مزدلفة

What Does مزدلفة Mean in Detail?

After sunset on the 9th of ذو الحجة (Day of عرفة), الحجاج depart عرفة and travel approximately 9 kilometers to the open plain of مزدلفة, also known as al-Mash'ar al-Haram (the Sacred Monument), as mentioned in القرآن: 'When you depart from عرفة, remember Allah at al-Mash'ar al-Haram' (2:198). Upon arriving at مزدلفة, الحجاج combine and shorten Maghrib (3 ركعةs) and Isha (shortened to 2 ركعةs) الصلوات, following the السنة of النبي. They then spend the night under the open sky — there are no tents or structures, making it one of the most egalitarian experiences of الحج. During the night, الحجاج collect 49 or 70 pebbles (depending on whether they plan Nafr Awwal or Nafr Thani) for stoning the الجمرات in the coming days, though pebbles may be collected from anywhere in the Haram. The Wajib component is the overnight stay (Mabit), with the minimum requirement being presence at مزدلفة during the second half of the night or at Fajr time. Concessions allow the elderly, sick, and women with small children to depart after midnight. After praying Fajr, الحجاج make دعاء facing the القبلةh until shortly before sunrise, then proceed to منى.