Muzdalifah

Muzdalifah (مُزْدَلِفَة) is an open and level area near Mecca in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia that is associated with the Ḥajj (""). It lies just southeast of Mina, on the route between Mina and Arafat. The stay at Muzdalifah is preceded by a day at Mount Arafat, consisting of glorifying God, repeating the duʿāʾ (Supplication), repentance to God, and asking him for forgiveness. At Arafat, Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr prayers are performed in a combined and abbreviated form during the time of Zuhr. After sunset on the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dhūl-Ḥijjah, Muslim pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah, sometimes arriving at night because of over-crowding. After arriving at Muzdalifah, pilgrims pray the Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ prayers jointly, whereas the Isha prayer is shortened to 2 rakats. At Muzdalifah, pilgrims collect pebbles for the Stoning of the Devil (Ramī al-Jamarāt). The open-roofed mosque at Muzdalifah is known as "The Sacred Grove" (Al-Mashʿar Al-Ḥarām).