Chapter 6 - Muzdalifa
From Arafat we made our way to the plains of Muzdalifa which is ordinarily not more than a half hour drive but now takes us 3-4 hours. We never do make it to the place we were allocated. Everything moving just grinds to a halt and we stop close to an over pass. We are to spend the night on the plains without any shelter as has been done over the centuries by other hajis. Here we have just found a spot on the road to sleep since even the desert is taken!
Picking up pea sized pebbles to throw at the Jamarat the following day. Often, people try to sollect the biggest stones they can find, but that is neither necessary nor correct. here Arshad had foung quite a treasure trove. Every year, the stones thrown at the jamarat are collected and spread back over the desert.
We had barely fallen asleep when buses started up behind us and started to creep forward about to crush the sleeping people. It seems that some folks use the sunnah that the frail, women and elderly are allowed to leave after midnight and since there are women in the group they are exempt. Since we were in the way, we had to decide whether to stay and get driven over or leave as well. Now ther ensued a heated argument with the driver fo the bus. Ultimately we packed up and left as well.
