The time of departure from Arafah

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said to Sayyiduna Ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) after the sun had set: "Now depart from Arafah."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that Jibril (peace be upon him) came to Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and stayed with him at Arafat, until, when it was the time by which a man could quickly pray Maghrib, he set out with him.

Something similar is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Qays bin Makhramah bin al-Muttalib that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon at Arafat and said: "Amma ba'd (to proceed): Today is the day of the greater Hajj. The people of Jahiliyyah and the idol-worshippers used to depart on this day before sunset, at the time when the sunlight lay on the mountains as though it were men's turbans upon their faces. We will depart after the sun has set, so let no one hurry; our way is contrary to that of the polytheists and the idol-worshippers."

Sayyiduna Ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The imam should depart from Arafat after the sun has set.

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) considered it best to depart from Arafat when the night had become evident and the fasting person had broken his fast.

Abd al-Rahman bin Yazid said: I was at Arafat with Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), and Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was the leader over the people. When the sun set, Sayyiduna Abdullah said: If the Commander of the Believers departs from Arafat now, he will have attained the Sunnah. And he set off at once.