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منى
Mina is a valley located approximately 5 kilometers east of the Mescid-i Haram in Mekke. Known as the 'Tent City,' it houses over 100,000 air-conditioned tents that accommodate around 3 million hacilar during Hac. Pilgrims stay in Mina on the 8th, 11th, 12th, and optionally 13th of Dhul Hijjah, performing the stoning of the Cemerat and offering their sacrificial animals.
Mina is a narrow valley situated between the mountains approximately 5 kilometers east of Mescid-i Haram in Mekke, along the road toward Arafat. Its name is said to derive from the Arabic word 'muna' meaning 'wishes' or 'desires,' as it is a place where the haci'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 (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem). 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 Hz. Peygamber Ibrahim (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) was commanded by Allah in a dream to sacrifice his son Ismail (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem). 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 hacilar perform during Hac. 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' (Kur'an 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 Cemerat (singular: Jamrah) mark the locations where Ibrahim stoned Shaytan. They are Jamrat al-Aqabah (the largest, closest to Mekke), 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 Cemerat have undergone dramatic modern development. The Saudi government constructed the multi-level Cemerat Bridge in 2006, a massive five-story structure designed to allow hundreds of thousands of hacilar 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 cami where Hz. Peygamber Muhammad (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) prayed during his Farewell Hac. Hz. Peygamber (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) 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 Hac 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 hacilar simultaneously. The Saudi government continually invests in expanding and improving Mina's capacity and safety systems.
Mina embodies the ultimate lesson of Hac: complete submission to Allah. The entire valley serves as a living memorial to Hz. Peygamber Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice what was most precious to him in obedience to his Lord. Every pebble cast at the Cemerat 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. Hz. Peygamber Muhammad (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) performed the rites of Mina during his Farewell Hac and said: 'Take your rituals from me, for I do not know — perhaps I will not perform Hac 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. Hz. Peygamber (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) 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 hacilar from every corner of the world share close quarters in the service of their Creator.
Pilgrims stay in Mina on several days during Hac. On the 8th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), hacilar enter ihram and travel to Mina, where they pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr — shortening the four-rak'ah namazs to two but praying each at its proper time without combining. They depart for Arafat after sunrise on the 9th. After the standing at Arafat and the night at Muzdelife, hacilar return to Mina on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah (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 Mekke for Tavaf al-Ifadah. The Days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th, and optionally 13th of Dhul Hijjah) are spent in Mina. Each afternoon after zawal (the sun passing its zenith), hacilar stone all three Cemerat 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 Cemerat, hacilar should face the Qiblah and make dua. There is no dua after stoning the third (largest) Cemerat. 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 Cemerat again. Pebbles should be collected from Muzdelife 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 hydration is essential. The Cemerat 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.