SAWM 360
What is the Day of Arafah?
The 9th of Dhul Hijjah is the day the pilgrims stand at the plain of Arafat — the heart of Hajj. For everyone not on Hajj, it is a day of fasting, du'a and remembrance. The Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting it and said:
"It expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year."— Sahih Muslim
Who should fast it — and who shouldn't
- Non-pilgrims: strongly recommended (sunnah mu'akkadah for many scholars).
- Pilgrims at Arafat: should not fast — the Prophet ﷺ stood at Arafat unfasting, to stay strong for du'a.
The first nine days of Dhul Hijjah
Arafah is the peak of a bigger opportunity: the Prophet ﷺ said no righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than those done in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Fasting any of days 1–9 is rewarded; many Muslims fast all nine, or at least the 8th and 9th.
When is the Day of Arafah? Dates for 2027 and 2028
Expected dates by the Umm al-Qura calendar:
| Year | Day of Arafah (9 Dhul Hijjah) | Eid al-Adha (10 Dhul Hijjah) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 (1448 AH) | Sat 15 May 2027 | Sun 16 May 2027 |
| 2028 (1449 AH) | Thu 4 May 2028 | Fri 5 May 2028 |
It depends on the moon: Dhul Hijjah begins with a confirmed sighting, and Arafah is day 9 — the day before Eid al-Adha. Because the Hijri year is ~11 days shorter, the Gregorian date changes every year, and regional moon-sighting differences can shift it by a day. The practical answer: follow a live Hijri calendar. SAWM 360 flags Arafah and the eight days before it (1–8 Dhul Hijjah) on your calendar and, with reminders on, notifies you the evening before so you can prepare the niyyah and the suhoor. The Hijri date it shows is calculated, with no moon-sighting adjustment, so confirm the day with your local authority.
Catch Arafah every year with SAWM 360
- Check the calendar in Dhul Hijjah — days 1–8 carry the 📈 Dhul Hijjah badge; day 9, Arafah, carries its own red flag.
- Keep the fasting eve reminder on — the evening before (45 minutes after Maghrib) you're told that tomorrow is a recommended fast; your suhoor alarm shows your local Fajr time.
- Fast Fajr → Maghrib — the day view shows your exact window and estimated duration.
- Mark it completed — Arafah counts as a recommended fast in that calendar month's merit badge and in your totals.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Day of Arafah in 2027?
It is expected on Saturday 15 May 2027 (9 Dhul Hijjah 1448) by the Umm al-Qura calendar, the day before Eid al-Adha; the moon sighting confirms it and can move it by a day.
What is the reward for fasting the Day of Arafah?
The Prophet ﷺ said it expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year (Sahih Muslim) — the greatest reward attached to any single voluntary fast.
Should pilgrims on Hajj fast Arafah?
No — the sunnah for pilgrims standing at Arafat is not to fast, following the Prophet's ﷺ example, to keep strength for worship and du'a.
What if I can't fast the 9th — can I fast other Dhul Hijjah days?
Yes. Fasting any of the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah is virtuous; the ten days are the most beloved days for righteous deeds. SAWM 360 tracks each one.