Short answer
The Prophet ﷺ said the best dua is the dua of the Day of Arafah, and the best thing he and the prophets before him said is: La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamd, wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir. This is for pilgrims and for those at home, who also fast that day.
Dhikr and dua on the Day of Arafah are mustahabb for everyone. For those not on Hajj, fasting that day is sunnah, and the takbir al-tashreeq is wajib after each fard prayer from Fajr of the 9th to Asr of the 13th of Dhul Hijjah.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Holds the takbir after prayers on these days to be sunnah rather than wajib.
- Maliki
- Holds the takbir after the prayers in these days to be recommended, not wajib, and starts it later, from Dhuhr on the day of Eid.
- Hanbali
- Holds the takbir after the prayers in these days to be sunnah, not wajib.
Explanation
The Day of Arafah, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, is the day of Hajj, and one of the best days of the year for every Muslim. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best dua is the dua of the Day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said is: La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamd, wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir" (al-Tirmidhi; a similar report is in the Muwatta of Imam Malik).
Meaning: There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things.
How to spend the day at home:
- Fast it, unless you are on Hajj: see fasting on the Day of Arafah.
- Repeat the dhikr above many times, along with Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar.
- Begin the takbir al-tashreeq after Fajr.
- Spend the hours before Maghrib in dua, for yourself, your family and the ummah, since this is the heart of the day for the pilgrims standing at Arafah.
- Seek forgiveness: the Quran tells pilgrims to remember Allah much in these days (2:203), and these are among the days of Allah's greatest mercy.
See the Day of Arafah and the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah for the full guide.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:203
۞ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍۢ مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۢ ۚ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ لِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٢٠٣﴾
And remember Allah during [specific] numbered days. Then whoever hastens [his departure] in two days - there is no sin upon him; and whoever delays [until the third] - there is no sin upon him - for him who fears Allah. And fear Allah and know that unto Him you will be gathered.
Dhikr in the days of Hajj is commanded.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3585
Grading to be checked... خير الدعاء دعاء يوم عرفة وخير ما قلت أنا والنبيون من قبلي لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ...
"The best dua is the dua of the Day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me said is: There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner."
Names the best dhikr of the Day of Arafah.
Muwatta Malik 501
Graded in the Muwatta... أفضل الدعاء دعاء يوم عرفة وأفضل ما قلت أنا والنبيون من قبلي ...
"The best dua is the dua of the Day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said is: There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner."
A second chain for the same words, mursal in the Muwatta, which supports al-Tirmidhi's chain.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the two Eids, the takbir al-tashreeq. The takbir after the fard prayers from Fajr of Arafah.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.