Muzdalifah is the open plain between Mina and Mount Arafat, inside the Haram of Makkah. After sunset on the Day of Arafah, pilgrims come here to pray Maghrib and Isha together, spend the night under the open sky and collect pebbles for the stoning in Mina.
Like the rest of the Makkah area, Muzdalifah is open to Muslims only.
Plan your visit to Muzdalifah
- Entry: free; for Muslims only
- Hajj night: after sunset on 9 Dhul Hijjah until Fajr
- Hajj permit required in the Hajj season
History of Muzdalifah
The Quran mentions al-Mash’ar al-Haram, the sacred landmark at Muzdalifah, and calls on pilgrims to remember Allah there after leaving Arafat (2:198). Before Islam, the Quraysh stayed at Muzdalifah rather than going on to Arafat with other pilgrims; the next verse (2:199) told everyone to depart from where the people depart.
During his Farewell Pilgrimage the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prayed Maghrib and Isha combined here, rested until dawn, prayed Fajr and made supplication at al-Mash’ar al-Haram before moving on to Mina.
Attractions at Muzdalifah
- Masjid al-Mash’ar al-Haram: the mosque at the sacred landmark of Muzdalifah, where many pilgrims pray Fajr and make supplication on the morning of Eid.
- The plain: a wide, open area with marked boundaries, lighting, water points and toilet blocks set up for the Hajj night.
- Wadi Muhassir: the valley between Muzdalifah and Mina, which is not part of Muzdalifah and which pilgrims pass through quickly.
Things to Do at Muzdalifah
- Pray Maghrib and Isha combined on arrival, after sunset on 9 Dhul Hijjah.
- Spend the night: rest until after Fajr; the elderly, the weak and those caring for them may leave after midnight, following the guidance of their scholars and Hajj group.
- Collect pebbles: small pebbles for Ramy al-Jamarat in Mina; many pilgrims collect seven for the first day here.
- Make dhikr and supplication after Fajr, then move on to Mina before sunrise.
Muzdalifah – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
- Who may visit: Muslims only; Muzdalifah lies inside the Haram of Makkah.
- Hajj: spending the night of 10 Dhul Hijjah here requires a Hajj permit through official channels.
- Outside Hajj: the plain is open with no entry fee, and Muslims in Makkah can pass through on a ziyarah of the holy sites.
How Long to Spend at Muzdalifah
- Hajj: from after sunset on the Day of Arafah until after Fajr the next morning (or until after midnight for those with a valid excuse).
- Ziyarah visit: a brief stop, usually combined with Mina and Arafat.
How to Get There
- During Hajj: by your Hajj provider’s buses, on foot along the marked pedestrian routes from Arafat, or on the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah metro line, which runs between Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina during the Hajj season only. Road traffic is heavily restricted.
- Outside Hajj: by taxi, ride-hailing app or private car from central Makkah, typically 15 to 25 minutes.
Arriving at Jeddah airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer to your hotel in Makkah, or take the Haramain train.
Eateries Nearby Muzdalifah
There are no restaurants in Muzdalifah. Carry water and some food for the Hajj night; your Hajj provider may hand out packs. For restaurants, return to central Makkah around Masjid al-Haram.
Other Attractions Nearby Muzdalifah
- Mina: the City of Tents and the Jamarat.
- Mount Arafat: the site of the Day of Arafah.
- Masjid al-Haram: the Grand Mosque, for Tawaf al-Ifadah.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Makkah: hotels around the Haram and in Ajyad are walkable to the mosque; prices peak in Ramadan and the Hajj season.
- Get a Saudi Arabia eSIM on Klook before you land, for maps, the Nusuk app and ride-hailing apps.
Muzdalifah is the plain between Arafat and Mina where pilgrims spend the night after the Day of Arafah, praying Maghrib and Isha together, collecting pebbles and making supplication at al-Mash’ar al-Haram before dawn.
Read the rest of the Hajj route in our guides to Mount Arafat and Mina.
