- The standing (wuqoof) in Arafat
The standing (wuqoof) in Arafat is one of the most fundamental rites of Hajj and the prophet PBUH said:
“al Hajj Arafah”. Which means: “Hajj is Arafah”.
Its time:
a) The best: from the afternoon till after the sunset.
b) The permissible: from the dawn of the 9th day till the down of the 10th day. If you have spent even a few minutes in Arafat, your Hajj is correct. But if your attendance occurs before the sunset only, you are charged for a compensatory animal. Even these minutes take place after sunset, you are not charged with an expiation, but you have missed sleeping in Muzdalefah. In this case, you are charged for an animal for Muzdalefah and not for Arafat.
o Soon after the sunrise, leave for Arafat and perform Dhuhr and Asr prayers (combined and shortened during the time of Dhuhr with one Athan/Adhan and two Iqaamahs – and stay there until the sunset. Invoke Allah as much as you can and it is from Sunnah to face Al-Qibla during supplication and not facing the Mountain of Arafat. It is preferred to say this supplication: “Laa ilaaha illaallahu Wahdahu laa Shareeka lahu- lahul mulku wa lahul hamd- Wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shai’en qadeer”. Which means: “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, the One without a partner. The domain and the praise are His, and He is powerful over everything”.
o All of Arafat is a place for standing. Ascending the mountain of Arafat in not permitted. It is preferable to invoke much supplication. It is not necessary to keep standing or say under the sun, you are free to sit and to be sheltered.
- Leaving Arafat for Muzdalefah:
a) When the sun has set, go to Muzdalefah. When reaching it, pray Maghrib and Isha (combined and shortening the Isha prayer to two Rak’ah with one Adhan and two Iqamahs) before reclining and collecting pebbles.b) Stay overnight in Muzdalefah to perform the prayer of Fajr (down prayer) and keep busy supplicating waiting for the brightness of the morning is widespread. (Sleeping in Muzdalefah is compulsory) but weak individuals and women are allowed to proceed to Mena at any time after midnight, after the moon has completely disappeared to avoid the crowd.c) Collect seven pebbles for stoning the Jamarat – ul Aqaba (a stone pillar in Mena). Any place you collect pebbles from is permissible.d) Leave for Mena before the sun rises.