Spending the night at the end of Muzdalifah instead of Mina in case the crowds are too big

16-9-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

Our camps in Hajj were located at the end of Muzdalifah, and we did not spend the night in Mina. They said that there is a fatwa that allows our stay in this location. Was our stay in this location valid?

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Answer:

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

Staying by night in Mina is an obligation. If one abandons it, he will have to slaughter a sacrifice, except for those to whom the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had given permission not to do so, like shepherds and those who bring water and drinks and the like.

Concerning those who want to spend the night in Mina but do not find a place due to intense crowds or any other reason, there is no blame upon them to camp beside those who are camping inside Mina, and they should draw as close as possible to them. These do not have to slaughter a sacrifice. A group of scholars adopted this opinion, like Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen .

Allah Knows best.