Muzdalifah

Mosque and pebble collecting place at Muzdalifah

Coordinates: 21°23′33″N 39°56′16″E / 21.3925°N 39.93778°E / 21.3925; 39.93778 Muzdalifah (Arabic: مزدلفة‎) is an open, level area near Mecca in Saudi Arabia associated with the Hajj. It lies just southeast of Mina on the route between Mina and Arafat. Each year on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, after an afternoon of prayer at Arafat (this occurred most recently in mid-November 2010), Muslim pilgrims visit Muzdalifah in the evening. Because of over-crowding, the pilgrims sometimes do not arrive there until late at night. At Muzdalifah they collect pebbles (the number 70 is chosen because there are 3 pillars that represent the devil and you throw 7 at the large one on day one, and 7 at all three on the next two days) which will be thrown in the Stoning of the Devil ritual in Mina during the next three or four days. The pilgrims spend the night at Muzdalifah, often sleeping in the open air, before leaving for Mina the next morning. It is also where Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma'il threw stones at the evil spirit. (Eid ul-Adha). Muzdalifah is preceded by a day at Arafat, glorifying Allah, repeating the Supplication, repenting to Allah and asking Him for Forgiveness. In Arafat one must pray the Zuhr and Asr Prayers shortened and combined during the time of Zuhr. After sunset on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah. This represents Hajj - one of the Five Pillars of Islam.