ByBASSAM HATOUM and LUJAIN JO
Published [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year]
MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims cast stones at pillars representing the devil on Thursday in the final days of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
This year’s pilgrimage was the first in three years to be held without coronavirus restrictions and drew over 1.8 million Muslims from all corners of the Earth.
The pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam, required of all Muslims at least once in their lives if they are able to undertake it. For the pilgrims, it is a deeply spiritual journey that wipes away sins and affirms the unity of the worldwide Muslim community.
It began with pilgrims circling the Kaaba in Mecca’s Grand Mosque, the cube-shaped structure to which Muslims face during their five daily prayers. The spiritual high point came on Tuesday. That’s when pilgrims flocked to Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon.
During the final three days of the Hajj, pilgrims cast stones at pillars representing the devil, a reenactment of the temptation of the Prophet Ibrahim as related in Muslim traditions. Christian and Jewish traditions refer to him as Abraham.
“Thank God, we completed the Hajj successfully and we came here for the second day of stoning,” said Ahmed Emret, a Turkish pilgrim.
He was among hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who made their way to the Jamarat complex, where wide pedestrian walkways and bridges carry them past three widened pillars.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the stoning ceremony was marred by deadly stampedes that killed hundreds of pilgrims. Since then, Saudi authorities have expanded the infrastructure at the site and imposed strict crowd controls.
“Stoning the devil makes you feel satisfied, because you get the blessing of the merciful (God) and ask God to accept your pilgrimage,” said Fahd Abdullah, a Syrian pilgrim.
The last three days of the Hajj also coincide with Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, when Muslims the world over slaughter sheep and cattle and share the meat with the poor.
This year the Hajj was held in intense heat, with daytime temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). Most rituals are held outdoors in the desert.
The Saudi Health Ministry said it had treated over 1,700 cases of heat exhaustion or heat stroke on Thursday alone, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pilgrimage to over 8,400. Muhammad Al-Abdel Ali, a Health Ministry spokesman, said Wednesday that some 4,000 pilgrims had been hospitalized.
The Health Ministry warned pilgrims to carry umbrellas and avoid direct sunlight at all times, and to drink plenty of water. Tens of thousands of health workers have been mobilized for the pilgrimage, and water and free drinks were being handed out to the pilgrims.
FAQs
During the final three days of the Hajj, pilgrims cast stones at pillars representing the devil, a reenactment of the temptation of the Prophet Ibrahim as related in Muslim traditions. Christian and Jewish traditions refer to him as Abraham.
What is the stoning of the devil at the Hajj called? ›
The Stoning of the Devil (Arabic: رمي الجمرات ramy al-jamarāt, lit. "throwing of the jamarāt [place of pebbles]") is part of the annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
What symbolism is shown during the Hajj? ›
This rite is said to be the manifestation of Tawhid, the Oneness of God. The heart and soul of the pilgrim should move around Kaaba, the symbol of the House of God, in a way that no worldly attraction distracts him from this path. Only Tawhid should attract him. Tawaf also represents Muslims' unity.
What do the Muslim pilgrims have to do on this pilgrimage? ›
During the first stage of Hajj, Muslims walk around the Ka'bah in an anti-clockwise direction seven times. This is known as Tawaf and is done to show that all Muslims are equal. The next ritual requires Muslims to run between two hills, Safa and Marwah, seven times.
What is the destination of the Muslim pilgrimage known as the Hajj? ›
hajj, in Islam, the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which every adult Muslim must make at least once in his or her lifetime. The hajj is the fifth of the fundamental Muslim practices and institutions known as the Five Pillars of Islam.
What does the stoning of the devil represent? ›
While the casting of stones at the Devil symbolizes the expulsion of evil and the abandonment of worldly thoughts, it also serves to protect the pilgrims from evil when they return to everyday life.
What is the stoning ritual for Hajj? ›
The Stoning of the Devil ritual is performed at the Jamarat, which is located in Mina, near Mecca. It is performed on four consecutive days of the Hajj, the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th days of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th month of the Islamic calendar). On the first day, pilgrims cast seven stones at Jamarat al-Aqaba.
What is the purpose of the Hajj pilgrimage? ›
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so. For the pilgrims, it is a profound spiritual experience that wipes away sins, brings them closer to God and highlights Muslim unity.
What is the deeper meaning of Hajj? ›
The Inner Journey
Hajj is not just a physical journey, it is a journey of the inner soul which seeks purification and nearness to God. “If you intend to go on pilgrimage, before resolving on it devote your heart to Allah. (SWT) stripping it of every preoccupation and every barrier.” (Ja'far ibn Muhammed al-Sadiq)
What are the five significances of Hajj? ›
Hajj cleanses the soul, bringing purity, hope and renewal. By strengthening individual faith, it also strengthens the unity of all followers of Islam. Ihram clothing minimizes differences between Muslims of different nationalities and social classes.
The pilgrim then heads to the Kaaba to perform tawaf, starting and ending at the Black Stone. They then try and pray behind the Maqam Ibrahim before performing saiy, by walking and running seven times between the sacred hills, Safa and Marwah. After this the pilgrim come out of ihram by shaving or trimming their hair.
What is the most important Muslim pilgrimage? ›
The Hajj: The Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca and the Holy Places.
What the pilgrims must do to complete Hajj? ›
How Do I Perform Hajj?
- Preparation and Intention. ...
- Entering The State Of Ihram. ...
- Tawaf x 7. ...
- Safa and Marwa. ...
- Clip/Shave Hair (Umrah Ends) ...
- Resting and praying. ...
- Re-entering State of Ihram (Day 1/8th Dhul Hijjah) ...
- Arrive At Mina.
Answer and Explanation: When a Muslim completes the Hajj, they earn a title denoting their attainment of the Fifth Pillar of Islam. For women, the title is Hajjan, while the title is Hajji for men. They often add this to their name as al-Hajji or al-Hajjan.
What is the largest religion in the world? ›
Largest religious groups
| Religion | Followers (billions) | Founded |
|---|
| Christianity | 2.4 | Judaea (Middle East) |
| Islam | 1.9 | Arabia (Middle East) |
| Hinduism | 1.2 | Indian subcontinent |
| Buddhism | 0.5 | Indian subcontinent |
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What was stoning called? ›
Stoning, or lapidation, is a method of capital punishment where a group throws stones at a person until the subject dies from blunt trauma. It has been attested as a form of punishment for grave misdeeds since ancient times.
What is the black stone in the Hajj? ›
One popular story holds that the stone is a meteorite, which fell from the sky to show Adam and Eve where the first temple should be built. Many believe that the Black Stone absorbs the sins of those who touch it and that it was originally white but has been blackened from thousands of years of received sins.
What is the stone pelting in Islam? ›
Rajm (Arabic: رجم; meaning stoning) in Islam refers to the Hudud punishment wherein an organized group throws stones at a convicted individual until that person dies.
What is Muzdalifah in Hajj? ›
Muzdalifah is a valley between Mina and Mount Arafat in which pilgrims on Hajj spend the night in the open. It is here they gather pebbles to hurl at the pillars of Mina. Main reference point: Holy Sites.
