Spending the night at Mina

Q: While we were in Mina the sign bearing the phrase "End of Mina" was a matter of debate. We ask you and the scholars of Makkah to issue a Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) on this matter. When the end of Mina was defined, the number of the pilgrims did not exceed one thousand persons. But now, the number reaches two million pilgrims or more. It is difficult for all the pilgrims to stay within these small and narrow boundaries of Mina. Accordingly, we hope that before the coming season of Hajj you can issue a Fatwa on whether it is permissible for the pilgrims to stay outside these boundaries. Most of the pilgrims stay beyond the mount because of their vast crowd. Dear Shaykh, this matter concerns the pilgrims as most of them stay inside (Part No. 11; Page No. 266) the limits of the sign. Please answer us.

A: The Law-Giver (Allah) defined the places and times of Hajj making no room for Ijtihad (juristic effort to infer expert legal rulings). Moreover, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) performed Farewell Hajj during which he said: Learn your (Hajj) rituals from me, for perhaps we might not meet (like this meeting) after this year. He (peace be upon him) showed where and when these rituals should be performed. The boundaries of Mina start from Muhassir Valley and end by Jamarat Al-Aqabah. The pilgrim should find a place within the boundaries of Mina and if it is impossible, he can stay in the nearest place to Mina. By doing this, there will be nothing wrong with him doing this.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.