Departing from Muzdalifah to Mina after midnight

Question:
My father and I went to perform Hajj about three years ago. After we stood at 'Arafah, we went to Muzdalifah and stayed there until about midnight, then we headed to Mina because we were with a group that insisted on leaving at that time. Do we have any obligation regarding our early departure?

Answer:
There is no blame on you, if Allah wills, if the people depart after half the night has passed, there is no blame in leaving Muzdalifah. However, it is better to remain until you pray Fajr there, and to remember Allah after Fajr, praise Him, extol Him, and supplicate to Him until it becomes light, then depart as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did before the sun rose.
But the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) granted a dispensation for the weak to depart at night from Muzdalifah, such as women, children, and the weak people with them, like the elderly and the sick, and the like. The ruling for those accompanying them is the same as the ruling for them; whoever is with the weak has the same ruling as they do, he departs with them and throws the pebbles with them, and there is no blame in that.