Ruling on the pilgrim who tried to enter Mina but he could not
Q: I was a driver for people offering Hajj, but I was not able to depart from
`Arafah
except at 2:00 according to sunset timing [an ancient method of calculating time starting a new day after sunset], I reached
Muzdalifah
along with my associates where we performed Maghrib and `Isha' Prayers, then I kept them in
Muzdalifah
at 4:00 according to the sunset timing, and I went to
Mina
by car along with the luggage intending to return to
Muzdalifah
to spend the night there, but there was a traffic jam, and I returned several times using several roads trying to get there, but I ended up in
Makkah.
Therefore, I returned once more to
Mina,
but I was prohibited by the police authority, and could not enter
Muzdalifah
until it was 8:00, thus I spent the night in
Muzdalifah
within the crowds outside the blacktopped road lines (inside (Part No. 11; Page No. 270) Muzdalifah), and I stayed at
Muzdalifah
during the days of Tashriq (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah), and did not enter Mina except at the times of throwing the Jamarat (stone pillars at which pebbles are thrown during Hajj). We were divided into two groups, one entered at night and spent the night
at
Mina,
and the other stayed with me in the tent
at
Muzdalifah.
What is your opinion on this? What is the ruling if the sun set while I was still in the mentioned place in
Muzdalifah
on the second day if I wasn't in a hurry? Am I obliged to throw the pebbles on the third day? Please advise us, May Allah reward you.
A:
First:
If the case is as you mentioned, that you tried to enter
Mina but you could not, so you stayed in Muzdalifah during the days of Tashriq
due to not finding a place in
Mina as you have mentioned in your question, there is nothing upon you for departing from
Muzdalifah as long as you returned before dawn, there is also nothing upon your associates who spent the night in
Muzdalifah on the days of Tashriq for Allah (Exalted be He) says:
Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope.
And:
...and He has not laid upon you in religion any hardship
Second:
If the sun set on the twelfth day while you were still at your place in
Muzdalifah, you were not obliged to spend the night or to throw pebbles, as you were outside
Mina .May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.