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المزدلفة
Muzdelife is an open plain between Arafat and Mina where Hac hacilar spend the night of the 9th Dhul Hijjah after departing Arafat at sunset. Pilgrims combine Maghrib and Isha namazs, rest under the open sky, and collect pebbles for the stoning ritual at Cemerat. Staying at Muzdelife (mabit) is wajib in Hac.
Muzdelife, also known as al-Mash'ar al-Haram (the Sacred Monument), is a flat, open plain stretching approximately 12.25 square kilometers between the Plain of Arafat and the valley of Mina. The name 'Muzdelife' is derived from the Arabic root 'zalafa' meaning 'to draw near,' reflecting the spiritual drawing near to Allah that occurs at this sacred site. Another interpretation connects it to 'izdilaf' (gathering together), referring to the gathering of hacilar on this plain. The Kur'an directly references Muzdelife in Surah al-Baqarah (2:198): 'But when you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at al-Mash'ar al-Haram. And remember Him, as He has guided you, for indeed, you were before that among those astray.' This verse establishes the remembrance of Allah at Muzdelife as an integral part of the Hac rites. Hz. Peygamber Muhammad (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem), during his Farewell Hac, departed from Arafat after sunset, arrived at Muzdelife, and combined and delayed his Maghrib and Isha namazs there. He then slept until Fajr, prayed the dawn namaz, and stood making dua at al-Mash'ar al-Haram until just before sunrise, before departing for Mina. In pre-Islamic times, the Quraysh held a practice where they would not proceed to Arafat with the rest of the hacilar, considering themselves superior as the custodians of the Haram. Instead, they would stop at Muzdelife and wait for the other hacilar to return. Allah corrected this practice in Kur'an-i Kerim (2:199): 'Then depart from where the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allah.' During the Hac, Hz. Peygamber followed the command to stand at Arafat with all the hacilar, abolishing the Qurayshi privilege. Masjid al-Mash'ar al-Haram is a cami located within Muzdelife, marking the approximate area where Hz. Peygamber stood for dua. While the cami serves as a landmark, the obligation of mabit (overnight stay) can be fulfilled anywhere within Muzdelife's boundaries. The Saudi government has demarcated the boundaries of Muzdelife with clear signage, as spending the night outside the boundaries does not fulfill the Hac requirement. The area has been developed with basic facilities including lighting, water stations, and toilet blocks, though it remains largely an open-air space where hacilar sleep on the ground under the stars — one of the most memorable experiences of Hac.
Muzdelife represents a crucial transition in the Hac journey — the passage from the intense dua of Arafat to the physical rites of stoning at Mina. The overnight stay (mabit) at Muzdelife is wajib alimlerin cogunluguna gore, with the Hanafi and Maliki schools holding that staying for any period between the two namazs and Fajr fulfills the obligation, while the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools emphasize staying until after midnight or until Fajr. Omitting it requires a compensatory sacrifice (dam). The experience at Muzdelife strips away all worldly distinctions — hacilar of every nationality, wealth level, and social status sleep side by side on the bare ground under the same sky. There are no luxury tents or VIP areas; every haci shares the same earth. This radical equality embodies the essence of Hac as a great equalizer, where the only distinction is taqwa (God-consciousness). The standing at al-Mash'ar al-Haram before Fajr, making dhikr and dua in the predawn darkness surrounded by millions of fellow believers, is considered one of the most spiritually powerful moments in the entire hac ibadeti.
Pilgrims arrive at Muzdelife after sunset on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, walking from Arafat in a massive procession. The journey is approximately 9 kilometers and can take several hours due to the sheer number of hacilar (over 2 million in recent years). Upon arrival, hacilar combine and delay Maghrib and Isha namazs (praying them together at Isha time), which is a sunnah specific to this night. The entire plain becomes an open-air campsite as hacilar lay out mats and blankets to rest. During the stay, hacilar collect 49-70 small pebbles (approximately the size of chickpeas or date pits) for the stoning of the Cemerat in Mina over the coming days. While pebbles can be collected anywhere, including in Mina itself, many hacilar prefer to gather them at Muzdelife. The pebbles do not need to be washed, contrary to popular belief, though doing so is permissible. The majority of scholars hold that staying at Muzdelife until after midnight is wajib, while the elderly, women, and those with genuine difficulty are permitted to leave after midnight. Most hacilar depart shortly after praying Fajr and making dua, heading to Mina for the stoning of Cemerat al-Aqabah. The area has minimal facilities — hacilar should bring their own mats, blankets, water, and snacks. Toilet facilities are available but can be very crowded. The night at Muzdelife, sleeping under the open sky in the company of millions of fellow believers, is often described by hacilar as one of the most humbling and spiritually impactful moments of their entire Hac experience.