The rites to be performed at Mina,
Arafat, and Muzdalifah are an integral part of Haj. Since they are performed
in all three types of Haj in an identical manner and since they require
a somewhat lengthy description, they are, therefore, presented here. This
keeps the treatment of Haj short, concise, and free of repetitions.
You will be staying at Mina, Arafat,
and Muzdalifah in the following sequence:
The details are as below:
Mina (8th of Zul Hijjah)
This day is called Yaum ut Tarwiyah.
You will depart for Mina from Makkah in the morning after Fajr. One of the
following two conditions applies to you:
Arafat, and Muzdalifa (9th of Zul Hijjah)
(I) Arafat:
You will have arrived at Arafat before
midday. This is the Day of Arafat! Your Haj will not be complete without
Qayam ul Arafat (see below) in accordance with the sunnah of Rasool Allah
(pbuh). You should spend as much time in prayers and remembrance of
Allah as possible. You may never see this day again in your life. Make
the most of it:
After settling down in your tent, you
will offer the Zuhr and Asr prayers in the qasr mode. You will also combine
them, i.e. offer them at the same time with one azan and two separate takbeer,
one each for Zuhr and Asr. Only two rakahs each will be offered both in
Zuhr and Asr prayers. No nafl, or any other prayers, will be performed
either before or after these obligatory prayers.
You will thereafter stay in Arafat
until sunset. Spend your time in reading The Quran, Talbiyah, and offering
supplications to Allah.
Qayam ul Arafat : In the late
afternoon just before sunset, stand in the open outside your tent facing
the Qiblah and raise your hands in supplication to Allah. Rasool Allah
(pbuh) spent this time in submitting himself in humility and total devotion
to Allah, raising his hands in prayers until after sunset. There are no
prescribed prayers for Qayam ul Arafat. During these sacred moments, you
are alone with Allah. Pray as you want to and ask that your sins and lifelong
shortcomings be forgiven. You may pray in any language and in any manner
you desire.
You will not offer Maghrib at Arafat.
You will do so at Muzdalifah later tonight.
After sunset, you will depart for Muzdalifah.
Keep reciting the Talbiyah and other prayers as you proceed towards Muzdalifah.
(II) Muzdalifah:
You will stay under the sky at Muzdalifah.
No tents or other residential facilities will be available. Arrangements
for toilet and wudu are, however, available. They are, understandably,
very crowded all the time. Give yourself plenty of time for your needs
and be patient with fellow pilgrims.
You will also collect seventy pebbles
at Muzdalifah for Rummy. Stay close to your bus and memorize its location
with respect to a prominent and permanent landmark,such as a light pole
or a wudu facility. Light poles and buildings are usually marked with identification
numbers. It is very easy to get lost and equally difficult to get back
"home"!
You will offer Maghrib and Isha prayers
combining them in the qasr mode. Thus, after the azan, three rakahs of
Maghrib will be offered following the usual "iqamah". Another iqamah (but
no azan) will be called and then two rakahs of Isha will be offered.
Walk to the foot of the nearby hills,
and collect seventy pea-size pebbles for Rummy. It is a good idea to collect
an additional ten stones to make up for accidental losses. Do not collect
the pebbles lying around the bathroom facilities.
You will spend the night at Muzdalifah
and offer Fajr there. You will then leave for Mina before sunrise on the
morning of the 10th of Zul Hijjah.
Mina (10th of Zul Hijjah)
The rites to be performed on this day
are as follows:
You will perform Rummy of Jamrat
ul Kubra only. Preferably before midday, you will stone the pillar
symbolizing the devil seven times as you recite "Bismillah, Allah-o-Akbar"
with each pebble. Rummy for the elderly, the sick and women may be performed
by others delegated for this responsibility.
A sacrifice is now required for Haj
ul Qiran and Haj ut Tamattu, and is recommended for Haj ul Ifrad.
You may now shave, shower, and change
into street clothes. You are no longer bound by the obligations of Ihram
except that you may not have conjugal relations with your spouse until
after Tawaaf ul Ifadah.
You will now proceed to Masjid ul Haram
in Makkah for Tawaaf ul Ifadah.
You will return to Mina after Tawaaf
ul Ifadah and stay there until the 12th or the 13th of Zul Hijjah for Rummy.
Mina (11th-13th of Zul Hijjah)
You will perform Rummy of Jamrat
ul Oola, Jamrat ul Wusta and Jamrat ul Kubra, in that order, after
midday on all three days. Rummy on the 13th of Zul Hijjah is optional.
You may return to Makkah after Rummy on the 12th of Zul Hijjah to perform
Tawaaf ul Wuda.
Tawaaf ul Wuda
This is the Farewell Tawaaf you will
perform just before leaving Makkah for your next destination. Spend as much
time as you can in Haram ash Shareef in Tawaaf un Nafl, prayers and supplications
in the days preceding Tawaaf ul Wuda. Make the most of this golden opportunity
Allah has provided you. You may never see these times again.
There is no Ihram, Ramal, or Sai required
in Tawaaf ul Wuda. You will offer two rakah salat us sunnah after Tawaaf,
offer any supplications you desire, and leave Makkah as soon as you can.
Alhamdulillah, you have now completed
your Haj. May Allah accept your Haj, and may you be a better person for
your efforts in His path.