Rabat – More than 2 million Muslims have performed the “stoning of the devil” ritual as part of the Hajj pilgrimage.
The act is one of the major rituals in Mina, 5 kilometers to the east of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The ritual marks the end of the Hajj Pilgrimage in Mina.
Dressed in white, thousands of Muslims from different countries across the globe chanted “Allah Akbar” (God is great) and threw stones at pillars or jamrat on Tuesday. The three pillars, called jamarat, represent Satan in Mina.
Pilgrims pelt seven stones at each pillar.
The ritual honors the prophet Abraham’s stoning of the devil, who attempted to convince him to disobey God’s order.
However, the prophet’s determination to obey God and sacrifice his son Ishmael overcame the devil’s temptation, according to the Qur’anic account.
Before Abraham carried through and sacrificed his son, God provided a male goat to sacrifice instead to honor Abraham for obeying God’s command.
Muslims across the world celebrate Eid al-Adha to commemorate Abraham’s obedience, sacrificing a sheep or a goat.
Saudi authorities estimated the number of pilgrims, who are mostly from foreign countries, at 2.4 million.
“Our country’s greatest honor is to serve God’s guests,” said King Salman of Saudi Arabia.
Morocco’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mustapha Mansouri said the conditions of Moroccan pilgrims’ Hajj experience in 2018 were positive.
Approximately 32,000 Moroccan pilgrims performed Hajj this year, the ambassador added.
