face in Paradise.
O Allah, convey to Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) from me many greetings and peace."

Giving Charity on the Day of Arafah
Giving charity on this day is especially rewarding with multiplied rewards.

Asking Needs from Others besides God on the Day of Arafah
It is disliked to seek needs from anyone other than God on the Day of Arafah.

Standing at Arafat on the Day of Arafah
One of the rites of Hajj is standing (wuquf) at Arafat from noon on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah until sunset.

Combining Zuhr and Asr Prayers on the Day of Arafah
It is recommended for one present in Arafat to combine the Zuhr and Asr prayers at their earliest time. In this case, the call to prayer (adhan) for Asr is omitted. However, scholars differ on whether this omission is due to permission (rukhsa) or obligation (azimat). According to the latter, the adhan for Asr is not valid and is considered an innovation and forbidden.

Stopping the Talbiyah on the Day of Arafah
It is recommended for the pilgrim to repeat the Talbiyah after assuming Ihram, but according to some, it is obligatory for the pilgrim to stop the Talbiyah at noon on the Day of Arafah.

The Duty of the Amir al-Hajj on the Day of Arafah
It is recommended for the Amir al-Hajj (leader of the pilgrimage) to deliver a speech on the Day of Arafah to familiarize pilgrims with the rituals and practices.

Staying Overnight in Mina on the Night of Arafah
It is recommended for the pilgrim to stay overnight in Mina on the night of Arafah until dawn, engaging in acts of worship such as prayer, supplication, and remembrance of God.