What are the exact boundaries of عرفة for a valid wuquf during الحج?

The boundaries of عرفة are clearly defined and marked by large signs placed by the Saudi authorities. The entire plain of عرفة is a valid standing place, as النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'I stood here, but all of عرفة is a standing place.' However, the valley of Uranah (Batn Uranah) is explicitly excluded from the valid area, as النبي said: 'Stand at your places of standing, and keep away from Uranah.' This means a الحاج who spends the day of عرفة in the valley of Uranah has not fulfilled the wuquf.

الشيخ ابن باز emphasized the critical importance of verifying one's location within the boundaries of عرفة. Due to the enormous number of الحجاج (often exceeding two million), some الحجاج end up camped outside the boundaries without realizing it, which invalidates their entire الحج since wuquf at عرفة is the essential pillar. He advised الحجاج to look for the boundary signs and, if in doubt, to move further into the plain of عرفة rather than staying on its edges.

الشيخ ابن عثيمين noted that the Mount of Mercy (Jabal al-Rahmah) within عرفة is a well-known landmark, but standing on or near it is not required or more virtuous than standing elsewhere in عرفة. النبي stood near it but said all of عرفة is valid. Climbing the mountain in extreme crowds can be dangerous and is not from the السنة. The اللجنة الدائمة confirmed that any spot within the recognized boundaries of عرفة is equally valid for wuquf.