What is the ruling on leaving আরাফাত before sunset on the day of হজ্জ?

নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) remained at আরাফাত until after the sun had completely set, and then he departed for মুযদালিফা. This established the Sunnah of remaining at আরাফাত until sunset. The scholars differ on the ruling for a হাজী who departs before sunset and whether a penalty is required.

The Hanbali school, followed by Ibn Baz and Ibn Uthaymeen, holds that remaining at আরাফাত until sunset is wajib (ওয়াজিব), and leaving before sunset without returning requires a dam (sacrifice of a sheep). Their evidence is that নবী করীম consistently remained until sunset and said: 'Take your rites from me.' If the হাজী returns to আরাফাত before sunset — even briefly — no penalty is due. Sheikh Ibn Baz emphasized that নবী করীম's practice of staying until sunset is binding, not merely মুস্তাহাব.

The Hanafi school considers remaining until sunset wajib as well, and requires a dam for leaving early. The Maliki school holds a similar position. The Shafi'i school, however, considers remaining until sunset as Sunnah mu'akkadah (emphasized Sunnah) rather than wajib, meaning it is highly মুস্তাহাব but no dam is required for leaving early — only the loss of the Sunnah's reward. All scholars agree that the wuquf (standing) itself is valid even if the হাজী left before sunset, as long as they were present at আরাফাত at some point after zawal. The হজ্জ is not invalidated by early departure.