Muzdalifah

Muzdalifah is a sacred valley located between Arafat and Mina. It is the obligatory stage of Hajj: after leaving Arafat on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah at sunset, pilgrims spend the night at Muzdalifah before continuing to Mina on the morning of the 10th.

> "But when you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at Al-Mash'ar al-Haram. And remember Him, as He has guided you, for indeed, you were before that among those astray."
Quran 2:198 (Surah Al-Baqarah)

At Muzdalifah stands Al-Mash'ar al-Haram (the Sacred Monument), mentioned directly in the Quran. It is here that pilgrims combine the Maghrib and Isha prayers, spend the night under the stars, and gather the pebbles for the stoning of the pillars at Mina.

Jabir ibn Abdullah رضي الله عنه reports:

> "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ left Arafat... He led the Maghrib and Isha prayers at Muzdalifah, with one adhan and two iqamahs, and did not pray any voluntary prayer between the two. Then he lay down until dawn."
Sahih Muslim no. 1218

At Muzdalifah, pilgrims gather 49 or 70 small pebbles (depending on whether they stay 2 or 3 days at Mina) for the stoning. The Prophet ﷺ recommended taking "throwing pebbles" (حصى الخذف), small pebbles that are flicked between two fingers, the size of a chickpea.

According to the schools: Hanafi: the standing (wuquf) at Muzdalifah after the dawn prayer is wajib (obligatory), the night itself being a sunnah. Shafi'i, Hanbali: spending the night (at least part of it after midnight) is wajib except with an excuse. Maliki: a halt long enough to set down one's baggage is wajib. Leaving Muzdalifah before midnight without an excuse requires a compensation (sacrifice) according to several schools.