The scholars unanimously agree that the time for staying in the plain of ‘Arafah extends until the break of true dawn on Yawm al-Nahr, or the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah. If anyone is unable to reach the plain of ‘Arafah by true dawn on the night following the 9th (the night of the 10th), his Hajj will not be valid.
However, if anyone reaches the plain of ‘Arafah before true dawn on the night following the 9th (the night of the 10th), even for the briefest period—or even if he merely passes through the plain—his stay at ‘Arafah will be fulfilled. This is because it is narrated in a hadith that the Companion ‘Urwah ibn Mudarris arrived late for Hajj. After crossing various valleys, he stayed at ‘Arafah during the night and then came to Muzdalifah. When he asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, about his Hajj, he said,
«مَنْ أَدْرَكَ مَعَنَا هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ وَقَدْ وَقَفَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ بِعَرَفَة لَيْلاً أَوْ نَهَارًا فَقَدْ تَمَّ حَجُّهُ وَقَضَى تَفَثَهُ»
‘Whoever performs this salah (Fajr at Muzdalifah) with us, and before that stayed at ‘Arafah by night or by day, has completed his Hajj and cleansed himself.’[1]
Another hadith states that when some people from Najd asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, about Hajj, he told them,
«الْحَجُّ عَرَفَةُ ، فَمَنْ جَاءَ عَرَفَة قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ ، لَيْلَةَ جَمْعٍ ، فَقَدْ تَمَّ حَجُّهُ»
‘Hajj is ‘Arafah. Whoever reaches ‘Arafah on the night of Muzdalifah before the Fajr salah, his Hajj is complete.’[2]
The person who has fully completed the stay in the plain of ‘Arafah is the one who remained there from after Zuhr until some darkness had set in after sunset.
If anyone stays only during part of the day—for example, if he leaves before sunset—the scholars have expressed differing opinions regarding him. Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said that his Hajj would not be valid at all. On the other hand, according to Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam al-Shafi‘i, and Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on them, his Hajj is valid, but he must offer a dam for it.
According to the majority of scholars, the time for staying in the plain of ‘Arafah begins after the sun passes its zenith, not before that, because this is what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did. Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said that the time for wuquf at ‘Arafah begins from the start of the day on the 9th.
If a person loses consciousness while staying at ‘Arafah, his stay at ‘Arafah (wuquf) will be valid.
Remember, climbing the mountain of ‘Arafah is not one of the rites of Hajj. It is a mountain like any other mountain in the world. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not climb this mountain. He remained mounted on his camel, which stood near the large rocks at the foot of the mountain. Therefore, climbing the mountain is not an act of virtue. Yet, while attempting to climb it, many people suffer serious injuries, become ill, or lose their companions. These are entirely undesirable occurrences, and climbing it is contrary to the Sunnah.
[1]. Musnad Ahmad: 4/15; al-Nasa’i: 3039; Abu Dawud: 1950; al-Tirmidhi: 891.
[2]. al-Nasa’i: 3016.