Section: The Sunnah is to perform the prayer early when the sun passes its meridian, to shorten the sermon, and then to proceed to the station (mawquf). This is because it was narrated that Salim said to al-Hajjaj (5) on the Day of Arafah: "If you wish to attain the Sunnah, shorten the sermon and hasten the prayer." Ibn Umar said: "He spoke the truth." Narrated by al-Bukhari (6). This is because lengthening them prevents proceeding to the station at the beginning of the time of the meridian, and the Sunnah is to hasten in that regard. It was narrated that Salim (7) said that al-Hajjaj sent word to Ibn Umar: "At what hour did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) proceed on this day?" He replied: "When that time comes, we shall proceed." When Ibn Umar wanted to proceed, he said: "Has the sun passed its meridian?" They said: "It has not." When they said: "It has passed," he set out. Narrated by Abu Dawud (8). Ibn Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) set out early from Mina when he had prayed the morning prayer on the morning of the Day of Arafah, until he reached Arafah. He descended in Namirah until, when it was time for the Dhuhr prayer, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) proceeded during the time of al-tahjir (praying early in the heat of the day), then he combined the Dhuhr and Asr prayers. Then he addressed the people, and then he proceeded and stood at the station of Arafah (9)." We have already mentioned the hadith of Jabir regarding this. Ibn Abd al-Barr said: "There is no disagreement among the scholars of the Muslims regarding all of this."
Section: It is permissible for everyone (10) who is in Arafah, whether they are a Meccan or otherwise, to combine the prayers. Ibn al-Mundhir said:
(5) In Manuscripts B and M: "to the pilgrim (lil-hajj)", which is an error. (6) In: The Chapter on al-Tahjir (hastening) by proceeding on the Day of Arafah, and: The Chapter on combining the two prayers in Arafah, from the Book of Hajj. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/198, 199. It was also recorded by al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on shortening the sermon in Arafah, from the Book of Manasik (Rituals). Al-Mujtaba 5/204. (7) What is in the Sunan of Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah is that the narrator of the hadith from Ibn Umar is Sa'id ibn Hassan. (8) In: The Chapter on proceeding to Arafah, from the Book of Manasik. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/445. It was also recorded by Ibn Majah in: The Chapter on the station in Arafah, from the Book of Manasik. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1001. (9) Recorded by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on the departure to Arafah, from the Book of Hajj. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/445. And by Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/129. (10) In Manuscripts B and M, there is the addition: "being (kana)."
