HAJJ DAY-TWO: WHAT PILGRIMS SHOULD DO ON THE 9TH OF DHUL-HIJJAH

(1.) Going to Arafah:

This is the Day of Arafah. After Fajr Prayer at Mina move to Arafah. Staying at Arafah is among the pillars of Hajj, without which the Hajj is invalid.

When the sun rises on the day of Arafah, the pilgrim travels from Mina to Arafah and stops in Namirah until the time of Zuhr (Namirah is a place just before Arafah), if he can do so. If he cannot do it, it does not matter because staying in Namirah is Sunnah but it is not obligatory. When the sun passes its zenith (i.e., when the time for Zuhr prayer begins), he should pray Zuhr and Asr, two rak'ahs each, and join them together at the time of Zuhr, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did, so as to leave a lot of time for standing and making du'aa.

Then after the prayer he should devote his time to making dhikr and du'aa and beseeching Allaah, and praying as he likes, raising his hands and facing the qiblah even if the mountain of Arafah is behind him, because the Sunnah is to face the qiblah, not the mountain. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood by the mountain and said, "I am standing here, but all of Arafah is the place of standing."

Most of the Prophet's du'aa in that great place of standing was: "Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu'l-mulk, wa lahu'l-hamd, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer (There is no god but Allaah alone, with no partner or associate; His is the Dominion, all praise is due to Him, and He is able to do all things)."

(2.) Going to Muzdalifah (After Sunset):

He should stay overnight in Muzdalifah. Maghrib and Isha prayers will be performed together at the time of Isha in the form of Qasr. Maghrib three rak'ahs and Isha 2 rak'ahs. If you have arrived in Muzdalifah early, you must wait until the time of Isha comes in before you can perform the prayers. Also while in Muzdalifah Collect some pebbles for further stoning in the coming days. The size of pebbles should be approximately slightly larger than a pea. It's recommended to collect around 70 such pebbles!

✍️ Uncle Yunus