Why Pilgrims Mass in Mina for Hajj?

The stay overnight in Mina is always followed by at least two million pilgrims every year in which they gather around the world for Hajj and starts to move from Makkah to nearby Mina where thousands of tents in the form of special shelter for pilgrims have been set up to honor the ‘Guests of Allah’.

Under the tent, both men and women sat side by side to attend the preacher’s chalk talk of history and getting a brief about the ritual of Hajj.

“It is a gift from God that He has chosen us to come here,” said Walaa Ali, a 35-year-old Egyptian pilgrim with tears in her eyes. “I am so happy to be here.”

The Night of Mina is a Tear shed for Hajj Pilgrims and One Must Take an Overview!

Staying overnight in Mina is scoring a Sunnah and it’s not Wajib. The residing takes place after the Tawaaf after which the pilgrim must return to Mina on the nights of 11th, 12th, and 13th Dhul-Hijjah during which is called Layali- al-Tashriq. The valley of mina surrounds ‘Jamarat Bridge’ (location of the stoning of the devil) which is activated upon between sunrise and sunset.

Why Do Pilgrims Perform Throwing Stones at the Devil in Mina?

In order to commemorate the memory of the occasion happened when Prophet Ibrahim (AS) stoned the devil which came between him and the command, Allah had set for him.

Ramy during the Ayyam- al-Tashriq

This act of stone shelling by Hajj pilgrims during a stay overnight in Mina is known as ‘Ramy’ which is performed during the three days called ‘Ayyam-al-Tashriq’ by throwing 21 pebbles, seven in each of the three times. It is ‘Mustahabb’ to toss the pebble in fashion called ‘Hadhf’, standing from the left side at Batn-al-Masil and to expressly say Takbir loud with every thrown pebble and to pray. The total number of pebbles thrown in the three days make to a number ‘63’.

The Immamiyah has to say about Ramy that the rites must be performed by pilgrims during the three days of Tashriq but in any case, if forgotten upon reaching Makkah then there is no Kaffarah upon him.

The Kaffarah is a mud of food for every pebble if two are omitted and for three, the sacrifice becomes obligatory. (Ibn Rushd’s Bidayah, al-Mughni)

Prophet Muhammad’s words to the end of Hajj conventions

He clearly told Muslims to perform a welfare duty for society to be a true Muslim. He further says,

“To come here alone will not be considered as Hajj only. It is true that your performed Hajj ascended to Ibrahim’s position by sacrificing Ismail but this is not the end, it is the starting of your duty. All these Hajj conventions for your pilgrims were for you to ignore self-service and an alarm to ‘serve others’. Do this for Allah’s sake as this you were being called to the Hajj to join other pilgrims.”