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Muzdalifa

Muzdalifa (Arabic: مزدلفة, approaching) is a location near Mecca where hajj pilgrims must perform the ritual of wuquf after their nighttime journey from Arafat. Its name, "Muzdalifa," means "approaching" or "meeting place," reflecting its role as a convergence point for pilgrims. It's also known as "al-Jam'" meaning "gathering." This sacred site is mentioned as al-Mash'ar al-Haram in the Quran.

Muzdalifa
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General Information
Other NamesJam', Quzah and al-Mash'ar al-Haram
PlaceMecca, Between Mina and 'Arafat, at a distance of 6 kilometers from Arafat, and 8 kilometers southeast of al-Masjid al-Haram
UsagePilgrim's staying place on the 10th night Dhu al-Hijja
Current State
9.63 square kilometers
StatusActive

Muzdalifa, a 9.63 square kilometer area, is situated between Mina and 'Arafat, bordered by Wadi l-Ma'zamayn and al-Hiyaz. Staying in Muzdalifa on the 10th night of Dhu al-Hijja is a mandatory part of the hajj pilgrimage.

Meaning

Muzdalifa is derived from the Arabic infinitive "izdilaf" (ازدلاف), meaning "to approach" or "to draw near." The phrase "izdalaf-a al-qawm" (ازدلف القوم) translates to "the people approached" or "the people gathered." Thus, the name Muzdalifa signifies the congregation of pilgrims at this location.[1]

It has other names as well:

  • Al-Jam' (الجَمْع) signifying "gathering"[2]
  • Al-Quzah (القُزَح)[3]
  • Al-Mash'ar al-Haram (المشعر الحرام)[4] Scholars debate whether Muzdalifa itself is literally the al-Mash'ar al-Haram or a part of its broader territory.[5]

Location

 
Signboard indicating the beginning of the Muzdalifa area

Muzdalifa lies between Mina and 'Arafat, with Wadi l-Mohassir (Arabc: وادی المحَسِّر) situated between Mina and Muzdalifa.[6] The distance between Muzdalifa and 'Arafat is approximately 6 kilometers, while it is 8 kilometers from the southeast of the al-Masjid al-Haram. The total area of Muzdalifa is roughly 9.63 square kilometers.

Muzdalifa is bordered on one side by the valley of al-Ma'zamayn (وادي المأزَمَین) and on the other by Wadi Muhassir and Hiyad. Pilgrims reach Muzdalifa by passing through Wadi l-Ma'zamayn.[7]

Rulings

Main article: Wuquf at al-Mash'ar

Wuquf (staying) at Muzdalifa is considered an obligatory and a pillar of Hajj by all Islamic denominations on the night of the tenth of Dhu al-Hijja; however, there are differing opinions regarding the duration and specific time of this staying.[8]

Shia's View

Shia jurists generally believe that pilgrims can arrive at Muzdalifah at any hour of the night of the tenth of Dhu al-Hijja. They should remain there until sunrise with the intention of obeying God. Then, from sunrise until the sun is up, they should intend to stay (waqf) with a sincere heart, free from any show or pretense. It is recommended to start moving towards Mina shortly before sunrise, but it is not permissible to cross Wadi l-Muhassar before the sun rises.[9]

Sunni's View

Abu Hanifah mentions the time of wuquf from dawn to sunrise, and Malik believes that it is sufficient for a pilgrim to make a wuquf any time during the night of Eid al-Adha and before dawn. According to al-Shafi'i, staying at any moment after midnight of Eid al-Adha is sufficient.[10]

Boundaries

The length of Muzdalifah, from the beginning of al-Ma'zamin (the narrow passage between Muzdalifa and Arafa) to the beginning of Wadi l-Muhassar, is 3,812 meters.[11] From the wall of Gate of Banu Shayba, adjacent to the Grand Mosque, to the border of Muzdalifah from the Mina side, it is 20,507 cubits.[12]

The boundaries of Muzdalifah are marked with large signs bearing the inscriptions "Beginning of Muzdalifah" (Arabic: بداية مزدلفه) or "End of Muzdalifah" (Arabic: نهاية مزدلفه) to indicate its limits.

Notes

  1. ↑ Ṭurayḥī, Majmaʿ al-baḥrayn, vol. 5, p. 68.
  2. ↑ Ṭurayḥī, Majmaʿ al-baḥrayn, vol. 2, p. 186.
  3. ↑ Niʿmatī, Qāmūs al-ḥaramayn al-sharīfayn, p. 86.
  4. ↑ Niʿmatī, Qāmūs al-ḥaramayn al-sharīfayn, p. 204.
  5. ↑ Al-Jawāhirī, حدود عرفات، مزدلفة، منیThe boundaries of 'Arafat, Muzdalifa, Mina, p. 157-158.
  6. ↑ ʿAṭṭār, Qāmūs al-ḥaj wa al-ʿUmra, p. 204.
  7. ↑ Murwārīd, Yanābī' al-fighīyya, vol. 7, p. 198.
  8. ↑ Qāḍī 'Askar, Ḥajj dar andīsha-yi islāmī, p. 288; Fallāḥzāda, Darsnāma-yi manāsik-i Ḥajj, p. 62; ʿAṭṭār, Qāmūs al-ḥaj wa al-ʿUmra, p. 252.
  9. ↑ Fallāḥzāda, Darsnāma-yi manāsik-i Ḥajj, p. 62.
  10. ↑ ʿAṭṭār, Qāmūs al-ḥaj wa al-ʿUmra, p. 252.
  11. ↑ Ṣabrī Pāshā, Mawsū'a mirʾāt al-ḥaramayn, vol. 1, p. 341.
  12. ↑ Fāsī, Shifāʾ al-gharām, vol. 1, p. 505, 507.

References

  • Al-Jawāhirī, Ḥasan Muḥammad Taqī. حدود عرفات، مزدلفة، منی (Translation: The boundaries of 'Arafat, Muzdalifa, Mina). Miqāt Ḥajj magazine, 1415 AH.
  • ʿAṭṭār, Aḥmad ʿAbd al-Qafūr. Qāmūs al-ḥajj wa l-ʿumra. Beirut: Dār al-ʿIlm li-l-Malāyīn, 1979.
  • Fallāḥzāda, Muḥammad Ḥusayn. Darsnāma-yi manāsik-i ḥajj. Tehran: Mash'ar, 1389 Sh.
  • Fāsī al-Makkī, Muḥammad b. Aḥmad. Shifāʾ al-gharām bi-akhbār al-Balad al-ḥarām. Translated by Muḥammad Muqaddas. Tehran: Mash'ar, 1386 Sh.
  • Murwārīd, ʿAlī Aṣghar. Al-Yanābīʿ al-fighīyya. Beirut: [n.p], 1410 AH.
  • Niʿmatī, Muḥammad Riḍā.Qāmūs al-ḥaramayn al-sharīfayn. Tehran: Mashʿar, 1418 AH.
  • Qāḍī ʿAskar, ʿAlī. Ḥajj dar andīsha-yi Islāmī. Tehran: Mashʿar, 1384 Sh.
  • Ṣabrī Pāshā, Ayyūb. Mawsūʿa mirʾāt al-ḥaramayn. Translated by ʿAbd al-Rasūl Munshī. Tehran: Markaz-i Pazhūhishī-yi Mīrāth-i Maktūb, 1382 Sh.
  • Ṭurayḥī, Fakhr al-Dīn b. Muḥammad al-. Majmaʿ al-baḥrayn. Edited by Sayyid Aḥmad Ḥusaynī. Tehran: al-Maktaba al-Murtaḍawīyya, 1375 Sh.
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