What is the ruling on leaving আরাফাত before sunset on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah?

The standing (wuquf) at আরাফাত is unanimously considered the greatest pillar (rukn) of হজ্জ, based on নবী করীম's statement: 'হজ্জ is আরাফাত.' The time for this standing extends from the zenith (zawal) of the sun on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah until the dawn (fajr) of the 10th. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) stood at আরাফাত and did not depart until after the sun had set, which establishes the Sunnah of remaining until sunset. The question arises: what is the ruling if a হাজী departs before sunset?

The majority of scholars — Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali — hold that remaining at আরাফাত until after sunset is ওয়াজিব (wajib) for those who arrived during the daytime. If a হাজী departs before sunset and does not return before dawn, they must offer a dam (sacrifice a sheep) as a penalty, though their হজ্জ remains valid. The reasoning is that নবী করীম consistently stayed until sunset and said, 'Take your rituals from me,' establishing sunset as the boundary. However, if the হাজী returns to আরাফাত before fajr — even briefly — the penalty is lifted according to many scholars.

The Hanafi school agrees that staying until sunset is wajib and that leaving early incurs a dam penalty. However, they emphasize that the actual pillar of standing at আরাফাত is fulfilled by even a momentary presence within the boundaries of আরাফাত during the valid time, regardless of whether one stays until sunset. This means a হাজী who passes through আরাফাত briefly has fulfilled the rukn but missed the wajib of staying until sunset. All four schools agree that if a হাজী only arrives at আরাফাত after sunset (during the night), their standing is valid and no penalty is due — the night portion of wuquf is sufficient on its own.