Asalam Alaikum 1.Inshallah" this year I plan to perform Hajj" with my family. since every year there is a number of pilgrims are increasing so those who are going through Moallims" they are not reaching in Arafat on time or before Zhur Prayers because of increasing pilgrims. what is the ruling of standing in Arafat. 2. Is it an obligation to stay night at Muzdalifa, upon reaching late at Muzdalifa or at any time before Fajr Prayer can we pray combined Prayer of Maghrib and Isha. what is ruling of the Muzdalifa. 3. Is it permissible for womens to pray in homes on Friday and how many Raka they should pray. Please advise on the above questions. thanks and best regards, Mohammed Rafiuddin

Our answer to your questions will be summarized in the following:

1- Standing in 'Arafah is one of the pillars of Hajj without which Hajj is void as the Prophet said: "Hajj is (stand within the boundaries of) 'Arafah [without which Hajj is invalid], so whoever stands at 'Arafah, he has indeed observed Hajj [i.e. his Hajj is valid]." [Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Habbaan, and Al-Haakim]

The Prophet stood in 'Arafah after the sun passed its meridian on the day of 'Arafah, i.e. after the time of Thuhr began. The four rightly guided caliphs, may Allah be pleased with them, and those after them also used to start standing in 'Arafah after Thuhr; it is for this reason that the majority of scholars are of the view that standing in 'Arafah starts from Thuhr. Therefore, it becomes clear that you are not obliged to stand in 'Arafah before Thuhr, because standing at 'Arafah starts after Thuhr.

The time of standing in 'Arafah continues until Fajr of the day of sacrifice [i.e. the 10^th of Thul-Hijjah] according to the opinion of the majority of the scholars however, some of them are of the view that for the standing of 'Arafah to be valid, one should stand a part of the night and a part of the day; this is the view of the Maaliki School of jurisprudence.

Since you will arrive to 'Arafah (even late after Thuhr) you should stand there until sunset, then when the sun sets, you should move to Al-Muzdalifah, moving slowly and calmly. In this case, according to the opinion of the majority of the scholars your standing at 'Arafah is valid.

2- Spending the night in Al-Muzdalifah is one of the obligations of Hajj according to the opinion of the majority of the scholars as explained in Fatwa 81832.

3- It is a recommended to combine between Maghrib and 'Ishaa' as soon as you arrive to Al-Muzdalifah as the Prophet did so. Ibn Al-Munthir said: 'The scholars agreed in a consensus without any difference of opinion that it is recommended for a pilgrim is to combine Maghrib and 'Ishaa' prayers.' Ibn Qudaamah said: 'It is recommended to hasten to perform the two prayers [i.e. Maghrib and 'Ishaa'] before one puts down his luggage.'

As regards whether a pilgrim should pray at Al-Muzdalifah even if he is late, then Imaam An-Nawawi said: 'A pilgrim should delay the prayer until he reaches Al-Muzdalifah unless he fears that the time of the 'Ishaa' prayer will be over, which is the first third part of the night according to the correct opinion, …However, if he fears to miss this time, then he should not delay it until he arrives to Al-Muzdalifah, rather he should combine Maghrib and 'Ishaa' prayer while on his way.'

4- It is permissible for women to perform their prayer at home on Friday, but they should perform the prayer four Rak'ahs Thuhr but not as Friday prayer. Friday and congregational prayers in the mosque are not obligatory on women as explained in Fatwa 85568.

Allah Knows best.