al-Mash‘ar al-Ḥarām (lit., the Sacred Monument), and the remembrance of God at that place is specially enjoined: “So when you press on from ‘Arafāt, remember Allāh near the Holy Monument, and remember Him as He has guided you, though before that you were certainly of the erring ones” (2:198). It has also received the name of al-Jam‘ (lit., the place of gathering together). On reaching Muzdalifah, the pilgrims say their Maghrib and ‘Ishā’ prayers, combining the two (Bu. 25:96). There the night is passed, and then after saying the morning prayer at an early hour the pilgrims leave for Minā. Those who are infirm are allowed to leave even before the morning prayer (Bu. 25:98). Before Islām the pilgrims did not leave until the sun shone on the Mount Thabīr (Bu. 25:99) It may be that the idea of sun-worship was in some way connected with this custom.
Thus the pilgrims again reach Minā on the morning of 10th Dhi-l-Ḥijjah, which is called yaum al-nahr (lit., the day of sacrifices), being the day which is celebrated as the ‘Īd al-Adzḥā all over the Muslim world. After saying the ‘Īd prayers in Minā, the animals are sacrificed,17 the pilgrims then return and perform the ṭawāf of the Ka‘bah. This is called ṭawāf alifādzah and with it, the pilgrim emerges from the state of iḥrām, by having his head shaven or his hair clipped. But before the sacrifice there is another small act of devotion called the ramy al-jimār, which will be described presently. Though the pilgrim leaves the state of iḥrām after the ṭawāf alifādzah, yet he must return to Minā again, for it is in Minā that the ḥajj ends.
The pilgrims are required to stay in Minā for three or at least two days after the yaum al-naḥr, that is, on the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth Dhil-Ḥijjah. This stay is required by an express injunction of the Holy Qur’ān, where the ending of the devotional acts of ḥajj is thus spoken of:— “And remember Allāh during the appointed days. Then whoever hastens off in two days, it is no sin for him, and whoever stays behind, it is no sin for him, for one who keeps his duty. And keep your duty to Allāh, and know that you shall be gathered together to Him” (2:203).
17 The subject of sacrifices has been fully dealt with in the chapter on Prayer, Section 8.