Hajj Concludes with the “Stoning of the Devil” in Mina

AFP/APP

Mina: Pilgrims completed the final major ritual of the hajj, the “stoning of the devil,” in western Saudi Arabia on Sunday, as Muslims worldwide celebrated the Eid al-Azha holiday. 

Starting at dawn, 1.8 million Muslims participating in the pilgrimage threw seven stones at each of the three concrete walls symbolizing the devil in the Mina valley, near Makkah, Islam’s holiest city.

This ritual commemorates Abraham’s rejection of Satan at three locations where it is believed Satan tried to dissuade him from following God’s command to sacrifice his son.

The stoning ritual has historically been marred by stampedes, the most recent in 2015 claiming up to 2,300 lives, making it the deadliest hajj disaster. The site has since been revamped to manage the massive crowds better.

Nevertheless, roads to the walls were crowded early Sunday, with some pilgrims visibly struggling under the morning sun. Some took breaks on the roadside to rest and hydrate, while others lay on the ground, exhausted.

On Saturday, temperatures soared to 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in Arafat, where pilgrims engaged in hours of outdoor prayers. A local treatment center reported 225 cases of heat stress and fatigue, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

This figure does not cover all incidents. Last year, over 10,000 heat-related illnesses were documented during the hajj, with 10 percent being heat stroke cases, according to a health ministry spokesperson.

“It was very, very hot,” said Rohy Daiseca, a 60-year-old Gambian residing in the United States, on Saturday night as pilgrims collected stones for the ritual. “Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), I poured a lot of water on my head, and it was OK.”

Despite the challenging conditions, worshippers have embraced the experience, viewing it as a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pray at Islam’s holiest sites. “I am so happy that I can’t describe my feelings,” said Amal Mahrouss, a 55-year-old Egyptian woman.

“This place shows us that we are all equal, that there are no differences between Muslims around the world.”

One of the five pillars of Islam, the hajj is a mandatory pilgrimage for all Muslims who are financially and physically able. T

his year’s 1.8 million pilgrims closely match last year’s numbers, with Saudi authorities reporting that 1.6 million pilgrims came from abroad.