Descending from Arafah to Muzdalifah

When the sun sets on the day of Arafah the pilgrim heads towards Muzdalifah reciting Talbiyah and Takbir, praising, glorifiying and saying: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) three times La ilaha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah), wa lillah el hamd (praise be to Allah)”.

He says: “O Allah! To You I aspire, for Your Majesty I pray, so accept my act of worship, guide me, provide me in it with more good than I ask for and never let me down, You are Allah the Most Bountiful, the Most Generous”.

The pilgrim walks slowly to Muzdalifah in calmness and reverence so not to cause harm to anyone.

When the pilgrim reaches Muzdalifah, he tries to settle near Masjid Al-Mash‘ar Al-Haram (Kuzah mountain) if possible.

It is advised to say Du‘a (invocation), recitations, Talbiyah and read what he can from the Holy Qur’an.

“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. Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful”.

Then he combines Maghrib and Isha prayer (after the time due to Isha) together by one azan (call for prayer) and an Iqama (a call to start the prayer) and he delays the Sunnah prayer for Maghrib, Isha and Witr till after he prays Isha.

From the Du‘a of Muzdalifah: “O Allah! I ask You for the preludes (beginnings) of all blessings and its results, combinations, start and end, its outward and inward, and grant me the highest degrees in Paradise, and that You set right for me all my affairs, and that You keep away from me all evil, for there is none who does that but You, and no one offers it generously but You”.

He asks for Allah’s forgiveness continuously, and he spends the night in Muzdalifah, till midnight.

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Midnight: it is the mid-time between Maghrib (sunset) and Fajr (daybreak).

Then the pilgrim gathers 70 pebbles (small stones which are bigger than the size of chick-pea and smaller than a hazelnut) for throwing all the Jamarat.

When the day breaks, it is a Sunnah to pray Fajr prayer at the beginning then he says: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) three times, La illaha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah. Allahu Akbar wa Lillah el Hamd (Allah is the greatest and praise be to Allah). He says salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and he supplicates while raising both hands to heaven.

It should be noticed that Muzdalifah is all a standing except for Wadi Muhassar.

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Wadi Muhassar: it is the valley between Al-Mash‘ar Al-Haram and Mina.

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