Pilgrims begin the central standing rite at Arafat on 9 Dhu al-Hijjah during hajj.
The rite is called Wuquf, or standing at Arafat. Pilgrims gather on the plain from around midday until sunset, spending the time in prayer, supplication, remembrance, and reflection. The day is widely regarded as the spiritual climax of the hajj pilgrimage.
After sunset, pilgrims leave Arafat for Muzdalifah, where they spend part of the night before continuing to Mina. The sequence is important: Arafat comes before Muzdalifah, and both precede the major rites associated with 10 Dhu al-Hijjah.
The date is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, so it moves through the Gregorian calendar from year to year. The same date is known as the Day of Arafah, and Muslims who are not performing hajj may observe it with fasting, although practices vary.