Muzdalifah Holy Site

Muzdalifah Holy Site is the third station for pilgrims among the holy sites in Makkah al-Mukarramah. It is where pilgrims spend the night preceding the night of the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah after arriving there from the holy site of Arafat. Spending the night in Muzdalifah is considered one of the obligatory duties of Hajj.

Muzdalifah site situated between the two holy sites of Arafat and Mina, covering a total area of approximately 9.6 km², of which 6.8 km² are used by pilgrims. The mosque at the center is called 'Masjid al-Mash'ar al-Haram,' where Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH), stayed facing its Qibla. It is located about five km from al-Khayf Mosque in Mina and seven km from Namira Mosque in Arafat.

Muzdalifah site was named as such because people stop there late at night. It is also called al-Mash'ar al-Haram, a name mentioned in the Holy Quran.

It is said that it is named Muzdalifah because people descend the Grand Mosque from there, or because people leave together in one collective movement. Allah referred to it as al-Mash'ar al-Haram in the verse: 'But when you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at al-Mash'ar al-Haram'.

Muzdalifah Holy Site in the past. (SPA) King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah)

Before the Saudi expansion, Masjid al-Mash'ar al-Haram was a modest structure, small in size and without a roof, with six doors. During the Saudi era, it was expanded, reaching a length of ninety m from east to west and a width of fifty-six m. Its capacity was increased to accommodate 12,000 worshippers, and it now features two minarets, each thirty-two m high, and entrances on its eastern, northern, and southern sides.

Pilgrims perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers together and shorten them on the ninth of Dhul al-Hijjah in Muzdalifah. They collect pebbles for the Jamarat there and stay the night until the morning of the tenth of Dhul al-Hijjah, before heading to the holy site of Mina. Women and the weak among men are permitted to depart before dawn.

Pilgrims spend the night in all parts of Muzdalifah Holy Site except for Muhassir Valley, which separates it from Mina site.

Muzdalifah site provides designated areas for overnight stays, restroom facilities, healthcare centers, water coolers, telecommunication services, and guidance centers. The Kingdom has organized services to manage the pilgrims' overnight locations within the site, distributing them according to space requirements based on the size of their groups. The Kingdom has also organized the flow of traffic with large parking areas that have dedicated entry and exit gates, ensuring a smooth and efficient movement of vehicles.