The Ruling on Staying Overnight at Muzdalifah and Picking Up Stones from It

Question : As for… Shaykh, may Allah bless you, what is the stronger position regarding the evidence? Is it obligatory or recommended? And do we say that the intention to wake up and pick up stones, as the common people do now, is a religious innovation (bid'ah)?

Answer : Yes, the correct view is that it is apparent because it is obligatory. As for staying overnight at Muzdalifah, the closest of the opinions is that it is obligatory. As for the belief that picking up stones from Muzdalifah is a recommended practice (sunnah), there is no basis for it. Rather, it is contrary to the Sunnah in terms of timing.