Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, obligatory for any Muslims with the means to perform it; other than being an obligation it is one of the greatest blessings to be invited to perform the pilgrimage.
What is Hajj
Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage that is performed in Makkah, a sacred city in Saudi Arabia. This pilgrimage is an essential religious duty for Muslims, and every adult Muslim should perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime if they have the ability, physically and economically.
Anyone who proceeds with this spiritual journey purifies their body, heart, soul and mind from their past sins.
The name Muzdalifah is derived from the Arabic verb “izdalafa”, which means “to approach” or “to come near”. Muzdalifah is also known as al-Mashar al-Haram, which is mentioned in the Quran: Surah al-Baqarah 2:198.
Maghrib and Isha, in the form of Qasr, will be performed together at the time of Isha.
If you arrive in Muzdalifah early, you must wait until the time of Isha comes before you can perform the prayers.
If Isha salah is performed first, it must be repeated again after Maghrib salah.
The prayers are performed as follows:
There is one adhan.
Iqama is made for Maghrib.
Takbir is made for Maghrib fardh salah, and three rak’ahs are performed.
After the prayer is completed, while standing, recite Takbir al-Tashreeq.
Iqama is made for Isha salah.
Takbir is made for Isha fardh salah and two rak’ahs are performed.
After the prayer is completed, recite Takbir al-Tashreeq and Talbiyah.
Perform two rak’ahs sunnah of Maghrib.
Witr salah is performed thereafter.
If a person engages in any of the following actions without a valid reason, their salah will still be valid, but the reward for their Hajj will be diminished:
(a) Performing the prayers at their respective times instead of combining them.
(b) Performing jama’ al-taqdim (combining the two prayers at the time of the first prayer) instead of jama’ al-ta’khir (combining them at the time of the second prayer).
(c) Choosing to join the two prayers but performing them individually instead of behind the Imam, or performing one behind the Imam and the second individually.
Please note: If you are still in Arafat, stuck on the coach in traffic, or making your way to Muzdalifah and you fear that the time of Isha will expire, causing you to miss the prayers, the Maghrib and Isha prayers should be combined and performed on the way to Muzdalifah. Generally, if you haven’t reached Muzdalifah by the end of the night, perform the prayers in the position that you are in.
Points to be remembered:
At Muzdalifah, you will stay under the night sky. There are no tents or other accommodation facilities here. Although there are plenty of lights, it is still fairly dark and can prove quite difficult to distinguish between people.
As soon as you disembark the coach, stay near your group. If you are a woman, ensure you stay with your husband/Mahram and do not wander off alone.
Toilets and wudhu facilities are available but will be crowded, so patience must be exercised. Sometimes, the long queues force pilgrims to use the bushes or mountains. For this reason, you are advised to use the toilet before you leave Arafat.
The boundaries for Muzdalifah are indicated by large purple signposts. There is also a mosque in Muzdalifah known as Masjid al-Mashar al-Haram, which is on the site of what used to be a small mountain.
If you get a chance after salah, go for a walk around Muzdalifah. The multitudes of people within Muzdalifah are certainly an amazing sight. However, make sure you don’t get lost.
Take great care in Muzdalifah. It’s a good idea to always carry a mobile phone and a torch (flashlight) with you.
Collecting Pebbles You need to collect a total of 49 pebbles to perform Rami over the next three days. The breakdown is as follows: (a) 7 for the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. (b) 21 for the 11th of Dhul Hijjah. (c) 21 for the 12th of Dhul Hijjah. It is advised, however, that you pick up a further 21 pebbles as a precautionary measure to bring your total up to 70. When you’re throwing the pebbles at the Jamarat, you may miss the target, or some pebbles may fall from your hand. It’s better to have more than to have less.
It is a sunnah to collect the pebbles in the morning as the Prophet ﷺ had done, although collecting them during the night is also perfectly acceptable.
Jamarat:
Ula (Shughra) - Wustha, - Aqabah (Kubra)
Stoning of the Devil – 3 Stone pillars
Rejam Syaitan – 3 Tiang Batu
The Jamarats are located on the far side of Mina, i.e., at the end closest to Makkah. Walking to the Jamarat from your camp in Mina, through a series of tunnels, would prove easier than travelling there by coach.
The times for stoning the Jamarat The time for stoning Jamarat al-`Aqabah is on the day of `Eid after the sun has risen and lasts until sunset on the day of `Eid. The stoning on the days of Tashriq starts from when the sun passes its zenith (i.e., when the time for Zuhr prayer begins) and ends at the end of the night.
Stoning the three Jamarat:
Stoning the three Jamarat after the first day, the time starts from the afternoon of each day until dawn of the next day in (the opinion of) most schools of thought.
However, according to the Shaafa’is, the time for stoning begins every day in the afternoon, and continues until sunset from the last days of al-Tashreeq, but the stoning is not valid for a day except after stoning a day preceding it.
According to Abu Hanifa, it is the fourth day of the Eid, which is the last day of slaughtering. The time for stoning begins from dawn until sunset the next. Therefore, the person in a hurry can throw it before afternoon and leave. Ishaq said: The first day of al-Nufra (which is the third) is like the fourth time in which the time for stoning begins at dawn as well, in order to facilitate the one who wants to leave during it.(As in Naylul Awtar of Al-Shawkani).
With regard to the second day of Eid, the majority believe that the time for stoning on it begins from noon, so it is not valid to throw it before the afternoon, because he did not refrain from it.
In another saying by the Hanafis as well, other than the well-known statement: that the second and third days are also permissible to perform stoning on them before the afternoon. Accordingly, on all the four days, there is room for stoning from the morning before the midday, in various jurisprudence, even if it is not on the day of leaving for the one who is in haste and others. This is because stoning before the afternoon is a great deal of ease for the people, even if they are not in a hurry to leave for the sake of sacrifice. The dweller may also need to throw early in order to avoid the large crowds in the hot temperature. It is no secret that the person responsible has to follow one of the recognized schools of thought. Whichever one of them he follows, Almighty Allah will accept it, for religion is mainly for simplicity according to the text of the reliable Hadith.
Note: The three stone pillars at which the pilgrims cast pebbles during the Hajj. The three stone pillars are Jamarat al-Aqaba (biggest), Jamarat al-Wusta and Jamarat al-Ula (smallest) and each symbolizes Satan. Distances:
Jamarat al-Ula to Jamarat al-Wusta = 150m Jamarat al-Wusta to Jamarat Aqaba = 190m
The date/times for stoning the Jamarat The breakdown is as follows:
(a) 7 for the 10th of Dhul Hijjah
(After the sun has risen and lasts until sunset on the day of `Eid).
(b) 21 for the 11th of Dhul Hijjah.
(The stoning on the days of Tashriq starts from when the sun passes its zenith (i.e., when the time for Zuhr prayer begins) and ends at the end of the night).
(c) 21 for the 12th of Dhul Hijjah.
(The stoning on the days of Tashriq starts from when the sun passes its zenith (i.e., when the time for Zuhr prayer begins) and ends at the end of the night).
Note: Rituals in Mina
Once you’re back in Mina on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, you will partake in these rituals in the following sequence: (a)
Rami (pelting) of Jamarah al-Aqaba (the big pillar). (b)
Hady (sacrificing an animal) – this is only wajib (obligatory) for pilgrims performing Hajj al-Tamattu and Hajj al-Qiran. For those performing Hajj al-Ifrad, Hady is recommended. (c)
Halq/Taqsir (cutting the hair). (d)
Tawaf al-Ziyarah and Sa’i.
Note: Pelting must be performed after Zawwal (midday) on the 11th and before Fajr on the 12th.
After Zawwal, preferably before or after Asr when there should be less of a crowd, proceed to the Jamarat with about 30 stones. You will need seven stones for each pillar, but keep some spare stones with you if you need them.
It is sunnah to pelt Jamarah al-Ula (the small pillar) first, followed by du’a, then Jamarah al-Wusta (the middle pillar), followed by du’a and finally Jamarah al-Aqaba (the big pillar), with no du’a thereafter.