منى

منى is a narrow valley located approximately 8 kilometers east of المسجد الحرام, between مكة and Arafah. It has been used as a الحج campsite since the time of النبي. The modern منى is the world's largest tent city, with over 100,000 fire-resistant, air-conditioned tents organized by country, operator, and group. The tents are permanent structures that remain erected year-round but are only occupied during the الحج days. The valley stretches approximately 4 kilometers in length and 1 kilometer in width, with the الجمرات complex located at its western end. Major roads and tunnels connect منى to مكة, Arafah, and مزدلفة.

Pilgrims spend several nights in منى during الحج. The 8th of ذو الحجة (Yawm al-Tarwiyah) is spent settling in, praying the five daily الصلوات (shortened but not combined عند most scholars), and preparing for Arafah. After Arafah and مزدلفة, الحجاج return to منى on the 10th to perform the stoning and remain through the 11th and 12th (the Days of Tashriq). Each day, after Dhuhr, الحجاج go to the الجمرات complex to stone the three pillars. The 10th is the busiest day — stoning, sacrifice, shaving, and traveling to مكة for الطواف. The 11th and 12th are relatively calm, spent in worship, rest, and daily stoning. Pilgrims may leave on the 12th before sunset or stay for the 13th.

The quality of tent accommodation varies by package level but has improved dramatically in recent decades. Modern tents are air-conditioned, carpeted, and equipped with basic facilities. Premium camps offer private partitions, better mattresses, and improved meal service. Economy camps provide shared open spaces with thin mattresses. Communal bathrooms serve each block of tents. Meals are typically provided by the الحج operator. The atmosphere in the tent camps is unique — الحجاج from diverse backgrounds sharing close quarters, praying together, eating together, and supporting each other through the physical and spiritual intensity of الحج. Many lifelong friendships are formed in the tents of منى.

منى holds historical أهمية as the location where Ibrahim encountered Shaytan three times while walking with Ismail toward the place of sacrifice. At each encounter, Ibrahim threw stones at Shaytan to drive him away — these three locations are now the sites of the three الجمرات pillars. The القرآن refers to the Days of Tashriq spent in منى: 'And remember Allah during the appointed days' (2:203). النبي emphasized the importance of the days in منى, saying about the Days of Tashriq that they are 'days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah' (Muslim). The combination of worship, community, and the ritual of stoning makes منى central to the transformative الحج experience.