otherwise, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “sent his family from Muzdalifah at night” (1). This indicates that he was awake during the latter part of the night. Accordingly, we say that witr on that night is like witr on any other night; however, tahajjud and keeping the night awake in worship are not prescribed.

Issue: In these latter times, a difficulty has arisen concerning staying overnight at Mina: people cannot find a place, so what should they do?

The answer is: They should stay beside the last tent of the people at Mina, based on the words of Allah Most High: “So fear Allah as much as you are able” [al-Taghabun 64:16], and His words: “Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity” [al-Baqarah 2:286].

If someone were to say: Why do you not regard this as akin to being prevented from fulfilling the rites, where being prevented from an obligation requires a sacrificial offering, as the jurists have stated?

We reply: Because in this case the place is full, so there is simply no place available. In the case of being prevented, however, the place remains available but one is barred from it. Here, there is no place; it is like the amputation of a hand, whereby washing it in wudu is waived. Thus, staying overnight is waived in this situation, while one must remain beside the last tent.

As for what some people do when they cannot find a place in Mina—going to Mecca, Taif, or somewhere similar, and saying, “Since we have not found a place in Mina, let us stay wherever we wish”—this is not correct. We say: if the mosque is full, the rows must remain connected, and prayer from a distant location is not valid. The same applies here: you must remain beside the last tent in Mina. If someone asks us, “Must I remain beside the last tent on the side farthest from Mecca, or in any direction?”