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منى
Mina is a valley located approximately 5 kilometers east of the Masjidil Haram in Mekkah. Known as the 'Tent City,' it houses over 100,000 air-conditioned tents that accommodate around 3 million jamaah haji during Haji. Pilgrims stay in Mina on the 8th, 11th, 12th, and optionally 13th of Dzulhijjah, performing the stoning of the Jamarat and offering their sacrificial animals.
Mina is a narrow valley situated between the mountains approximately 5 kilometers east of Masjidil Haram in Mekkah, along the road toward Arafah. Its name is said to derive from the Arabic word 'muna' meaning 'wishes' or 'desires,' as it is a place where the jamaah haji'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 (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Mina holds profound significance in Islamic tradition as the location of one of the greatest tests of faith in human history. It was here that Nabi Ibrahim (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was commanded by Allah in a dream to sacrifice his son Ismail (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam). As Ibrahim walked with his son through the valley of Mina 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 jamaah haji perform during Haji. 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' (Al-Quran 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 Jamarat (singular: Jamrah) mark the locations where Ibrahim stoned Shaytan. They are Jamrat al-Aqabah (the largest, closest to Mekkah), 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 Jamarat have undergone dramatic modern development. The Saudi government constructed the multi-level Jamarat Bridge in 2006, a massive five-story structure designed to allow hundreds of thousands of jamaah haji 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 Mina, is a significant masjid where Nabi Muhammad (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) prayed during his Farewell Haji. Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: 'Seventy prophets prayed in Masjid al-Khayf' (reported by al-Tabarani and al-Bazzar, graded hasan by al-Albani). This highlights Mina's importance as a site of worship for prophets throughout history. The modern tent city of Mina 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 Haji group. Despite being occupied for only five days each year, the infrastructure includes roads, tunnels, pedestrian walkways, hospitals, fire stations, and utilities to support approximately 3 million jamaah haji simultaneously. The Saudi government continually invests in expanding and improving Mina's capacity and safety systems.
Mina embodies the ultimate lesson of Haji: complete submission to Allah. The entire valley serves as a living memorial to Nabi Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice what was most precious to him in obedience to his Lord. Every pebble cast at the Jamarat 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. Nabi Muhammad (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) performed the rites of Mina during his Farewell Haji and said: 'Take your rituals from me, for I do not know — perhaps I will not perform Haji after this year of mine' (Sahih Muslim 1297). His meticulous performance of each act at Mina — the stoning, the sacrifice, the shaving, the order of rites — established the Sunnah that billions of Muslims have followed for fourteen centuries. The Days of Tashreeq spent in Mina are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah. Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: 'The Days of Tashreeq are days of eating, drinking, and dhikr (remembrance) of Allah' (Sahih Muslim 1141). Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen 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 Mina are opportunities for worship, reflection, and brotherhood, as jamaah haji from every corner of the world share close quarters in the service of their Creator.
Pilgrims stay in Mina on several days during Haji. On the 8th of Dzulhijjah (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), jamaah haji enter ihram and travel to Mina, where they pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr — shortening the four-rak'ah shalat to two but praying each at its proper time without combining. They depart for Arafah after sunrise on the 9th. After the standing at Arafah and the night at Muzdalifah, jamaah haji return to Mina on the 10th of Dzulhijjah (Yawm al-Nahr / 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 Mekkah for Tawaf al-Ifadah. The Days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th, and optionally 13th of Dzulhijjah) are spent in Mina. Each afternoon after zawal (the sun passing its zenith), jamaah haji stone all three Jamarat 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 Jamarat, jamaah haji should face the Qiblah and make doa. There is no doa after stoning the third (largest) Jamarat. Pilgrims who wish to hasten may leave Mina on the 12th after stoning, provided they depart before sunset. Those who remain for the 13th must stone all three Jamarat again. Pebbles should be collected from Muzdalifah 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 hidrasi is essential. The Jamarat 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.