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The 9th of Dhul Hijjah is the most sacred day of the entire حج. After praying Fajr at منیٰ, حجاج travel to the plain of عرفات and stand in earnest دعا from after Dhuhr until sunset. نبی کریم said: 'حج is عرفات.' After sunset, حجاج proceed to مزدلفہ, pray Maghrib and Isha combined, collect pebbles for the stoning ritual, and spend the night under the open sky.
Wake early and pray Fajr at its earliest time in منیٰ. After sunrise, begin your journey to the plain of عرفات, approximately 14 km east of منیٰ. نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) left منیٰ after sunrise on this day. Continue reciting the تلبیہ throughout the journey. Some حجاج stop briefly at the valley of Namirah on the way, where نبی کریم delivered his Farewell Sermon.
Upon the zawal (when the sun passes its zenith), pray Dhuhr (two rak'at) and Asr (two rak'at) combined at the time of Dhuhr, with one adhan and two iqamahs. This combining and shortening is established from the practice of نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) at عرفات. If you are in the Masjid Namirah area, follow the imam. Otherwise, pray in your camp or wherever you are within the boundaries of عرفات.
These are the most frequent errors pilgrims make during this stage of Hajj.
Scholarly references supporting this guidance from established Islamic sources.
The standing at عرفات (wuquf) is the absolute pillar (rukn) of حج — without it, there is no حج. نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: 'al-Hajju Arafah' (حج IS عرفات). The time for wuquf begins after the sun passes its zenith on the 9th and extends until Fajr of the 10th. Face the qiblah (not the mountain of Rahmah), raise your hands, and make دعا with complete humility, weeping, and hope. This is the greatest gathering of دعا on earth. نبی کریم stood at the rocks near the base of Jabal al-Rahmah, but the entire plain of عرفات is a place of standing.
From after Dhuhr until sunset, devote yourself entirely to دعا, dhikr, recitation of قرآن, and istighfar (seeking forgiveness). Vary between the تلبیہ, tahleel (La ilaha illallah), and personal دعا in any language. Cry, beg, and humble yourself before Allah. Ask for forgiveness, guidance, and mercy for yourself, your family, the Ummah, and all of humanity. نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) spent the entire afternoon at عرفات in دعا with his hands raised. Allah descends to the lowest heaven (in a manner befitting His majesty) and boasts to the angels about the حجاج.
Once the sun has fully set (and not a moment before), depart from عرفات toward مزدلفہ with tranquility and dignity. The journey is approximately 9 km. نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) left عرفات after sunset, saying to the people: 'O people, be tranquil (as-sakinah, as-sakinah).' Continue reciting the تلبیہ during the journey. Do NOT pray Maghrib on the way — delay it to combine with Isha at مزدلفہ.
Upon arriving at مزدلفہ (also known as al-Mash'ar al-Haram), pray Maghrib (three rak'at) and Isha (two rak'at, shortened) combined at the time of Isha, with one adhan and two iqamahs. This delay and combination is established by نبی کریم's practice. If the journey is severely delayed and you fear missing the time of Isha entirely, pray on the road rather than missing the نماز time.
After praying, collect 7 pebbles (slightly larger than a chickpea) for tomorrow's stoning of جمرات al-Aqabah. Some scholars recommend collecting all 49 pebbles (or 70 if staying for all three days of Tashreeq) at مزدلفہ, though pebbles may be collected from anywhere in the Haram area. Then sleep under the open sky at مزدلفہ. نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) slept until shortly before Fajr. Staying at مزدلفہ (mabit) is wajib according to the majority. The weak, elderly, women, and those with valid excuses may depart after midnight.