Friday is better than the Night of Decree (1). The correct view is that Friday is the best day of the week, while the Day of Arafah and the Day of Sacrifice are the best days of the year. The same distinction applies to the Night of Decree and Friday night. Thus, standing at Arafah on a Friday has advantages over doing so on other days in several respects:

First: the two days, each among the best of days, coincide.

Second: Friday contains a time when supplications are certain to be answered. Most opinions place it in the final hour after the afternoon prayer, when all those gathered at Arafah are standing in supplication and humble entreaty.

Third: it coincides with the day on which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood at Arafah.

Fourth: people throughout the world gather for the sermon and Friday prayer, coinciding with the gathering of pilgrims at Arafah. This gathering of Muslims in their mosques and at the place of standing gives rise to supplication and humble entreaty unlike those on any other day.

Fifth: Friday is a day of Eid, and the Day of Arafah is a day of Eid (2) for those at Arafah. For this reason, fasting that day is disliked for those at Arafah. In al-Nasā’ī (3), Abū Hurayrah is reported to have said: “A prohibition was issued by