The Stay in Muzdalifah

The third obligation:

The third obligation of the Hağğu-t-Tamattu´ is the stay at Muzdalifah which is also known as Al-Mash´aril-Harām. The boundaries within which the stay is deemed valid extend from

Al-Ma´zamain to Al-Hiād and to Wādi Muhassir. If it is not possible to stay within these boundaries because of overcrowding or due to lack of time, it is possible to climb Ma'zamain. The stay has to be performed with the intention of attaining closeness to Allah.

#372: If the pilgrim leaves Arafat, they have to spend a part of the night till the early morning in Muzdalifah. As a precaution, they should stay there until sunrise, although it is apparent that they are allowed to start their journey from Muzdalifah to the valley of Muhassir before sunrise. However, they are not permitted to traverse the valley and to enter Mina before sun-up.

#373: Those who are able to do so have the obligation to stay in Muzdalifah for the stipulated period of time. However, the ritual is based simply on staying there for some time. Therefore, if the pilgrim stays in Muzdalifah for some time during the night prior to the festival and leaves for Mina before daybreak, their Hajj is valid, but if they did so on purpose, they are liable to the penalty of slaughtering a sheep. If they did so out of ignorance the penalty is remitted.

However, if they stay for a while in Muzdalifah – not during the night but between dawn and sunrise – their Hajj is valid even if they did so on purpose. In this case, no penalty is due although it is an offense.

#374: There is an exception of the above-mentioned rule for people who are afraid, for women, children, the weak, the aged, the sick and those caring for them.

They are permitted to leave Muzdalifah at night after staying there only for a short period of time (during the night prior to the festival) and to betake themselves to Mina before dawn (Al-Fağr).

#375: The stay has to be made with the intention of attaining closeness to Allah and the pilgrim has to be fully aware, as was defined above with regard to the stay at Arafat.

#376: If a pilgrim forgets to stay in Muzdalifah during the specified period of time (during the night and between dawn and sunrise) or they are not able to stay there because of other reasons, they have to perform the so-called alternative stay on the day of the festival in the time from sunrise to the beginning of the noon prayer. If they also fail to perform the alternative stay, their Hajj is invalid.