Staying at and Sleeping at Al-Muzdalifah

• When the pilgrims reach Muzdalifah, they offer Al-Maghrib and Al-’Isha’, as described earlier. They shall observe no Nafilah inbetween and after the two Salahs; [Muslim]
• If the pilgrims cannot reach Muzdalifah before mid-night, they should perform Al-Maghrib and Al-’Isha’ on the way before they reach Muzdalifah, as it is not permissible to delay the Salah beyond midnight;
• It is recommended that the pilgrim should sleep in Muzdalifah until Fajr so that he might rest and have sufficient energy to face the Hajj activities of the following day, the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, he Day of Eid Al-Adha;
• Weak people, who could not stand the crowd, from among women, children, old or sick pilgrims, and their escorts/caretakers are permitted to depart Muzdalifah for Mina after midnight on 9th Dhul Hijjah after the moon has set. However, when they arrive Mina, they must not throw at Jamrah Al-Aqbah until the sun has arisen on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.
• All other pilgrims, apart fom the weak ones, must stay at Muzdalifah until they have offered Salah Al-Fajr on 10th Dhul Hijjah;
• All Muzdalifah is a place to stay except Wadi Muhassar, which is the valley between Al-Mash‘ar Al-Haram and Mina.
• After Salah Al-Fajr, the pilgrim, if feasible, comes to Al-Mash’ar Al- Haram, where he faces the Qiblah, raises his hands, and makes Dhikr, Supplications, Takbir [saying “Allaahu Akbar”], and Tahlil [saying “Laa ilaaha illa-l-laah] until the morning is very clear, when he calmly proceeds before sunrise to Mina, making the Talbiyyah. [Al-Bukhari]
• On reaching Batn Muhassir, which is part of Mina, the pilgrim, if that is feasible, is recommended to hasten his steps over a distance of some 50 metres, as the Prophet [s.a.w.s] did. [Muslim]
• The pilgrim on his way from Muzdalifa to Mina, or when he reaches Mina, or from anywhere else may pick 49 or 70 pebbles, each about the size of Bambara groundnut, for throwing at the Jamrahs. [The Sunnah is to pick 7 pebbles only on this day for throwing at Jamrah Al-‘Aqabah and pick 21 pebbles everyday for throwing at the three Jamrahs on subsequent two or three days. The pilgrim shall, insha Allah, find what we have mentioned here easier and more practicable these days].

  TIP

  Muzdalifah is also called “Jam’u”. “Al-Mash’ar Al-Haram” is the name given to Mount Muzdalifah