Pilgrims Stone the Devil During Hajj as Muslims Celebrate Eid al-Adha

Ibrahim Shehu Adili

5 months ago

Mecca, Saudi Arabia – As Muslims worldwide celebrated Eid al-Adha, 1.8 million pilgrims in Saudi Arabia undertook the final major ritual of the hajj pilgrimage by performing the “stoning of the devil” on Sunday. This significant event, which took place in the Mina valley near Mecca, involved pilgrims throwing seven stones at each of three concrete walls that symbolize the devil.

This ritual commemorates the moment when the Prophet Abraham is said to have repelled the devil’s temptation to disobey God’s command to sacrifice his son. Despite the extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in Arafat on Saturday, pilgrims persevered through the ritual, many resting and hydrating along the way.

Saudi authorities have made substantial improvements to the site to manage the large crowds and prevent tragedies like the 2015 stampede, which resulted in the deaths of up to 2,300 worshippers. However, the journey remains challenging, with numerous cases of heat stress and fatigue reported.

The stoning ritual coincides with the Eid al-Adha festival, also known as the “Feast of the Sacrifice,” which honors Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. Traditionally, Muslims slaughter a sheep and distribute the meat to the needy.

This year’s pilgrimage has been marked by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. King Salman invited 2,000 Palestinians to perform the hajj, including relatives of those affected by the conflict. Despite warnings against political expressions, many pilgrims have expressed solidarity with Palestinians.

“This pilgrimage shows the unity and equality among Muslims,” said Amal Mahrouss, a 55-year-old Egyptian pilgrim. “We are all equal here, and we pray for peace and justice for everyone.”

The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey at least once in their lifetime. This year, 1.6 million of the pilgrims came from abroad, reflecting the global nature of this religious event.

Source: Channels TV

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