Al-Mash'ar: Difference between revisions

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

'''Muzdalifah''' (Arabic: {{ia|مزدلفة}}) which is also known as '''Mashʿar''' or '''Mashʿar al-Ḥarām''' ({{ia|مشعر 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-jamara]]s from this place.

[[File:Muzdalifa Masjid.jpg|thumbnail|Gathering of Hajis in Muzdalifa and arounf its [[Muzdalifa Mosque|mosque]]]]

This land which is located inside the sanctuary is a small valley between [['Arafat]] and [[Mina]] with the size of about 4 km. There is a large mosque in this area called [[Muzdalifa 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 this mosque has been mentioned and people have been asked to remember God in this place.

== Area of Muzdalifa ==

Mash'ar al-Haram is after the land or the valley of Ma'zimayn. Hajj pilgrims need to move toward this place 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 Muzdalifa has been marked by big signs written on which "Bidayat-u Muzdalifa" or "Nihayat-u Muzdalifa". Its length is about 4000 meters and its area is 5.12 square km. some believe that Mash'ar is actually the name of the land and a mountain located at the end of Muzdalifa and extends to the land or the valley of [[Wadi Muhassir|Muhassir]] and this whole area is called Muzdalifa. 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]].

== Ma'zimayn ==

On their return from [['Arafat]] to [[Mecca]], pilgrims pass 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 Muzdalifa or the land of Mash'ar al-Haram.

== Different Names ==

Different names have been mentioned for this place:

* '''Mash'ar'''. The root of this name is Shu'ur [awareness]; because in this place, after understanding in [['Arafat]], the pilgrim needs to reach awareness.

* '''Mash'ar al-Haram''': Mash'ar is located inside the sanctuary and thus is called Mash'ar al-Haram.

* '''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, Muzdalifa 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 [[Jibra'il]] told the Prophet [[Ibrahim (a)]], 'O Abraham (a)! Izdalif (go close) toward Ma'shar al-Haram.'". In another narration, [[Mu'awiya b. 'Ammar]] narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (a) that, "Muzdalifa was called so, because pilgrim move toward it after 'Arafat."

* '''Jam'''' (together). Imam al-Sadiq (a) said, "Mash'ar is also called Jam' because prophet [[Adam (a)]] performed his Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers together."

* '''Abtah''' (flat area) . Imam al-Sadiq (a) said, "this land is called Abtah because prophet Adam (a) was missioned to stay at Mash'ar until sunrise. Then, he (a) was missioned to climb Mount 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."

{{Main|Hajj|Stay in Mash'ar}}

After the sunset on the [[Day of 'Arafa]], pilgrims go out of [['Arafat]] and move toward Mash'ar al-Haram. The time of staying in Mash'ar al-Haram is from Fajr of [[Eid al-Adha]] until the sunrise. In Mash'ar, 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]].

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