incurs no sin”—and so on to the end of the verse. If the sun sets while he is still in Minā, he must remain until he stones the jamrahs with the people on the third day. The imam who oversees the people’s pilgrimage rites should not leave early; rather, the Sunnah is for him to remain until the third day. It is also the Sunnah for the imam to lead the people in prayer at Minā, and for those attending the pilgrimage to pray behind him.

It is recommended not to miss praying with the imam in the mosque of Minā, namely the Mosque of al-Khayf. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, Abū Bakr and ‘Umar used to lead the people in shortened prayers at Minā without combining them. Everyone praying behind them shortened their prayers, whether they were residents of Mecca or not. It was only when he led them in prayer in Mecca itself that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have said:

“O people of Mecca, complete your prayers, for we are travellers.”

If there is no imam leading everyone, a man should lead his companions in prayer. The mosque was built after the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him; it did not exist in his lifetime.

When leaving Minā, it is good to spend the night at al-Muhassab—also known as al-Abtah, the area between the two mountains extending to the cemetery—and then depart, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, spent the night there and then left. He did not stay in Mecca after returning from Minā, but bade farewell to the House and said:

“Let no one depart until his last act is a visit to the House.”

Thus, the pilgrim must not leave until he has bidden farewell to the House by performing the farewell tawaf, so that it will be