The mistakes made on the way to and in Muzdalifah are as follows:
1- Moving hurriedly when leaving `Arafah for Muzdalifah
2- Stopping before reaching Muzdalifah because of being tired
3- Praying Maghrib and `Isha’ on the way to Muzdalifah
4- Not praying Maghrib and `Isha’ even after reaching Muzdalifah
5- Leaving Muzdalifah before spending the minimum period of time there
6- Praying Fajr before its time
7- Staying awake on the night of Muzdalifah
8- Staying in Muzdalifah until the sun has risen
Elaborating more on these mistakes, the prominent Saudi scholar Sheikh Ibn `Uthaymeen (may Allah shower mercy on his soul) issued the following fatwa:
“1. When pilgrims leave `Arafah for Muzdalifah, some push and shove others and are in too much of a hurry, which sometimes leads to accidents. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left `Arafah in a calm and dignified manner. He pulled the reins of his she-camel Al-Qaswa’ tightly so that her head touched the saddle (in order to keep her under perfect control), and he gestured to the people to slow down.
2. Some people stop before they reach Muzdalifah, especially those who are walking, because they get tired, and they stay there until they pray Fajr Prayer, then go to Mina. Whoever does that has failed to stay overnight in Muzdalifah.
3. Some people pray Maghrib Prayer and `Isha’ Prayer in the usual manner on the way, before they reach Muzdalifah. This is contrary to the sunnah because when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stopped on the way and urinated and made wudu’, Usamah Ibn Zayd said to him, “Are you going to pray, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “The prayer is still ahead of you” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). And he did not pray until he reached Muzdalifah.
4. Some people do not pray Maghrib Prayer and `Isha’ Prayer even after they have reached Muzdalifah, even if the time for `Isha’ Prayer has ended. This is not permissible. In fact it is haram and a major sin, because delaying prayers until the time has passed is not permissible according to evidence in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
5. Some pilgrims pray Fajr Prayer before its time and then leave. This is also a serious mistake because prayer offered before its time is not accepted; in fact, it is haram because it is overstepping the limits set by Allah.
6. Some pilgrims leave Muzdalifah before they have spent the minimum period of time there, so you see them passing through without stopping, saying that doing so is sufficient. This is a serious mistake because passing through is not sufficient. In fact, the Sunnah indicates that the pilgrim should stay in Muzdalifah until he has prayed Fajr Prayer, then he should stop at Al-Mash`ar Al-Haram, making du`a’ until it has become very light, then he should set out for Mina. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made a concession for the weak among his family, and allowed them to leave Muzdalifah at night.
7. Some people stay up on the night of Muzdalifah praying Qiyam Al-Layl, reading Qur’an and reciting dhikr. This is contrary to the Sunnah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not worship Allah in this manner on this night. In Sahih Muslim it is narrated from the hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that after the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had prayed `Isha’ Prayer, he lay down until dawn came, then he prayed Fajr Prayer. This indicates that there is no Tahajjud (optional late night Prayer), tasbeeh (glorifying and praising Allah), dhikr (remembering Allah), or reading Qur’an on this night.
8. Some pilgrims stay in Muzdalifah until the sun has risen, and then they pray Salat Ash-Shuruq or Al-Ishraaq, then they leave. This is a mistake because it involves going against the teachings of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left Muzdalifah before the sun rose, when it had become very light.”