Al-Mash'ar: Difference between revisions

[[File:Location of Muzdalifa.jpg|thumbnail|Location of Muzdalifah]]

'''Muzdalifah''' (Arabic: {{ia|مزدلفة}}) which is also known as '''al-Mashʿar''' or '''al-Mashʿar al-Ḥarām''' ({{ia|المشعر الحرام}}) is a region between [['Arafat]] and [[Mina]] which has a length of about 4 km and staying there on the morning of [[Eid al-Adha]] is one of the [[essentials of hajj]]. Most [[hajj]] pilgrims collect stones for [[ramy al-jamarat]] from this place.

[[File:Muzdalifa Masjid.jpg|thumbnail|Gathering of hajis in Muzdalifah and around its [[Muzdalifah Mosque|mosque]]]]

This land which is located inside the [[Haram (holy site)|Haram]] is a small valley between [['Arafat]] and [[Mina]] with the size of about 4 km. There is a large mosque in this area called [[Muzdalifah Mosque]]. The primary size of this mosque has been 1700 square meters which reached 4000 square meters at the time of [[Abbasids]]. That time, the mosque did not have a roof and there was only a fence around it. After many times of reconstruction and expansion, now its rectangular size is about 6000 square meters.

In [[verses]] 198 and 199 of [[Sura al-Baqara]], the name of Muzdalifah is mentioned as al-Mash'ar al-Haram and people have been asked to remember God in this place.{{enote|There is no sin upon you in seeking your Lord’s grace [during the ḥajj season]. Then when you stream out of ‘Arafāt remember Allah at the Holy Mash‘ar, and remember Him as He has guided you, and earlier you were indeed among the astray. (198) Then stream out from where the people stream out, and plead to Allah for forgiveness; indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful. (Qur'an 2:198-199)}}

* '''Muzdalifa''' which is another name for this place and is derived from izdilaf, meaning proximity, because there, people come close to God or that pilgrims gather and get closer to each other. Also, Muzdalifah refers to the place of crowd due to the gathering of all pilgrims there at the night of [[Dhu l-Hijja 10]]. Another cause for its naming is a narration from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] saying, "after the end of staying in 'Arafat, Angel [[Jabra'il]] told the Prophet [[Ibrahim (a)]], 'O Abraham (a)! izdalif (go close) toward al-Ma'shar al-Haram.'". In another narration, [[Mu'awiya b. 'Ammar]] narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (a) that, "Muzdalifah was called so, because pilgrim move toward it after 'Arafat."

* '''Al-Ibtah''' (flat area) . Imam al-Sadiq (a) said, "this land is called al-Ibtah because prophet Adam (a) was missioned to stay at Muzdalifah until sunrise. Then, he (a) was missioned to climb Mount al-Mash'ar and to confess to his sin when the sun shined upon him, and he (a) did so and this confession was made as a tradition among his children."

Hajj pilgrims need to move toward Muzdalifah after the sunset of the [[Day of 'Arafa]], after the end of voluntary staying in 'Arafat and stay there until the sunrise of the next day ([[Dhu l-Hijja 10]], [[Eid al-Adha]]). The area of Muzdalifah has been marked by big signs. Its length is about 4000 meters and its area is 5.12 square km. some believe that Muzdalifah is actually the name of the land and a mountain located at the end of Muzdalifah and extends to the land or the valley of [[Wadi l-Muhassir]] and this whole area is called Muzdalifah. In this place, during camping and worshiping at night, pilgrims can collect stones which can only be found in this place with specific size and form to use them for [[ramy al-Jamarat]] in [[Mina]].

On their return from [['Arafat]] to [[Mecca]], pilgrims pass al-Ma'zimayn which is located between two mountains. Ma'zim refers to a narrow pass and also to a gorge. It refers to the two narrow passages of going and coming through this area, passing which pilgrims arrive at Muzdalifah or the land of al-Mash'ar al-Haram.

After the sunset on the [[Day of 'Arafa]], pilgrims go out of [['Arafat]] and move toward Muzdalifah. The time of staying in Muzdalifah is from fajr of [[Eid al-Adha]] until the sunrise. In Muzdalifah, there is nothing obligatory other than just staying there, while performing many actions are recommended including remembrance of God and collecting stones for [[ramy al-Jamarat]].