The most important day of Hajj is the day of Arafah (the 9th day of thul hijjah) as the Prophet PBUH said “Hajj is Arafah”. Pilgrims are to go to Arafat and spend the day from Thuhr until Maghrib in supplication and remembrance of Allah SWT.

Alhamdulillah I was able to perform hajj during the 2006-2007 hajj year. Upon my arrival to the site where my group and I would be staying during these blessed hours, I found myself confused. Where was the mountain of Arafah? I quickly learned we were far from the mountain and would not be seeing it but that we were standing in the boundaries of Arafah and would be gaining the same reward as those standing on the mountain itself. The best advice I received before embarking on my hajj journey especially when it comes to the time spent in Arafah was:

• Be prepared both mentally and physically
• Do not waste time – time is precious as the number of hours are limited
• Face the Qiblah while making supplications and remembering Allah-not the mountain
• It is not necessary to be on the mountain of Arafah (it is best to stick with your own group)
• Eat lightly to not tire yourself
• Be prepared for heat
• Anticipate long commute times and finally
• BE PATIENT

I made dua’a for that sister, myself and the entire Muslim Ummah that Allah SWT would grant us the wisdom to realize our blessings and strength to reap the benefits of this great day. Aameeen.

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My family started walking through the sleeping pilgrims to reach the bottom of a large hill. We laid our blankets and I pulled a rock closer to me as a pillow. I looked around for miles and all I could see were pilgrims. Some had sleeping bags, normal blankets, and pillows (which I envied), but others only had themselves and huddled together. I knew sleeping under the stars was going to take on a whole different meaning. There was absolutely nothing between me and the sky.

I can still remember how cold it was in Muzdalifa. I had to go to the bathroom the entire night, but refused because it was freezing. Plus I’m a germaphobe. There were bathrooms, twelve in total, but they had the longest lines ever and were used by countless people. I remember seeing a group of men hiking up the hill and my mom told me that the men also refused to use the bathroom stalls. Instead, they resorted to rocks.

Alhamdullilah, even though I was freezing, I was able to fall asleep. My mom sat up the entire night because she was too cold to move and my poor father had only two towels with him. Someone, somewhere, told him that he could buy blankets in Muzdalifa. Not true, or at least it wasn’t in our area.

After we prayed Fajr, buses started to pull in to take people to Mina. Our bus was late by a few hours, and the sun rose to slightly warm us up. While we waited, I gathered rocks to throw at the Jamraat. The valley is covered in pebbles, so it’s not difficult to find, but I absolutely avoided the ones that were wet!

My stay at Muzdalifa was by far the most difficult part of Hajj, but alhamdullilah for it. Even though I felt as if I had nothing, my night there was necessary and stark reminder about our origins. I was a reminder that I am from the soil of this earth and will one day lie in it. I drove out of Muzdalifa and was truly grateful to Allah for so many things; for letting me live such a comfortable life back home, for ending the night, bringing the day and taking us towards Mina, and also for making it a once in a lifetime experience.

– Frah Abdi

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These pictures shed some light on your curiosity and may even help you appreciate your hajj experience more.

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Recently, the system for pebble throwing has become very organized, however, during the time I visited Makkah for Hajj, it was very dangerous. Many who entered the stone throwing area were never to return home. Over time, the pebble-throwing rite had gained the worst reputation. Out of fear, people hastily entered and attempted to complete the throwing of the stones, fearing for their lives. It was very cluttered and many visitors to the Holy area were not aware of how to keep themselves safe as well as others.

As I was entering the area for stone throwing, a man began to shout in Arabic, “MAWWWT YA HORMAAAAH, FEE MAWWWT JOWWAH!” Screaming out, “DEATH OH WOMAN, THERE’S DEATH INSIDE!” this fear appeal was to strongly discourage me from entering the area. Though I was a little nervous, I was stubborn and felt like I was capable and that I should throw my stones on my own. My brother stood close beside me and I felt protected. Apparently, just before we had entered, some had been trampled to death inside.

With so many people cluttered in that small area, I was feeling claustrophobic. Holding my pebbles tightly in my hand, with my brother stuck to me, I made my way to a place close enough to the front. If I was to throw from too far back, I could risk my pebbles not making it into the basin or hitting someone else in the head. One by one I’d pronounce “ALLAHU AKBAR!,” and lob a pebble into the basin. It was very difficult as so many people were pressed against me trying to do the same. Many were angry, feeling like they were throwing at Satan himself and thus shouting obscenities. That couldn’t be right, as the Hajj is to be peaceful and bad language should not be uttered. While holding the pebbles in my hand, I had opened my palm to take another out to throw it when someone forcefully bumped into me and shook a few out of my hand. I worried that I did not have a sufficient number to throw and so I began to lean down to the ground searching for the lost pebbles when I heard my brother screaming from the top of his lungs, “DO YOU WANT TO DIE? “ while struggling to pull me from my back so that I stood up again. I had forgotten about those who were trampled and those who had died. Only concerned just about the number of pebbles in my hand, I had taken a huge risk. When I had stood up and he carefully handed me a few extra pebbles he had. We continued for a few minutes and pushed through the crowds to exit to safety. When we came out, one guy in our Hajj group who exited with us found that his feet no longer had slippers on them. The guy carved slippers out of cardboard he’d found on the street. Another male in the group was wearing a woman’s bright pink slipper along with one of his slippers. He also came out with his glasses twisted on his face. We rushed out and gave Praise to Allah taala for getting us out safely.

There was much I gained from this experience and a few things that we should all bear in mind when it is our turn to throw:

1. We must be mindful of our purpose as throwing the pebbles is a means of remembering Allah the Almighty.
2. When selecting pebbles from Mina, we should select smaller pebbles, not huge rocks and stones. Throwing huge stones can result in injury to others.
3. We are throwing pebbles at the pillars and not at Satan and we should not shout insults as we throw. Be considerate of the sacredness of the time and place.
4. When throwing pebbles, they should not be thrown from a very long distance, so that the stones can properly fall inside the basin and so that they can accurately hit the target.
5. We should be careful not to harm others by cursing, fighting, or pushing others at the pillars. We must be gentle with others and careful of their rights.
6. Stones are to be thrown one at a time and not all at once.
7. Throw your own if you are capable.

And forget not that Allah taala has assigned a great reward for the accepted Hajj as the Messenger of Allah Peace and Blessings be Upon Him said, “…There is no reward for the Hajj Al-Mabroor except Paradise.” From the word mabroor is derived the word “birr” which means righteousness and good behavior towards people, fulfilling duties towards others and giving them their rights.

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I hope you have enjoyed these picture.
I want to send a special thanks to the brother and his wife that took these amazing pictures, and for sharing with the rest of us.

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Download Title: Hajj 2005 Flooding

I invite anyone who made Hajj that year to share some of their thoughts/experiance about the flood on this blog, by replying to this post.

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The first time you need to spend in Mina is on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, until the sunrise of 9th day (Day of Arafat). The second time you need to spend in Mina is on the 10th, 11th, and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah. If you plan not to stay for the third day (12th of Dhul-Hijjah) you must leave Mina before Maghrib on the 11th day.

Things to remember while your there:

1. Mina is the place of Takbeer. So take advantage of every minute.
2. Try to get as much knowledge as possible. There are scholars everywhere you go. So do your best to seek them out.
3. Shorten your 4 rakat prayers to 2 rakat, but do not combine prayers together.

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The Prophet at Muzdalifa

It was reported by Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, “When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, reached Muzdalifa, he offered both Maghrib and ‘Isha’ prayers, then he lay down to sleep. He slept until dawn, then he got up and offered Fajr prayer, and mounted his she-camel, Al-Qaswa. When he reached Al-Ma’shar Al-Haram he stopped there until there was light all around, then before sunrise, he left the place” (Muslim, 2803). When you reach Al-Ma’shar Al Haram, make dua until the brightness of daylight is widespread before the actual sun rises.

Prayer

Shaykh Mohammad ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) has written about the mistakes that pilgrims have made in Muzdalifa in his work Daleel al-Akhta allati yaqa’ fiha al-Haaj wa’l-Mu’tamir (Mistakes Made by Pilgrims Performing Hajj and Umrah). He states that the Prophet, peace be upon him, “did not pray until he reached Muzdalifah. He entered it after the time for ‘Isha’ prayer had begun and he prayed Maghrib and ‘Isha’ there, joined at the time of ‘Isha’”. However, if the time for ‘Isha’ prayer is passing while the pilgrim is traveling to Muzdalifa, and they are afraid of missing it, they should stop to pray Maghrib and ‘Isha’ where ever they are. Many delay their prayer until they reach Muzdalifa, but that “this is not permissible; it is haraam and is a major sin, because delaying prayers until the time is over is haraam according to the evidence of the Qur’aan and Sunnah.”

Supererogatory Prayer

Regarding extra prayers at Muzdalifa, Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen states that “praying qiyaam, reading Qur’aan and reciting dhikr” is “contrary to the Sunnah, because the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not worship Allah in this manner on this night. Rather, in Saheeh Muslim, it is narrated from the hadeeth of Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) that after the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had prayed ‘Isha’, he lay down until dawn came, then he prayed Fajr. This indicates that there is no tahajjud or worship or tasbeeh or dhikr or reading Qur’aan on this night.” Muzdalifa offers pilgrims rest and sleep before traveling to Mina.

Gathering Stones

The stay at Muzdalifa may offer the most convenient time to gather pebbles to stone the Jamrat al-‘Aqabah in southwestern Mina. However, the pebbles can be taken from anywhere, even from Mina. One should make sure to have at least seven stones, but is encouraged to have more to avoid losing or miss throwing some of them[1].

Leaving Muzdalifa

After Fajr prayer, pilgrims will begin to exit Muzdalifa. This is done by “mentioning the name of Allah, and reciting the Talbiya until you stone Jamrat al-‘Aqabah[2]”. Pilgrims should not leave until they have prayed Fajr, unless they have a valid excuse. Crowding at Muzdalifa may be difficult for the elderly, some women, and the old, upon which the excuse will apply. Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen states in his work that the “Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, granted a concession to the weak among his family, allowing them to leave Muzdalifah at night. Asma’ bint Abi Bakr used to watch for the setting of the moon, and when the moon disappeared she left Muzdalifah and went to Mina.” In regards to the moon, he continues to state that “it is when the moon sets on the night of the 10^th of Dhul Hijja, which is definitely after midnight, approximately two-thirds of the night have passed.”

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