Muzdalifah
Encyclopedia
Muzdalifah is an open, level area near Mecca
in Saudi Arabia
associated with the Hajj
. It lies just southeast of Mina
on the route between Mina and Arafat
. Each year on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah
, after an afternoon of prayer at Arafat (this occurred most recently in mid-November 2010), Muslim pilgrims visit Muzdalifah in the evening. Because of over-crowding, the pilgrims sometimes do not arrive there until late at night. At Muzdalifah they collect pebbles (the number 70 is chosen because there are 3 pillars that represent the devil and you throw 7 at the large one on day one, and 7 at all three on the next two days) which will be thrown in the Stoning of the Devil
ritual in Mina during the next three or four days. The pilgrims spend the night at Muzdalifah, often sleeping in the open air, before leaving for Mina the next morning. It is also where Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma'il threw stones at the evil spirit. (Eid ul-Adha
). Muzdalifah is preceded by a day at Arafat, glorifying Allah, repeating the Supplication, repenting to Allah and asking Him for Forgiveness. In Arafat one must pray the Zuhr and Asr Prayers shortened and combined during the time of Zuhr. After sunset on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah
, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah. This represents Hajj - one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
associated with the Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
. It lies just southeast of Mina
Mina, Saudi Arabia
Mina is a location situated some 5 kilometres to the east of the Islamic holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It stands on the road from Mecca's city centre to the Hill of Arafat....
on the route between Mina and Arafat
Mount Arafat
Mount Arafat or Mount Arafah is a granite hill east of Mecca. It is also known as the Mount of Mercy . The hill is the place Muslims believe the Islamic prophet Muhammad stood and delivered the Farewell Sermon to the Muslims who had accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life...
. Each year on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah
Dhu al-Hijjah
Dhu al-Ḥijjah is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar.This is a very sacred month in the Islamic calendar, marking the end of the year. It is in this month in which the Hajj takes place....
, after an afternoon of prayer at Arafat (this occurred most recently in mid-November 2010), Muslim pilgrims visit Muzdalifah in the evening. Because of over-crowding, the pilgrims sometimes do not arrive there until late at night. At Muzdalifah they collect pebbles (the number 70 is chosen because there are 3 pillars that represent the devil and you throw 7 at the large one on day one, and 7 at all three on the next two days) which will be thrown in the Stoning of the Devil
Stoning of the Devil
Stoning of the Devil or stoning of the jamarat is part of the annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Muslim pilgrims fling pebbles at three walls called jamarat in the city of Mina just east of Mecca. It is one of a series of ritual acts that must be performed in...
ritual in Mina during the next three or four days. The pilgrims spend the night at Muzdalifah, often sleeping in the open air, before leaving for Mina the next morning. It is also where Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma'il threw stones at the evil spirit. (Eid ul-Adha
Eid ul-Adha
Eid al-Adha or "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep— to sacrifice...
). Muzdalifah is preceded by a day at Arafat, glorifying Allah, repeating the Supplication, repenting to Allah and asking Him for Forgiveness. In Arafat one must pray the Zuhr and Asr Prayers shortened and combined during the time of Zuhr. After sunset on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah
Dhu al-Hijjah
Dhu al-Ḥijjah is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar.This is a very sacred month in the Islamic calendar, marking the end of the year. It is in this month in which the Hajj takes place....
, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah. This represents Hajj - one of the Five Pillars of Islam.