What is the ruling on one who leaves 'Arafah before the setting of the sun for illness or the like?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on one who leaves 'Arafah before the setting of the sun due to illness, weakness, or old age? And what is the ruling on one who does so believing that seeing 'Arafah is sufficient for him, even if he is outside its boundaries?
The Shaykh : The stronger opinion is that staying in 'Arafah until the sun sets is obligatory, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not depart before the sun set. If it had been permissible, he would have departed before the sun set, as it is daytime and easier for people. Also, if a person departs before the sun sets, he has moved from the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to the Sunnah of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, because the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance are those who depart from 'Arafah before the sun sets. If one does this, and if he did so intentionally, two things result from his action: the first is sin, and the second, according to the majority of scholars, is a fidyah (ransom payment) which he slaughters in Makkah and distributes to the poor. As for if he leaves 'Arafah before the sun sets while being ignorant, the sin is dropped from him, but it is obligatory for him, according to the majority of scholars, to offer the substitute, which is to slaughter a sheep in Makkah and distribute it to the poor. Yes.
The Shaykh : The stronger opinion is that staying in 'Arafah until the sun sets is obligatory, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not depart before the sun set. If it had been permissible, he would have departed before the sun set, as it is daytime and easier for people. Also, if a person departs before the sun sets, he has moved from the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to the Sunnah of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, because the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance are those who depart from 'Arafah before the sun sets. If one does this, and if he did so intentionally, two things result from his action: the first is sin, and the second, according to the majority of scholars, is a fidyah (ransom payment) which he slaughters in Makkah and distributes to the poor. As for if he leaves 'Arafah before the sun sets while being ignorant, the sin is dropped from him, but it is obligatory for him, according to the majority of scholars, to offer the substitute, which is to slaughter a sheep in Makkah and distribute it to the poor. Yes.