The 9th of Dhul Hijjah is the most sacred day of the entire হজ্জ. After praying Fajr at মিনা, হাজীগণ travel to the plain of আরাফাত and stand in earnest দোয়া from after Dhuhr until sunset. নবী করীম said: 'হজ্জ is আরাফাত.' After sunset, হাজীগণ proceed to মুযদালিফা, pray Maghrib and Isha combined, collect pebbles for the stoning ritual, and spend the night under the open sky.
Wake early and pray Fajr at its earliest time in মিনা. After sunrise, begin your journey to the plain of আরাফাত, approximately 14 km east of মিনা. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) left মিনা after sunrise on this day. Continue reciting the তালবিয়াহ throughout the journey. Some হাজীগণ stop briefly at the valley of Namirah on the way, where নবী করীম delivered his Farewell Sermon.
Upon the zawal (when the sun passes its zenith), pray Dhuhr (two rak'at) and Asr (two rak'at) combined at the time of Dhuhr, with one adhan and two iqamahs. This combining and shortening is established from the practice of নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) at আরাফাত. If you are in the Masjid Namirah area, follow the imam. Otherwise, pray in your camp or wherever you are within the boundaries of আরাফাত.
These are the most frequent errors pilgrims make during this stage of Hajj.
Scholarly references supporting this guidance from established Islamic sources.
The standing at আরাফাত (wuquf) is the absolute pillar (rukn) of হজ্জ — without it, there is no হজ্জ. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said: 'al-Hajju Arafah' (হজ্জ IS আরাফাত). The time for wuquf begins after the sun passes its zenith on the 9th and extends until Fajr of the 10th. Face the qiblah (not the mountain of Rahmah), raise your hands, and make dua with complete humility, weeping, and hope. This is the greatest gathering of দোয়া on earth. নবী করীম stood at the rocks near the base of Jabal al-Rahmah, but the entire plain of আরাফাত is a place of standing.
From after Dhuhr until sunset, devote yourself entirely to দোয়া, dhikr, recitation of কুরআন, and istighfar (seeking forgiveness). Vary between the তালবিয়াহ, tahleel (La ilaha illallah), and personal dua in any language. Cry, beg, and humble yourself before Allah. Ask for forgiveness, guidance, and mercy for yourself, your family, the Ummah, and all of humanity. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) spent the entire afternoon at আরাফাত in dua with his hands raised. Allah descends to the lowest heaven (in a manner befitting His majesty) and boasts to the angels about the হাজীগণ.
Once the sun has fully set (and not a moment before), depart from আরাফাত toward মুযদালিফা with tranquility and dignity. The journey is approximately 9 km. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) left আরাফাত after sunset, saying to the people: 'O people, be tranquil (as-sakinah, as-sakinah).' Continue reciting the তালবিয়াহ during the journey. Do NOT pray Maghrib on the way — delay it to combine with Isha at মুযদালিফা.
Upon arriving at মুযদালিফা (also known as al-Mash'ar al-Haram), pray Maghrib (three rak'at) and Isha (two rak'at, shortened) combined at the time of Isha, with one adhan and two iqamahs. This delay and combination is established by নবী করীম's practice. If the journey is severely delayed and you fear missing the time of Isha entirely, pray on the road rather than missing the সালাত time.
After praying, collect 7 pebbles (slightly larger than a chickpea) for tomorrow's stoning of জামারাত al-Aqabah. Some scholars recommend collecting all 49 pebbles (or 70 if staying for all three days of Tashreeq) at মুযদালিফা, though pebbles may be collected from anywhere in the Haram area. Then sleep under the open sky at মুযদালিফা. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) slept until shortly before Fajr. Staying at মুযদালিফা (mabit) is wajib according to the majority. The weak, elderly, women, and those with valid excuses may depart after midnight.