On the 9^th Dhul Hijjah before noon the pilgrims come to Arafat which is a barren and plain land. Here they stand in contemplative vigil. They will offer supplications, will repent for sins they have committed, and seek the mercy of Allah. They will listen to the sermon carried out by Islamic scholars. Lasting from noon through sunset, or known as wuquf, it is said to be one of the most important rites of Hajj. The pilgrims will offer noon and also afternoon prayers at Masjid al-Namirah together at noontime. The pilgrim needs to spend the afternoon on Arafat or else the Hajj is regarded as being invalid.

Hajj is the sacred pilgrimage to Makkah, performed in the last month of the Islamic year, Dhul-Hijjah. Every Muslim who can afford it must perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Steps to Perform Hajj

• Intention (Niyyah): Make a sincere intention to perform Hajj for the sake of Allah.
• Ihram: Enter the state of purity known as Ihram and recite the Talbiyah.
• Arrival in Makkah: Perform Umrah, which includes Tawaf (circling the Kaaba seven times) and Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwa).
• Hair Trimming: Men shave or trim their hair; women cut a small portion equal to a fingertip. After this, Umrah is complete, and pilgrims leave Ihram.
• Stay in Makkah: Spend time in prayer and worship until the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah.
• Re-enter Ihram: On the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, enter Ihram again for Hajj.
• Stay in Mina: Travel to Mina, offer shortened prayers, and stay overnight.
• Day of Arafat: On the 9th, go to Arafat, pray, and seek Allah’s forgiveness.
• Muzdalifah: After sunset, move to Muzdalifah, offer Maghrib and Isha prayers, and collect pebbles for the next day.
• Day of Sacrifice (10th Dhul-Hijjah): Perform Rami (stoning the devil), Qurbani (animal sacrifice), and then shave or trim the hair. Pilgrims can now leave Ihram.
• Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa’i: Return to Makkah and perform another Tawaf and Sa’i.
• Second and Third Days of Rami: On the 11th and 12th, perform stoning again at Mina and spend the nights there in worship.
• Tawaf al-Wida: Before leaving Makkah, perform the farewell Tawaf, completing your blessed journey.

Mina is a valley surrounded by mountains where pilgrims stay during Hajj on the 8th, 11th, and 12th of Dhul Hijjah, and sometimes on the 13th. It is an important site for the stoning ritual, as it contains the three pillars of Jamarat. Pilgrims spend their days and nights in tents, reading the Quran, offering prayers, performing Zikr, and listening to Islamic lectures, a period known as Layali al-Tashriq.

Muzdalifah consists of an open and level area close to Mecca in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. It is southeast of Mina and on the route present between Mina and Arafat.

The 9^th of Dhul Hijjah is spent at Muzdalifah. This will be under the open sky. Here pilgrims will gather pebbles to throw at the pillars of Jamarat

When at Muzdalifah the pilgrim can pray to Allah SWT. They will ask for blessings and forgiveness. Here they can rest so that they are prepared for the next three days of Hajj.

Before sunrise the pilgrims will leave Muzdalifah for Mina.