Pilgrims Conclude Hajj with Ritual Stoning of the Devil as Eid Al Adha Commences
The final ritual of Hajj takes place in Makkah, marking the start of the Eid Al Adha celebrations with heightened security and health measures.
On Friday, Muslims around the world celebrated the commencement of Eid Al Adha, while in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, millions of pilgrims concluded the Hajj pilgrimage with the ritual known as the 'stoning of the devil.' This event involved approximately 1.6 million pilgrims, who threw stones at three concrete walls in the Mina valley, symbolizing the rejection of the devil.
The ritual is a commemoration of the biblical figure Abraham's act of stoning the devil, who is believed to have attempted to dissuade him from obeying God's command to sacrifice his son.
Prior to this ritual, on Thursday, pilgrims gathered at Mount Arafat, a significant site where they prayed and recited the Quran.
This location is noted for being where Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon.
Although temperatures soared during the day, many pilgrims undertook the journey up the 70-meter-high mount, adhering to official recommendations to remain indoors during the hottest hours of 10 AM to 4 PM.
In light of the ongoing challenges posed by high temperatures, authorities implemented a variety of heat-mitigation strategies and maintained a robust security presence to manage the flow of pilgrims.
This year’s pilgrimage was characterized by a concerted effort to limit the participation of unauthorized pilgrims, which resulted in noticeably smaller crowds compared to previous years.
According to data released by the General Authority for Statistics (Gastat), a total of 1,673,230 pilgrims participated in this year’s Hajj.
This figure includes 1,506,576 international pilgrims and 166,654 domestic pilgrims, which encompasses Saudi citizens and residents.
The statistics also reveal that the demographic breakdown of pilgrims consisted of 877,841 men and 795,389 women.
Each year, the Hajj pilgrimage draws Muslims from across the globe, serving as an opportunity for spiritual reflection and repentance, fulfilling one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
For many, this experience is a profound journey of faith and a moment for seeking forgiveness and spiritual renewal.
The ritual is a commemoration of the biblical figure Abraham's act of stoning the devil, who is believed to have attempted to dissuade him from obeying God's command to sacrifice his son.
Prior to this ritual, on Thursday, pilgrims gathered at Mount Arafat, a significant site where they prayed and recited the Quran.
This location is noted for being where Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon.
Although temperatures soared during the day, many pilgrims undertook the journey up the 70-meter-high mount, adhering to official recommendations to remain indoors during the hottest hours of 10 AM to 4 PM.
In light of the ongoing challenges posed by high temperatures, authorities implemented a variety of heat-mitigation strategies and maintained a robust security presence to manage the flow of pilgrims.
This year’s pilgrimage was characterized by a concerted effort to limit the participation of unauthorized pilgrims, which resulted in noticeably smaller crowds compared to previous years.
According to data released by the General Authority for Statistics (Gastat), a total of 1,673,230 pilgrims participated in this year’s Hajj.
This figure includes 1,506,576 international pilgrims and 166,654 domestic pilgrims, which encompasses Saudi citizens and residents.
The statistics also reveal that the demographic breakdown of pilgrims consisted of 877,841 men and 795,389 women.
Each year, the Hajj pilgrimage draws Muslims from across the globe, serving as an opportunity for spiritual reflection and repentance, fulfilling one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
For many, this experience is a profound journey of faith and a moment for seeking forgiveness and spiritual renewal.