Inside Muzdalifah: A Glimpse into the Hajj Experience

muzdalifah hajj

muzdalifah hajj is one of the sacred feelings that pilgrims experience during their Hajj journey to the Sacred House of Allah. The reason for its name is due to one of two things: the first is because people come to it, that is, they approach the Haram, and the second is because people spend part of the night there, that is, times and hours of the night. 

muzdalifah hajj is also called: Al-Mash’ar Al-Haram, because people gather there, and it is also called: Al-Mash’ar Al-Haram, because it is part of the Sanctuary, and the entire Mash’ar of Muzdalifah is considered a place where it is permissible to stand, as he – may Allah bless him and grant him peace – said: (I stood here and all of Muzdalifah is a standing place).

muzdalifah hajj

muzdalifah hajj is the Sacred Mush’ar, and one of the holy places through which pilgrims pass, as it is located between Mina and Arafat. Pilgrims spend the night there after departing from Arafat, then they perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers there, both together and shortened, and they collect pebbles there to throw the Jamarat at Mina. 

The pilgrims stay there until the morning of the next day, after which they proceed to… Mona, according to the Almighty’s saying:

لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ عِندَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ وَاذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَاكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الضَّالِّينَ (البقرة 198).

 

“Muzdalifah” was given this name because people approach Mina there, where this proximity is called Ezdalaf. In another opinion, it was named that because the pilgrims gather in this place at night time, as the meeting is called Ezdalaf, or because the pilgrims approach Allah, that is, they get closer to Him. 

Through their standing in Arafat, and their descent from it to Mina, as muzdalifah hajj is collectively called, because it is in it that the rituals are combined between the Maghrib and Isha prayers and the Sacred Mash’ar, because hunting.

Is forbidden there, and Mash’ar was called this because it contains one of the landmarks of religion, and it is also called Qazah, which is the horn that stands. The Imam is with him in muzdalifah hajj, to the right of the Imam.

The borders of muzdalifah hajj are from Mazma Arafat to Qarn Muhassir and the paths to the right and left of it. All of Muzdalifah is called Al-Mash’ar Al-Haram, and between Mina and Muzdalifah there are approximately five kilometers.

The pilgrim walks to muzdalifah hajj in tranquility and dignity, and hurries when he finds a space. The majority of scholars are of the view that it is permissible to delay the Maghrib and Isha prayers in order to perform them in muzdalifah hajj

It was said that if the pilgrim neglects to spend the night in muzdalifah hajj, his Hajj is valid, but he must sacrifice, i.e. slaughter the sacrificial animal. If he comes to muzdalifah hajj in the second half of the night and stays there, whether the period is short or long, then he will stay overnight

What is the ruling on spending the night in Muzdalifah?

Scholars differed regarding spending the night in muzdalifah hajj. The Malikis said that it is recommended to spend the night there, and the pilgrims must attend it and disembark there, even if it is only as much as placing the luggage. 

If the pilgrim abandons the overnight stay, or disembarks there before dawn without an excuse, a ransom is obligatory on him, and the attendance and overnight stay in muzdalifah hajj is in any place of it. According to the saying of the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him.

(And all of Muzdalifah is a stopping place), and it has been reported from the Shafi’is and Hanbalis that spending the night in Muzdalifah is achieved even if it is an hour after the second half of the night of sacrifice, or by leaving muzdalifah hajj after midnight and not before it.

If it was zefore that, then the overnight stay is not valid, and a ransom is required. As for the Hanafis, they said that spending the night in Muzdalifah is an established Sunnah, and it is better to stand after the dawn prayer, turn to Allah – Glory be to Him – with supplication, then proceed from muzdalifah hajj to Mina before sunrise. 

The scholars agreed that whoever abandons spending the night in muzdalifah hajj without an excuse or reason, he must pay a ransom, unlike someone who abandons spending the night with an excuse, such as someone who is weak or sick, or someone who is preoccupied with public interests during Hajj. From service, watering, etc. As evidenced by what was reported from the Messenger – peace be upon him -:

(The Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, made it easier for camel herders in Baytotah, leaving Mina, to stone the day of sacrifice, then stone the next day, and the day after tomorrow for two days, then stone the day of the sacrifice.) It was also reported on the authority of Abdullah bin Omar – may Allah be pleased with them both.

( Al-Abbas bin Abdul-Muttalib asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, permission to spend the night in Mecca during the nights of Mina, in order to provide him with water, so he granted him permission. It is inferred from the hadiths that a ransom is not obligatory for anyone who doesn’t spend the night In muzdalifah hajj due to some excuse.

The ruling on combining and shortening the prayers in Muzdalifah

The scholars agreed that it is Sunnah for the pilgrim to join and shorten the Maghrib and Isha prayers in muzdalifah hajj, but they differed in the ruling on one who had prayed the Maghrib prayer before arriving in muzdalifah hajj

The majority of scholars from the Malikis, Shafi’is, Hanbalis, and Abu Yusuf from the Hanafi school of thought said that it is permissible to separate the two prayers, just as it is permissible to combine them, except that this is contrary to the Sunnah of the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him. The Hanafi school of thought said that it is obligatory to delay the Maghrib prayer and perform it in muzdalifah hajj.

What time do you leave from Muzdalifah?

Pilgrims head from muzdalifah hajj to Mina. To stone the stones before sunrise on the Day of Sacrifice; When it was proven in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah – may Allah be pleased with him – that the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him.

(Until he came to Muzdalifah, he prayed the Maghrib and the evening prayers there with one call to prayer and two iqamas, and he did not say the tasbih at all between them, then he set down.

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was hungry until he came up Fajr prayer, and he prayed the dawn prayer, when dawn became clear to him, with the call to prayer and the iqamah, then he rode the kiswa.

Conclusion 

At the end of the text, going to muzdalifah hajj is an integral part of the rituals of Hajj, and there are many rulings related to going to muzdalifah hajj and spending the night there, so we mentioned in our article all the details related to muzdalifah hajj.

Do you want your kids to learn more about Online Arabic Classes? Sign up for Quran Oasis’s Online Arabic Classes program and watch them dive deeper into the Quran science and learn the Holy Book of Allah.

Quran Oasis’s online Arabic classes for kids, Quran classes for adults and let your children learn the accurate Quran recitation and word pronunciation even if Arabic is not their first language.

Quran teaching for children in Quran Oasis is fun as well as structured, they’ll learn with eLearning Quran;

Our Quran teacher  ( House of Quran ) will be their friends during this amazing journey.

Online Quran tuition learning can be challenging if you’re seeking it for your kids. Quran Oasis offers you a wide variety of topics to teach your children online.

Whether it’s Quran online, Arabic online, Tajweed, Ijazah, tafsir, Qirat, or Islamic Studies,

Quran Oasis has your back with professional Quran tutors who are willing to go further with your kids’ education. With an attractive interface and well-structured lessons,

Quran Oasis gives you and your children the chance to learn with Quran ayat who are going to be your kids’ new friends, accompanying them in their learning process and encouraging them to learn more.

Need Help?