Islamic calendar
Day of Arafah
Day of Arafah falls on 9 Dhu al-Hijjah each Hijri year. Because the Hijri calendar is lunar and about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year, its Gregorian date moves earlier each year.
By tabular reckoning, Day of Arafah next falls on (1448 AH). The observed date is set by the sighting of the new crescent and may differ by a day — follow your local authority.
Dates by year
| Hijri | Gregorian |
|---|---|
| 1446 AH | |
| 1447 AH | |
| 1448 AH | |
| 1449 AH | |
| 1450 AH | |
| 1451 AH | |
| 1452 AH | |
| 1453 AH | |
| 1454 AH | |
| 1455 AH |
Why the date moves
The Hijri calendar is lunar. Twelve lunar months come to about 354 days — roughly eleven fewer than a solar year — and no adjustment is made to keep the two aligned. So Day of Arafah falls about eleven days earlier in the Gregorian calendar each year, and works its way through all four seasons over roughly 33 years. Its Hijri date, 9 Dhu al-Hijjah, never changes.
Common questions
When is Day of Arafah in 2027?
By tabular reckoning it falls on , which is 9 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH. The observed date depends on the sighting of the new crescent and may differ by a day.
What is the Hijri date of Day of Arafah?
Day of Arafah falls on 9 Dhu al-Hijjah every Hijri year.
Why do announced dates sometimes differ by a day?
The dates here are tabular — arithmetic, computable years ahead. An announced date follows an actual sighting of the new crescent, which depends on weather, location and the criteria a given authority applies. The two commonly differ by a day.
Which date should I follow?
For observance, follow the announcement of your local authority rather than a calculated date — including the one on this page.