1. Observing wuquf at Muzdalifah is obligatory. Allah Most High says,
﴿فَإِذَآ أَفَضۡتُم مِّنۡ عَرَفَٰتٖ فَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عِندَ ٱلۡمَشۡعَرِ ٱلۡحَرَامِۖ وَٱذۡكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَىٰكُمۡ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبۡلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ١٩٨ ﴾ [البقرة: ١٩٨]
‘When you return from Arafah, remember Allah at al-Mash‘ar al-Haram, and remember Him exactly as He has guided you, although before this you were among those who had gone astray.’[1]
2. Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) said that the time for wuquf at Muzdalifah essentially begins at Fajr. According to his view, spending the night at Muzdalifah is Sunnah, while remaining there after Fajr is obligatory. If anyone leaves Muzdalifah before Fajr without a valid excuse, damm (slaughtering an animal) will be obligatory upon him. Considering the command of the Noble Qur’an and the practice of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the noble Companions at Muzdalifah, the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) appears to be the soundest view here.’[2]
3. A weak person and his caretaker, a woman and her mahram, and a person carrying out Hajj-related duties are permitted to leave Muzdalifah after midnight once the moon has set. This is because:
a. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent me from Muzdalifah during the night with the weak people.’[3]
b. Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would take the weak members of his family ahead. During the night, they would observe wuquf near al-Mash‘ar al-Haram at Muzdalifah. There they would remember Allah as much as they wished. Then they would leave Muzdalifah before the imam’s wuquf and departure. Some of them would reach Mina at the time of the Fajr prayer, while others would arrive later than that. Upon reaching Mina, they would throw the pebbles. Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would say, ‘The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) granted these people permission in this regard.’[4]
c. Abdullah (may Allah have mercy on him), the freed slave of Asma (may Allah be pleased with her), narrated from Asma (may Allah be pleased with her) that she stayed at Muzdalifah during the night. Then she stood up to pray. Afterward, she said, ‘My son, has the moon set?’ I said, ‘No.’ Then, after praying for another hour, she again asked, ‘My son, has the moon set?’ I replied, ‘Yes.’ She then said, ‘Let us go.’ So we set out. She then threw pebbles at the Jamrah, reached her lodging, and performed the Fajr prayer. I then said, ‘O so-and-so, we have indeed set out very early.’ She said, ‘My son, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) granted women permission in this regard.’[5]
[1]. Surah al-Baqarah: 198.
[2]. According to Imam al-Shafi‘i (may Allah have mercy on him) and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him), observing wuquf until midnight is obligatory. If one leaves Muzdalifah before midnight, damm will be obligatory. According to Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him), wuquf is fulfilled by remaining at Muzdalifah for the length of time required to perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers. Khalis al-Juman: p. 214.
[3]. Bukhari: 1678; Muslim: 1294.
[4]. Bukhari: 1564.
[5]. Bukhari: 1679; Muslim: 1291.