What is meant by staying the night at Mina? Is it mere staying the night and sleeping at Mina? Is it not recommended to remember Allaah, read the Quran or pray Tahajjud? Are there specific rites to be observed at Mina? What is the guidance of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as regards staying the night in Mina? Please advise and provide evidence from Sharee‘ah.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It is recommended, not obligatory, to stay the night of the ninth day of Thul-Hijjah in Mina, according to the consensus of scholars. Ibn Qudaamah quoted the consensus on its being not obligatory. It is also prescribed to stay the night in Mina during the Days of Tashreeq. The predominant saying is that it is obligatory to stay the night in Mina during these days. The obligatory stay is meant to refer to staying most of the night in Mina. Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar said, “The stay is not maintained unless most of the night is passed there.”

Pilgrims who stay from the beginning of night to after its middle even for a short time, have really spent the night in Mina. Spending the night there does not mean sleeping, rather, staying during that time. It was narrated that after the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had moved to Makkah and made Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah on the Day of Nahr, he returned to Mina. He stayed there and threw the pebbles during the three Days of Tashreeq at noon time. He also spent the night in Mina until he rushed to Makkah to make the farewell Tawaaf after the three Days of Tashreeq.

No specific Athkaar or prayers were reported to have been made by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in Mina. However, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was known for his oft-remembrance of Allaah. He, as narrated by the Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah used to remember Allaah in all of his conditions. [Muslim]

The Days of Tashreeq are specifically for the remembrance of Allaah as indicated by the Quran and the Sunnah. In the Quran, Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And remember Allaah during [specific] numbered days.} [Quran 2:203] Commenting on “numbered days”, Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “They are the Days of Tashreeq.” It was also narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The days of Mina are days of eating, drinking and remembering Allaah The Almighty.” [Muslim]

Consequently, anyone who spends most of the night in Mina anyway has fulfilled the obligation even if he does not observe voluntary prayers, Athkaar or recitation of the Quran. It is good that he actively reads the Quran and remembers Allaah The Almighty, based on the general evidence that recommend observing such deeds, especially the evidence that is reported in the context of these days. Pilgrims are highly advised to make use of that honorable time and place by occupying them with deeds that please Allaah The Almighty.

Allaah Knows best.