1. The Sunnah is to perform the Fajr prayer in Mina at dawn on 9 Dhul-Hijjah.[1] After sunrise, one should set out calmly towards Arafah while reciting the Talbiyah. There is also no problem with reciting the Takbir. Anas (ra.) said,
«كَانَ يُلَبِّي الْمُلَبِّي لاَ يُنْكَرُ عَلَيْهِ وَيُكَبِّرُ الْمُكَبِّرُ فَلاَ يُنْكَرُ عَلَيْهِ».
‘Those reciting the Talbiyah would recite the Talbiyah, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not consider it objectionable. Likewise, those reciting the Takbir would recite the Takbir, and he did not consider that objectionable either.’[2]
2. The Sunnah is to perform Dhuhr and Asr together behind the Hajj imam at Masjid Namirah after the sun has passed its zenith, and then enter the plain of Arafah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stayed at Namirah before the time of Dhuhr. He rested until Dhuhr in a tent erected there for him. Namirah is outside Arafah, though it is situated along the boundary of Arafah. Then, when the sun had passed its zenith, he performed the Dhuhr and Asr prayers at the beginning of the time of Dhuhr and entered Arafah.’[3]
At present, it is almost impossible to act upon this Sunnah. However, if someone knows the routes well and is certain that he can return alone to his companions in Arafah, or has the strength, courage and confidence to travel alone to Muzdalifah, spend the night there and return from there to the tents in Mina, then it is possible for him to observe this Sunnah at Masjid Namirah.
3. The Sunnah is for the Hajj imam to deliver a timely khutbah to the pilgrims. In it, he should discuss Tawhid and the essential rulings of Islam. He should make the pilgrims aware of the rulings of Hajj. He should remind them of repentance and call upon them to remain steadfast upon the Qur’an and Sunnah, just as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did during the khutbah of his Farewell Hajj at Arafah.
4. The Sunnah is to shorten and combine Dhuhr and Asr at the time of Dhuhr, and not to perform any Sunnah or voluntary prayer. This ruling applies to all pilgrims. There is no difference between residents of Makkah, those living around Arafah and pilgrims from distant places. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) shortened and combined Dhuhr and Asr at the time of Dhuhr together with the noble Companions. All the pilgrims present shortened and combined those two prayers with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He did not instruct anyone to perform the prayers in full. However, some narrations mention that during the conquest of Makkah in 8 AH, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to the people of Makkah,
«يَا أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ ، أَتِمُّوا ؛ فَإِنَّا قَوْمٌ سَفْرٌ».
‘O people of Makkah, complete the prayer, for we are travellers.’[4] However, he did not say this during the Farewell Hajj. Therefore, the sound view is that shortening the prayers at this time and combining the two prayers is Sunnah. Not shortening and combining them is wrong. Regarding the Farewell Hajj, Jabir (ra.) said,
«أَنَّ رسول اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَتَى بَطْنَ الوَادِيْ فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ، ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ، ثُمَّ أَقَامَ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ، ثُمَّ أَقَامَ فَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ وَلَمْ يُصَلِّ بَيْنَهُمَا شَيْئًا».
‘The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to the middle of the valley and delivered a khutbah to the people. Then (Bilal) gave the Adhan and Iqamah, and he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led the Dhuhr prayer. Then (Bilal) gave the Iqamah again, and he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed the Asr prayer. He did not perform any other prayer between the two.’[5]
5. Ibn Umar (ra.) would combine Dhuhr and Asr even if he missed the congregational prayer behind the Hajj imam. A narration in Sahih al-Bukhari states,
«وَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا إِذَا فَاتَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ مَعَ الإِمَامِ جَمَعَ بَيْنَهُمَا».
‘Ibn Umar (ra.) would combine the two prayers even if he missed the prayer with the imam.’[6]
The renowned hadith narrator Nafi‘ (rah.) said, ‘If Ibn Umar (ra.) did not catch the prayer with the imam on the Day of Arafah, he would combine Dhuhr and Asr at the place where he was staying.’[7]
The two renowned imams of the Hanafi madhhab, Imam Muhammad (rah.) and Imam Abu Yusuf (rah.), also expressed the same view:
مُحَمَّدٌ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُوْ حَنِيْفَةَ، عَنْ حَمَّادٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، قَالَ: إِذَا صَلَّيتَ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ فِيْ رِحْلِِكَ فَصَلِّ كُلَّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنَ الصَّلاَتَيْنِ لِوَقْتِهَا، َوتَرْتَحِلُ مِنْ مُنْزِلٍ حَتَّى تَفْرُغَ مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ، قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: وَبِهَذَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُ أَبُوْ حَنِيْفَةَ، فَأَمَّا فِيْ قَوْلِنَا فَإِنَّهُ يُصَلِّيْهَا فِيْ رِحْلِهِ كَمَا يُصَلِّيْهَا مَعَ الإِمَامِ، يَجْمَعُهُمَا جَمِيْعًا بِأَذَانٍ وَإِقَامَتَيْنِ، لأَنَّ الْعَصْرَ إِِنَّمَا قُدِّمَتْ لِلْوُقُوْفِ وَكَذَلِكَ بَلَغَنَا عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ، وَعَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، وَعَنْ عَطَاءَ بْنِ أَبِيْ رَبَاحٍ، وَعَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ .
‘Imam Muhammad (rah.) said: (Imam) Abu Hanifah (rah.) informed us through Hammad, from Ibrahim, who said: If, on the Day of Arafah, you perform the prayers at the place where you are staying, you should perform each of the two prayers at its respective time, and after completing the prayer, depart from the place where you are staying. (Imam) Muhammad (rah.) said: (Imam) Abu Hanifah (rah.) adopted this view. However, our view is that the pilgrim should perform both prayers at the place where he is staying in exactly the same manner as he performs them behind the imam. He should combine both prayers with one Adhan and two Iqamahs, because the Asr prayer has been brought forward for the sake of the Wuquf. This is what has reached us from the Mother of the Believers Aishah (ra.), Abdullah ibn Umar, Ata ibn Abi Rabah and Mujahid (rah.).’[8]
Therefore, whether or not it is possible to perform the prayer in congregation behind the Hajj imam, it is Sunnah in all circumstances to combine Dhuhr and Asr.
6. After the prayer, the pilgrims should enter Arafah if they have not already done so. Those who perform the prayer at Masjid Namirah must pay particular attention to this matter, because the section of Masjid Namirah facing the Qiblah lies outside the boundary of Arafah. Remember, Hajj will not be valid if one remains outside Arafah.
7. Thereafter, one should engage in du‘a and munajat. One should continue making du‘a and dhikr while standing, sitting and moving—in every state. From the completion of the prayer until sunset, one should raise both hands and engage extensively in du‘a, dhikr and seeking forgiveness in a low voice. Usamah ibn Zayd (ra.) said,
«كُنْتُ رَدِيفَ النَّبِىِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِعَرَفَاتٍ فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ يَدْعُو فَمَالَتْ بِهِ نَاقَتُهُ فَسَقَطَ خِطَامُهَا فَتَنَاوَلَ الْخِطَامَ بِإِحْدَى يَدَيْهِ وَهُوَ رَافِعٌ يَدَهُ الأُخْرَى».
‘I was seated on a camel behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) at Arafah. At that time, he was raising both hands and making du‘a. Then his she-camel leaned forward with him, causing its reins to fall. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) picked up the reins with one hand while his other hand remained raised.’[9]
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said,
«خَيْرُ الدُّعَاءِ دُعَاءُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ وَخَيْرُ مَا قُلْتُ أَنَا وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ قَبْلِى. لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِير».
‘The best du‘a is the du‘a made on the Day of Arafah; and the best words that I and the prophets before me have said are: (La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir.) “There is no deity except Allah. He is One and has no partner. Sovereignty and all praise belong to Him. He has power over all things.”’[10]
Reciting the Qur’an, attending gatherings of sermons and admonition, and similar acts will also be included among the deeds of staying at Arafah. However, women are instructed only to remain seated and make du‘a and dhikr and recite the Qur’an in a low voice. Make particular use of the final part of the day. Remain completely engrossed in du‘a.
8. The whole of Arafah is a place of stay for the pilgrims. Remember, the valley of ‘Uranah lies outside the area of Wuquf at Arafah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«كُلُّ عَرَفَةَ مَوْقِفٌ ، وَارْتَفِعُوا عَنْ بَطْنِ عُرَنَةَ»
‘All of Arafah is a place of stay, but move away from Batn ‘Uranah.’[11]
A section of the present Masjid Namirah and the adjacent low-lying area constitute Batn ‘Uranah, or the valley of ‘Uranah. Therefore, no one should perform Wuquf there. After performing the prayer at Masjid Namirah, go and stay in the section of the mosque that lies within Arafah. At present, signs indicating Arafah have been marked with blue lights inside the mosque itself. Therefore, remain mindful of this.
[1]. At present, due to the increased number of pilgrims, they are taken to Arafah before Fajr. This is certainly contrary to the Sunnah. However, if this Sunnah is missed because of the prevailing circumstances, there will be no problem, in sha Allah.
[2]. Bukhari: 975; Muslim: 1285.
[3]. Bukhari: 1660; Muslim: 1218.
[4]. Bayhaqi: 3/135; Musnad Ahmad: 4/432. (The chain of narration of this hadith is weak. However, in Muwatta Malik, it has been narrated from Umar (ra.) as his own statement. On one occasion, he came to Makkah and performed the prayer shortened together with his companions. He then instructed the local residents who had prayed with him to complete their prayers. Muwatta: 1/140, 202.)
[5]. Muslim: 1218.
[6]. Bukhari: 1662.
[7]. Ja‘far Ahmad Usmani, I‘la al-Sunan, 7/3073, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut, 2001.
[8]. Ja‘far Ahmad Usmani, ibid.
[9]. Musnad Ahmad: 21870; Sunan al-Nasa’i: 3011.
[10]. Tirmidhi: 3575.
[11]. Muwatta Malik: 301; Musnad Ahmad: 16797.