In the early years of Islam, there was no mosque in Namira village where the Prophet (peace be upon him) stayed during the farewell pilgrimage. Pilgrims remained at the site to perform Zuhr and Asr prayers in line with the guidance of the Prophet (pbuh). However, in the mid-second century Hijri during the Abbasid Caliphate, the first mosque was constructed at the location. Part of the mosque is within the boundary of Arafat while the rest is outside. Green signboards are posted inside Namira Mosque to prevent the thousands of pilgrims from going out of the limits of Arafat. However, despite the clarity of the signs indicating that part of the mosque being outside Arafat's boundary, thousands of pilgrims remain the whole day outside of Arafat believing that their mere presence inside the mosque is sufficient. Moreover, others insist on praying in the rear part of the mosque believing that prayer in the front part would not be accepted, hence, mixing the edicts (fatwa) on prayer and the warning not to stay in ‘Uranah Valley (Wadi ‘Uranah). Namira Mosque can be seen by a person entering Arafat as a place where the Prophet (pbuh) gave his historic sermon and which has now become a stretch of white plain where pilgrims come from all over the world to shed tears of repentance. The location, which now has abundant services, has witnessed enormous expansion turning the once small area into one of over 100,000 square meters. On Sunday, the mosque will witness the prayers of tens of thousands of pilgrims. A majority of jurists don't consider praying in Namira Mosque as necessary. It is this belief of the people regarding prayer in the Mosque as a part of the Haj rituals that causes overcrowding and jostling at the mosque. Dr. Abdullah Al-Jibreen, member of the Standing Committee for Ifta (Ruling), commented on this misunderstanding of some pilgrims by stressing that it is not incumbent upon pilgrims to pray in Namira Mosque, adding that they can also pray in congregation in their camps. On Arafat Day, the pilgrims should combine and shorten Zuhr and Asr prayers at Zuhr time so as to devote the rest of the day to supplication (Dua'a) and Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) whether in their camp or elsewhere within the bounds of Arafat.
