Muzdalifah – 9th Night of Dhul Hijjah – Everything You Need To Know

Also known as Al-Mashar Al-Haram or Al-Mashar, Muzdalifah is a region located between Mount Arafat and Mina, near Makkah in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. According to Islamic history, pilgrims are instructed to spend the night of 9^th Dhul Hijjah at Muzdalifah under the open sky. It is also the place from where pilgrims gather pebbles to hurl at the pillars of Jamarat. Read on to learn more about Muzdalifah.

What Is Muzdalifah?

Muzdalifah is four kilometres long and covers an area of 12.25 square kilometres. It stretches from the mountains of Ma’zamayn to the Valley of Muhassar. Muzdalifah is an open area located near Makkah, Saudi Arabia, in the Hejazi region. Muzdalifah lies at the southeast of Mina and is situated on the route between Mount Arafat and Mina. Pilgrims spend the second day of Hajj, the night of 9^th Dhul Hijjah, at Muzdalifah, under the open sky.

Unlike Mina, there are no tents or any other accommodation facilities at Muzdalifah. Even though there are plenty of lights, as the night progresses, it can get difficult to distinguish between people. The boundaries of Muzdalifah are indicated by large purple signposts. There is also a masjid named Mashar Al-Haram, meaning ‘the sacred monument.’ It is located at the site of what used to be a small mountain.

When staying at Muzdalifah, there are two things that you can do:

1. Pray: It is advised to spend the night at Muzdalifah praying to Allah SWT, asking for His blessings and forgiveness.
2. Rest: To be well-prepared for the following three days of Hajj, a pilgrim must also make sure to rest a bit at Muzdalifah.

What Does Muzdalifah Mean?

The term Muzdalifah is derived from the Z-L-R Quranic root, which means “nearness” or “closeness.” It is believed that the valley was given the name of Muzdalifah because of its closeness to Mount Arafat. The root of its name is “Al-Mash’ar,” as this is the place where a pilgrim must reach to gather awareness.

Another name for Muzdalifah is “Al-Jam,” as it is the place where people gather. According to Al-Ibtah, Muzdalifah was the place where Prophet Adam (AS) the Maghrib and Isha prayers together. Muzdalifah is also called Al-Ibtah, meaning flat area.

The History of Muzdalifah

While performing Hajjatul Wida, after the sunset of 9^th Dhul Hijjah, Prophet Muhammad PBUH departed Mount Arafat and started walking towards Muzdalifah. Upon his arrival, Prophet Muhammad PBUH repeated the Talbiyah and performed Wudhu.

According to the first narration, it is believed that Prophet Muhammad PBUH, after the call to prayer (Adhan) and the Iqama (the second call to prayer), performed the Maghrib Salaah. After this, the Iqama was performed a second time, and the Isha prayer was observed in Qasr mode, meaning it was limited to only two Rakats. Moreover, no voluntary prayers were performed between these two salahs (Maghrib and Isha). Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) narrates:

“The Prophet Muhammad PBUH offered the Maghrib and Isha prayers together at Jam (i.e. al-Muzdalifa) with a separate Iqama for each of them and did not offer any optional prayer in between them or after each of them.” [Narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari]

However, according to another narration, there was only one Iqama:

“Ibn Umar reported that Allah’s Messenger Prophet Muhammad PBUH combined the sunset and Isha prayers at Muzdalifah. He observed three Rakats of the sunset prayer and three Rakats of the Isha prayer with one Iqama.”

[Narrated in Sahih Muslim]

Prophet Muhammad PBUH then rested till dawn, and soon after the moon had set, went to the weaker members of his family, i.e. the infirm, elderly, women, and children and instructed them to return to Mina that night instead of waiting until dawn the next day. One of those members was Prophet Muhammad’s PBUH wife, Sawada bint Zama (RA). Hazrat Aisha (RA) narrates:

“We got down at Muzdalifah, and Sawda asked the permission of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH to leave (early) before the rush of the people. She was a slow woman, and he gave her permission, so she departed (from Muzdalifah) before the rush of the people. We kept on staying at Muzdalifah till dawn, and set out with the Prophet Muhammad PBUH but (I suffered so much that) I wished I had taken the permission of Allah’s Messenger, Prophet Muhammad PBUH as Sawda had done, and that would have been dearer to me than any other happiness.” [Narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari]

The next day, Prophet Muhammad PBUH arose at dawn and led the Fajr prayer. He then mounted his camel and started off towards Al-Mashar Al-Haram. Prophet Muhammad PBUH, upon reaching at Al-Mashar Al-Haram, supplicated to Allah SWT and praised Him. After this, he collected seven pebbles and left for Mina before sunrise. Prophet Muhammad PBUH persistently recited the Talbiyah throughout the journey:

لَبَّيْكَ اللهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ – لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ – إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ – لَا شَرِيْكَ لَكَ –

Labbayka llāhumma labbayk(a), labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk(a), inna l-ḥamda wa n-ni’mata, laka wa l-mulk(a), lā sharīka lak.

“At Your Service, Allah, at Your service. At Your service, You have no partner, at Your service. Truly all praise, favour and sovereignty is Yours. You have no partner.”

Pebbles

Though the pebbles for pelting the Jamarat might be collected from anywhere, they are best collected from Muzdalifah. According to the Sunnah, a pilgrim must collect 49 pebbles to perform the ritual of Rami or the Stoning of Jamarat. The breakdown for collecting stones is as follows:

• Seven stones for the 10^th of Dhul Hijjah
• Twenty-One stones for the 11^th of Dhul Hijjah
• Twenty-One stones for the 12^th of Dhul Hijjah

Moreover, picking an additional 21 pebbles is recommended as an additional, precautionary measure, as you might miss hitting the target, or some might fall. Although a pilgrim can collect the stones during any time throughout their stay at Muzdalifah, it is sunnah to collect them in the morning. Here are some tips regarding the collection of the stones:

• Use your flashlight.
• Walk towards the foot of the nearby hills to find the stones.
• Ideally, the pebbles should be the size of a pea; anything exceeding or beneath the size isn’t desirable. However, there is no compulsion.
• Collect pebbles from a clean place.
• Do not opt for pebbles that are lying around the washroom facilities.
• In case there is no filth on the stones, it means they are clean, and so there is no need to wash them. Otherwise, they need to be washed.
• Use your pebble bag or an empty water bottle to store the pebbles.

Praying Maghrib and Isha Prayer Together

During Hajjatul Widda, Prophet Muhammad PBUH performed the Maghrib and Isha Salaahs (prayers) together in the form of Qasr. He stayed at the very spot where Masjid Mash’arul Haram is currently located. Standing there, Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, “Although I am staying here, you may stay anywhere throughout Muzdalifah.” [Muslim]

Thereby, following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, while performing Hajj, it is waajib (mandatory) to stay at Muzdalifah and observe the Qasr prayer – combined Maghrib and Isha salah. Ideally, pilgrims are instructed to stay (Wuqoof) at Muzdalifah from subah saadiq to just before sunrise. However, in case you have reached Muzdalifah earlier than expected, you should wait until Isha and then observe the Qasr prayer. The prayers at Muzdalifah are performed as follows:

• There is only one Adhan.
• An Iqama is made for the Maghrib salah.
• Takhbir is then made for the Farz salah of Maghrib, and three Rakats are performed.
• After completing Maghrib prayer, pilgrims, while standing, you must recite the Takbir al-Tashreeq.
• The Iqama for Isha salah is made.
• Takbir is made for the Farz salah of Isha, and two Rakats are performed.
• Takbir al-Tashreeq and Talbiyah are recited after the prayer is completed.
• No optional Nafl should be performed before or after these prayers.
• Witr salah is performed right after.

Why Is Muzdalifah Important in Islam?

Muzdalifah beholds great significance in the history of Islam, as the stay can change a person’s heart and life for good. It is the place where pilgrims spend the night before pelting Satan. Every pilgrim’s heart is filled with new resolutions as they make Dua while picking up the stones. Therefore, when collecting the stones, it is recommended to remember a blameworthy characteristic or sin with each pebble that you pick and know that when throwing the stones at the Jamarat, you are throwing your own bad habits with it.

Every year, around 2.5 million Hajj pilgrims worldwide spend the night in Muzdalifah after gathering at Mount Arafat. These pilgrims stay the night under the open sky, representing equality and seeking repentance from Allah SWT.

Muzdalifah Mentioned in the Quran

Originally the name Muzdalifah is derived from the Arabic word “Izdalfa,” which literarily means “to come near” or “to approach.” Muzdalifah is also known as Al-Mashar Al-Haram, which is mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah in the Holy Quran:

فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ عِندَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ ۖ وَاذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَاكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الضَّالِّينَ

“But when you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at al-Mashar al-Haram. And remember Him, as He has guided you, for indeed, you were before that among those astray.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:198]

Summary–Muzdalifah

Located at the southeast of Mina, on the way between Mount Arafat and Mina, Muzdalifah is an open valley. Following Islamic history and tradition, on the second day of Hajj, i.e. 9^th Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims travel (walk) towards Muzdalifah from Mount Arafat. Upon reaching here at sunset, they pray the combined salah of Maghrib and Isha and spend the night under a sky full of stars.

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