Muzdalifa and the day of sacrifice (10 Dhul-Ḥijja)

The night at Muzdalifa • After sunset, one leaves 'Arafa without praying Maghrib, calmly, saying the talbiya. • At Muzdalifa, one prays Maghrib and 'Ishaa' combined, at the time of 'Ishaa', with one adhaan and two iqaamas: Maghrib with three rak'as, 'Ishaa' shortened to two (Muslim 1218). • Then one sleeps. The Prophet ﷺ lay down until dawn (Muslim 1218): it is a night of rest before the busiest day. • One prays Fajr early, then stands near al-Mash'ar al-Ḥaraam, or anywhere in Muzdalifa, facing the qibla, in supplication and dhikr, until the sky is quite bright; one leaves for Minaa before sunrise (2:198; Muslim 1218). • The status: spending the night at Muzdalifa is an obligation for the majority, and a pillar for some scholars; for the Hanafis, the obligation is mainly the standing after dawn [À VÉRIFIER : présentation des avis]. The minimum duration (until the middle of the night, part of the night, or a simple stop) differs according to the schools [À VÉRIFIER]. • The dispensation for the weak: elderly and sick people, women, children and those accompanying them may leave after the middle of the night or after moonset. The Prophet ﷺ allowed it for Sawda (Bukhari 1680, Muslim 1290), and he sent the weakest of his family ahead by night (Bukhari 1677, Muslim 1293) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros].

The pebbles • One may pick up the seven pebbles for the 10th at Muzdalifa, or pick them up in Minaa; any place is suitable, and one need not wash them [À VÉRIFIER]. • They are small: the size of a chickpea or a date stone, "throwing pebbles" (ḥaṣaa al-khadhf) (Muslim 1218). • One does not throw large stones, shoes or objects: the Prophet ﷺ showed pebbles of this size and warned against exaggeration in religion (An-Nasaa'i 3057, Ibn Maaja 3029) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. • For the whole Hajj, one needs 7 pebbles on the 10th, then 21 per day of tashriiq (49 in all for whoever leaves on the 12th, 70 for whoever stays on the 13th). Plan a few extra.

The 10th: the day of sacrifice (yawm an-naḥr) This is the busiest day. Four acts, in this order according to the Sunna: 1. The stoning of Jamrat al-'Aqaba, the large pillar, the closest to Makkah: seven pebbles, one after the other, saying "Allaahu akbar" with each throw (Muslim 1218). One stops the talbiya on beginning. The pebble must fall into the basin. The time of the Sunna is after sunrise; for the weak, some scholars allow it after the middle of the night [À VÉRIFIER : moments permis selon les écoles]. 2. The sacrifice (hady), for whoever performs tamattu' or qiraan (lesson 4). It may be done on the 10th or the days of tashriiq (until the 12th or 13th according to the schools) [À VÉRIFIER]. "Neither their flesh nor their blood reaches Allah, but what reaches Him from you is piety" (meaning of 22:37, text below). 3. Shaving or shortening (lesson 5). Shaving is better for men. 4. Ṭawaaf al-ifaaḍa, also called ṭawaaf az-ziyaara: it is a pillar of Hajj. Seven circuits, without ramal or iḍṭibaa'. Then the sa'y of Hajj, for whoever performs tamattu', and for whoever performs qiraan or ifraad if he did not do it after ṭawaaf al-quduum. • Ṭawaaf al-ifaaḍa may be delayed after the 10th, until the end of the days of tashriiq or later, according to the schools [À VÉRIFIER]. • A woman in her period waits until she is pure to perform it ('Aa'isha, Bukhari 1757, Muslim 1211) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. The case where her group cannot wait is a real question to ask the imam before leaving [À VÉRIFIER]. Pilgrims do not pray the Eid prayer: for them, Eid is these rites.

Order and ease The Prophet ﷺ performed these acts in order: stoning, sacrifice, shaving, ṭawaaf. That same day, he was asked about people who had shaved before sacrificing, or had sacrificed before stoning: to each question he answered: "Do it, there is no harm" (if'al wa laa ḥaraj) (Bukhari 83, Muslim 1306). The majority therefore allow the order to be changed; for others (the Hanafis, and the Malikis for some acts), deliberately changing the order requires a sacrifice [À VÉRIFIER].

The two releases from iḥraam (at-taḥallul) • The first (at-taḥallul al-awwal): after two of the three acts (stoning, shaving, ṭawaaf al-ifaaḍa with its sa'y), according to many scholars; or from the stoning, according to others [À VÉRIFIER]. One puts one's ordinary clothes back on; perfume, clipping the nails, etc. become permitted again; only intimate relations remain forbidden. 'Aa'isha: "I used to perfume the Prophet ﷺ for his iḥraam before he entered it, and for his release from iḥraam before he performed the ṭawaaf of the House" (Bukhari 1539, Muslim 1189). • The second (at-taḥallul ath-thaani): after the three acts. Everything becomes permitted again, including intimate relations.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation After the great day of 'Arafa comes a night of rest: the Sunna does not ask one to stay awake at Muzdalifa, but to pray, sleep, then call upon Allah at dawn. The body has its rights, even during Hajj. The 10th follows the footsteps of Ibraahiim. One rejects with pebbles, symbolically, what turns one away from Allah; one sacrifices, as Ibraahiim was ready to sacrifice what was dearest to him; one shaves as a sign of humility; then one returns to the House for the ṭawaaf. The sacrifice does not feed Allah: "what reaches Him from you is piety" (22:37). Its meat feeds the poor, and its meaning feeds the heart. Finally, "Do it, there is no harm" shows the mercy of the Sunna on a difficult day. And the dispensation for the weak at Muzdalifa shows that Islam takes care of the most fragile in the group.

Lessons to draw from it • Sleep at Muzdalifa to keep your strength for the 10th. • Prepare a small pouch for your pebbles, of the right size. • Stone calmly and, if you are weak, choose times when the crowd is smaller. • Keep the order of the acts if possible; if it was changed, do not worry and ask. • Look after the elderly, the sick and the children of the group.

Key points to remember • Muzdalifa: Maghrib and 'Ishaa' combined, the night, Fajr, then dhikr at al-Mash'ar al-Ḥaraam (2:198; Muslim 1218). • The 10th: large pillar (7 pebbles), sacrifice, shaving, ṭawaaf al-ifaaḍa (and sa'y). • "Do it, there is no harm" (Bukhari 83, Muslim 1306). • First release: everything is permitted except intimate relations. • "What reaches Him from you is piety" (22:37).

The main message The night of Muzdalifa and the day of sacrifice follow the footsteps of Ibraahiim: rejecting evil, offering to Allah, humbling oneself and returning to His House, with the ease that the Prophet ﷺ taught.

The text: Surah Al-Ḥajj (22), verses 36 to 37 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 22:36-37]

Meaning: "And the sacrificial camels (and cattle), We have made them for you among the rites of Allah; there is good for you in them. Pronounce the name of Allah over them when they are lined up. Then, when they have fallen on their sides, eat from them, and feed the one who is content with little and the one who asks. Thus have We subjected them to you, so that you may be grateful. Neither their flesh nor their blood reaches Allah, but what reaches Him from you is piety. Thus has He subjected them to you, so that you may proclaim the greatness of Allah for having guided you. And give good news to those who do good."

Arabic text: deliberately not typed, to avoid any error; it is to be copied from the centre's mushaf (or a verified source) at the place indicated.