The Hadeeth on the Du’aa of Arafah IS the Essence of Islam

Hajj is Tawheed, pure and simple. Tawheed is Islam, great and splendid.

The Hadeeth often quoted on the occasion of Arafah is in fact the sum and substance of what Islam is all about.

Let us read this hadeeth first, Inshaa’Allah:

  :وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال

: خير الدعاء دعاء يوم عرفة ، وخير ما قلت أنا والنبيّون من قبلي

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، له الملك ، وله الحمد ، وهو على كل شيء قدير

 رواه الترمذي ( 3585 ) وحسَّنه الألباني في ” صحيح الترغيب ”  1536

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al ‘Aas (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that the Prophet sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wa-sallam said:

“The most excellent Du’aa is the Du’aa on the Day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said, is:

“Laa ilaaha il-lallaahu, wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-Mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shayin qadeer”. 

“There is nothing that deserves to be worshiped in truth except Allah, He is Alone and has no partner, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is All-Powerful over all things.’” Refer this and Listen to the audio here InshaaAllah

1. The first point mentioned in this hadeeth is ‘the Most Excellent Du’aa is the Du’aa on the Day of Arafah’. That is, the supplication of the Day of Arafah is the Best Supplication.

You supplicate to Allah, crying your heart to Him, seeking what You need from Him by bonding with Him in the most gracious manner. He is not only your Creator, He alone is the Provider, the Giver, the Best to provide and the Best to support you.

2. The Prophets and Messengers who came to this world from time to time to guide mankind with the will of Allah had one amazing thing in common. They all invited people towards the belief and worship of One and Only God: Worship Allah alone, for there is none worthy of worship and obedience but Him. 

3. The Best Saying that came not only from the noble mouth of the glorious Prophet, Muhammad sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wasallam, but also from the lips of all the previous Prophets and Messengers of Allah is “Laa ilaaha il-lallaahu, wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-Mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shayin qadeer”. 

4. All the Prophets and Messengers of Allah, starting from Adam alaihis salam down to the last Prophet, Muhammad, sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wasallam, put forth the Best Statement ever that “there is none that deserves to be worshiped in truth except Allah alone – He who has no partner whatever, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is All-Powerful over all things”. 

5. You need to set aside everything before you proclaim your Best Statement. This is Islam’s approach. And it is natural.

That you clean your place before you sit on it. You don’t wear a garment when you know that you have to get rid of that stinking smell. You clear off urine from your bladder before you get into the comfort of eating. Similarly you deny all notions woven around the concept of God before you submit yourself to that glorious Power.

You emphatically proclaim that there is none even worth considering to be worshiped except Allah alone:

Allah, Who is Alone, the One and Only, the Unique.

Allah, Who has no partner whatsoever; He who is neither born to anyone nor gives birth to anyone, the One whom everyone need and the One who needs no one.

Allah, to Him belongs all kingdom; He who is the Owner of all things seen and unseen, heard and unheard. To Him belongs all dominion which He shares with none.

Allah, to Him alone belongs all praise and glory. He alone is worthy of all praise. To Him alone all created beings show their real gratitude.

Allah, Who alone has power over all things, He alone is Well-Competent over all things.

Worship the Creator, not the creation.

Glorify the One Who Made you, not the things you make! 

6. I would like to add that according to the following hadeeth, we are encouraged to say this du’aa on a daily basis to get magnificent rewards, Subhanallah! 

May Allah give us the Tawfeeque to understand Islam in the best possible manner, and to live by its guidance in the best manner possible. Aameen.

Sal-lal-laahu-alaa Muhammad, Sal-lal-laahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam

Please take time to read this: Hasbunallaahu Wa Ni’mal Wakeel – the Revolutionary Statement of Prophet Ibraheem alaihis salam

Du’aa from the bottom of a Believer’s Heart