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منى
منى is a valley located approximately 5 kilometers east of the المسجد الحرام in مكة. Known as the 'Tent City,' it houses over 100,000 air-conditioned tents that accommodate around 3 million الحجاج during الحج. Pilgrims stay in منى on the 8th, 11th, 12th, and optionally 13th of ذو الحجة, performing the stoning of the الجمرات and offering their sacrificial animals.
منى is a narrow valley situated between the mountains approximately 5 kilometers east of المسجد الحرام in مكة, along the road toward عرفة. Its name is said to derive from the Arabic word 'muna' meaning 'wishes' or 'desires,' as it is a place where the الحاج's wishes and aspirations for divine acceptance are fulfilled. Other scholars connect the name to the flowing of blood (from the root 'mana'), referencing the sacrificial animals slaughtered there since the time of Ibrahim (صلى الله عليه وسلم). منى holds profound أهمية in Islamic tradition as the location of one of the greatest tests of faith in human تاريخ. It was here that النبي Ibrahim (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was commanded by Allah in a dream to sacrifice his son Ismail (صلى الله عليه وسلم). As Ibrahim walked with his son through the valley of منى to carry out the divine command, Shaytan (Satan) appeared three times at different points along the path, attempting to dissuade him from obedience to Allah. Each time, Ibrahim drove Shaytan away by casting stones at him. This act of defiance became the basis for the stoning ritual (rami al-jamarat) that الحجاج perform during الحج. When Ibrahim demonstrated his complete submission to Allah's command and laid his son down to sacrifice him, Allah revealed: 'You have fulfilled the vision. Indeed, We thus reward those who do good. Indeed, this was the clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice' (القرآن 37:105-107). A ram was sent from Paradise as a substitute, establishing the tradition of sacrifice (udhiyah/qurbani) performed by Muslims worldwide on Eid al-Adha. The three الجمرات (singular: Jamrah) mark the locations where Ibrahim stoned Shaytan. They are Jamrat al-Aqabah (the largest, closest to مكة), Jamrat al-Wusta (the middle), and Jamrat al-Sughra (the smallest, closest to Masjid al-Khayf). Originally simple stone pillars in the open desert, the الجمرات have undergone dramatic modern development. The Saudi government constructed the multi-level الجمرات Bridge in 2006, a massive five-story structure designed to allow hundreds of thousands of الحجاج to perform the stoning ritual simultaneously across different levels, drastically reducing the fatal stampedes that plagued earlier years. Masjid al-Khayf, located at the foot of the southern mountain in منى, is a significant مسجد where النبي Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prayed during his Farewell الحج. النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'Seventy prophets prayed in Masjid al-Khayf' (reported by al-Tabarani and al-Bazzar, graded hasan by الألباني). This highlights منى's importance as a site of worship for prophets throughout تاريخ. The modern tent city of منى is one of the most remarkable feats of temporary urban infrastructure in the world. Over 100,000 fire-resistant, air-conditioned tents cover the valley floor, organized by country and الحج group. Despite being occupied for only five days each year, the infrastructure includes roads, tunnels, pedestrian walkways, المستشفىs, fire stations, and utilities to support approximately 3 million الحجاج simultaneously. The Saudi government continually invests in expanding and improving منى's capacity and safety systems.
منى embodies the ultimate lesson of الحج: complete submission to Allah. The entire valley serves as a living memorial to النبي Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice what was most precious to him in obedience to his Lord. Every pebble cast at the الجمرات is a symbolic reenactment of Ibrahim's rejection of Shaytan's whispers, and every sacrifice offered is a reminder of Allah's mercy in providing a substitute for Ismail. النبي Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) performed the rites of منى during his Farewell الحج and said: 'Take your rituals from me, for I do not know — perhaps I will not perform الحج after this year of mine' (صحيح مسلم 1297). His meticulous performance of each act at منى — the stoning, the sacrifice, the shaving, the order of rites — أُسس the السنة that billions of Muslims have followed for fourteen centuries. The Days of التشريق spent in منى are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah. النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'The Days of التشريق are days of eating, drinking, and dhikr (remembrance) of Allah' (صحيح مسلم 1141). Shaykh ابن عثيمين explained that the combination of physical nourishment and spiritual remembrance during these days teaches the balance that Islam establishes between the body and the soul. The nights in منى are opportunities for worship, reflection, and brotherhood, as الحجاج from every corner of the world share close quarters in the service of their Creator.
Pilgrims stay in منى on several days during الحج. On the 8th of ذو الحجة (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), الحجاج enter الإحرام and travel to منى, where they pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr — shortening the four-ركعة الصلوات to two but praying each at its proper time without combining. They depart for عرفة after sunrise on the 9th. After the standing at عرفة and the night at مزدلفة, الحجاج return to منى on the 10th of ذو الحجة (يوم النحر / Eid al-Adha) to stone Jamrat al-Aqabah (the largest pillar) with seven pebbles, slaughter their sacrifice, shave or trim the hair, and then proceed to مكة for الطواف al-Ifadah. The Days of التشريق (11th, 12th, and optionally 13th of ذو الحجة) are spent in منى. Each afternoon after zawal (the sun passing its zenith), الحجاج stone all three الجمرات in sequence — starting from the smallest (al-Sughra), then the middle (al-Wusta), then the largest (al-Aqabah), throwing seven pebbles at each while saying 'Allahu Akbar' with each throw. After stoning the first and second الجمرات, الحجاج should face the القبلةh and make دعاء. There is no دعاء after stoning the third (largest) الجمرات. Pilgrims who wish to hasten may leave منى on the 12th after stoning, provided they depart before sunset. Those who remain for the 13th must stone all three الجمرات again. Pebbles should be collected from مزدلفة or anywhere in the Haram area — they should be slightly larger than a chickpea. The tent city can be disorienting due to the uniform appearance of the tents. Pilgrims should memorize their camp number and location relative to landmarks, keep their group leader's phone number accessible, and carry identification at all times. Temperatures inside tents can still be warm despite air conditioning, so adequate الترطيب is essential. The الجمرات Bridge operates with one-way pedestrian flow — follow the direction of traffic and never attempt to go against the crowd. Emergency exits are clearly marked on all levels of the bridge.