Written by Dania Ghraoui, a translator and language teacher with 10 years of experience.
At a Glance: The best dua for Arafah Day, as reported in Hadith, is لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ. It means: There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs dominion and praise, and He has power over all things.
Many Arabic learners wonder whether they can make dua on Arafah Day in their own language or whether they should learn the Arafah dua in Arabic.
In this blog, we start with the main Arafah dua in Arabic, its pronunciation, and its meaning. Then we break it down into smaller parts so it feels easier to read, say, and understand. Along the way, you will also learn other duas for Arafah day and key Arabic words connected to the Day of Arafah, Hajj, and personal supplication.
Before you go further!
Check these AlifBee guides that can help you practice more Islamic Arabic phrases with pronunciation and meaning:
- Learn useful worship-related phrases in Arabic Phrases for Salah.
- Add more simple daily supplications with Short Duas for Ramadan.
- Practice travel-related prayers in 8 Ways to Say Travel Prayer in Arabic.
What is the Day of Arafah?
The Day of Arafah is the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah. It is the day when Hajj pilgrims stand at Arafat, and it is one of the most important days of the Islamic year for dua, dhikr, repentance, and seeking Allah’s mercy.
The Importance of Dua on the Day of Arafah
Dua is one of the simplest and most powerful acts of worship in Islam. In Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: “Dua’a is worship.” This hadith sums up the importance of dua as it manifests a muslim’s servitude to Allah and utmost reliance and belief in Him. When you make dua to Allah, you turn to Him alone with your hopes, worries, gratitude, and needs and reject other worldly means or doers.
The Day of Arafah is one of the greatest days of the Islamic year and one of the best times to make dua. It is a special day of mercy, forgiveness, and closeness to Allah. That is why learning dua for Arafah can be such a meaningful part of your Arabic and Islamic learning journey.
What is the Best Dua for Arafah Day?
The best-known dua for Arafah Day is: “lā ilāha illā Allāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu, wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr”. It is reported in Hadith and is widely taught as the best supplication or remembrance (Dhikr) for the Day of Arafah.
This is the hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
“ أَفْضَلُ الدُّعَاءِ دُعَاءُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ وَأَفْضَلُ مَا قُلْتُ أَنَا وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ قَبْلِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ “
Translation: “The most excellent dua is the dua on the Day of Arafa, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said, is ‘There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner.'”
The phrase is dhikr, specifically a form of tahlil, because it declares lā ilāha illā Allāh, which means “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.”
Let’s look at the complete dua in Hadith, with pronunciation and meaning:
Best Dua for Arafah Day in Arabic
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
lā ilāha illā Allāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu, wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay'in qadīr
There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs dominion, and to Him belongs praise, and He has power over all things.
This form of tahlil affirms Allah’s oneness, says that all dominion belongs to Him, and ends with His complete power over all things.
What Does the Arafah Dua Mean Word by Word?
Let’s look at the dua again, word by word, so it is easier to learn and practice:
Arafah Dua Word by Word
| Meaning | Pronunciation | Arabic | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
There is no deity except Allah |
lā ilāha illā Allāh |
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ |
|
|
alone |
waḥdahu |
وَحْدَهُ |
|
|
He has no partner |
lā sharīka lah |
لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ |
|
|
To Him belongs dominion |
lahu al-mulku |
لَهُ الْمُلْكُ |
|
|
And to Him belongs praise |
wa lahu al-ḥamdu |
وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ |
|
|
And He has power over all things |
wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr |
وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِير |
|
Key Arabic Words from the Arafah Dua
In the following table, we have some key Islamic vocabulary related to the Arafah dua:
| Meaning | Pronunciation | Arabic | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dua: supplication; calling upon Allah |
duʿā’ |
دُعَاءٌ |
|
|
Dhikr: remembrance of Allah |
dhikr |
ذِكْرٌ |
|
|
Tahlil: saying lā ilāha illā Allāh |
tahlīl |
تَهْلِيلٌ |
|
|
belief in Allah’s oneness |
tawḥīd |
تَوْحِيدٌ |
|
|
the Day of Arafah |
yawm ʿArafah |
يَوْمُ عَرَفَة |
|
|
Arafat: the plain where pilgrims stand |
ʿArafāt |
عَرَفَاتٌ |
|
|
Dhul Hijjah: the Hajj month |
Dhū al-Ḥijjah |
ذُو الحِجَّةِ |
|
|
forgiveness |
maghfirah |
مَغْفِرَةٌ |
|
|
mercy |
raḥmah |
رَحْمَةٌ |
|
|
dominion; ownership |
mulk |
مُلْكٌ |
|
|
praise |
ḥamd |
حَمْدٌ |
|
|
powerful; fully able |
qadīr |
قَدِيرٌ |
|
How to Pronounce the Arafah Dua
Tahlil is easy to pronounce, but some Arabic letters do not exist in other languages and require practice, like the letter ح, the letter ع, the letter ق, and other challenging sounds.
Here are some useful notes:
| Symbol | Teaching note | Example | Arabic letter |
|---|---|---|---|
|
/ḥ/ |
A deep h from the throat, stronger than English h. |
waḥdahu, al-ḥamdu |
ح |
|
/ʿ/ (ʿayn) |
A throat sound with no exact English match. Do not flatten it into a plain a. |
ʿalā, ʿArafah |
ع |
|
/q/ |
A deeper k-like sound from the back of the mouth. |
qadīr |
ق |
|
ā / ī / ū |
Long vowels. Hold them slightly longer than short vowels. |
ilāha, qadīr |
ا / ي / و |
|
/sh/ |
Like sh in “she.” |
sharīka, shay’ |
ش |
|
/’/ (hamzah) |
A small stop in the voice, like the break in “uh-oh.” |
shay’in |
ء |
A practical tip: read the dua in four chunks, not one breathless line.
lā ilāha illā Allāh / waḥdahu lā sharīka lah / lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu / wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr
That small habit makes memorization feel much more manageable.
Other Simple Duas in Arabic you Can Say on Arafah Day
In addition to the famous phrase for the Day of Arafah, you can also make general duas for forgiveness, mercy, guidance, family, the Hereafter, and anything good you need.
Here are simple duas you can make on Arafah day:
Simple Duas in Arabic on Arafah Day
| Meaning | Pronunciation | Arabic | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. |
rabbanā ātinā fī ad-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fī al-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ʿadhāba an-nār |
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ |
|
|
O Allah, forgive me. |
Allāhumma ighfir lī |
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي |
|
|
O Allah, have mercy on me. |
Allāhumma irḥamnī |
اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي |
|
|
O Allah, accept my supplication. |
Allāhumma taqabbal duʿā’ī |
اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ دُعَائِي |
|
|
O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and mercy. |
Allāhumma innī as’aluka al-maghfirata wa ar-raḥmah |
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْمَغْفِرَةَ وَالرَّحْمَةَ |
|
|
I seek forgiveness from Allah, besides whom there is no god, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him. |
astaghfiru Allāha alladhī lā ilāha illā huwa al-Ḥayyu al-Qayyūmu wa atūbu ilayh |
أَستَغفِرُ اللهَ الذي لا إِلَهَ إِلّا هُوَ الحَيُّ القَيّومُ وَأَتوبُ إِلَيه |
|
|
There is no god but You. Glory be to You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers. |
lā ilāha illā anta subḥānaka innī kuntu mina aẓ-ẓālimīn |
لَا إِلهَ إِلا أَنتَ سُبحانَكَ إِنّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظّالِمين |
|
Review Best Dua for Arafah Day
Can You Make Dua in Your Own Language on Arafah Day?
Yes, you can make dua in your own language on Arafah Day. Many Arabic learners worry about this, especially on a day as special as Arafah, but personal supplication is not limited to Arabic.
Arabic is valuable because it helps you learn the prophetic words and the beauty of Islamic expressions, but your own honest words still matter deeply. If Arabic is new to you, start with the famous Arafah dhikr in Arabic, then continue your personal dua in the language that comes naturally to your heart.
Final word
Practice makes progress. Since we learn duas to repeat them often, you may find that these beautiful supplications become some of the easiest parts of Arabic to remember and use naturally. They can also be one of the most meaningful and effective ways to build your Arabic vocabulary and learn useful everyday Islamic phrases.
Learn with AlifBee
If you want to practice more Arabic phrases and improve your pronunciation with clear examples, you can explore guided Arabic learning with the AlifBee app and build your skills step by step.
FAQs
What is the best dua for Arafah Day?
The best-known dua for Arafah Day is: lā ilāha illā Allāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu, wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr.
Is the Arafah dua from hadith?
Yes. It is reported in Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi in a hadith about the best supplication on the Day of Arafah.
Can I make dua in my language on Arafah Day?
Yes. You can make a personal dua in your own language while learning the Arabic phrase step by step.
Is there only one dua for Arafah Day?
No. This is the best-known phrase from hadith, but you can also make personal duas for forgiveness, mercy, guidance, family, and the Hereafter.
What is the difference between Arafah and Arafat?
Arafah often refers to the day, while Arafat usually refers to the plain where pilgrims stand during Hajj.
