How should the Maghrib and Isha prayers be performed after departing Arafat for Muzdalifah?
Chapter on the Description of Hajj
Al-Mughni
Book of Hajj
Primary text
The Sunnah for one departing from Arafat is to delay the Maghrib prayer until reaching Muzdalifah and then combine (Jam') the Maghrib and Isha prayers. There is no scholarly dispute that combining these two prayers is the Sunnah, based on the practice of the Prophet, peace be upon him, as narrated by Jabir, Ibn Umar, Usamah, Abu Ayyub, and others. The established practice is to have a separate Iqamah (call to stand for prayer) for each prayer, as narrated regarding Usamah. In this account, the Prophet performed ablution upon arriving at Muzdalifah, the Iqamah was made, and he prayed Maghrib. Then, after setting up camp, the Iqamah was made again, and he prayed Isha, without performing anything between them.
Supporting text
It is also permissible to combine them using only the first Iqamah, which is narrated from Ibn Umar and supported by Al-Thawri. Alternatively, it is considered good practice to have the Adhan for the first prayer and an Iqamah for it, followed by an Iqamah for the second prayer without a new Adhan, as this is supported by Jabir's hadith, which is interpreted as including an addition considered when dealing with missed or combined prayers. Al-Kharqi chose the method of an Iqamah for each prayer without an Adhan, as this was the final view of Ahmad, preferring Usamah's narration due to his close proximity to the Prophet. Malik held that they should be combined with an Adhan followed by two Iqamahs, a view narrated from Umar, Ibn Umar, and Ibn Mas'ud. However, there is no known Prophetic hadith supporting Malik's view.