Hajj pilgrims begin "the stoning of the devil"

On 7 July, millions of Muslims began the Hajj, the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca, the fifth holiest pillar of Islam. After performing the rituals of the first few days, which include circumambulations of the Kabaa, prayers in the city of Mina and the collection of pebbles, the pilgrims are preparing to perform the stoning of Jamara, also known as the 'stoning of the devil'.

The governor of Makkah, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also head of the Supreme Hajj Committee, has closely supervised, together with Prince Badr bin Sultan, the conduct of this ritual to ensure that it was carried out as safely as possible.

The infrastructure in which the great pillar where the ritual is performed has 12 entrances and 12 exit paths arranged in four directions, two tunnels and 19 ramps for pilgrims to pass through, minimising the risk of crowding. It also has several emergency exits, six service buildings, helipads and an air-conditioning system that sprays water from time to time to try to cool the atmosphere and reduce the temperature inside, which can become stifling.

Thus, Saudi security authorities, along with health workers and other government agencies, have tried to provide services to all pilgrims to help them perform the rituals easily and comfortably.

In addition, the Ministry of Health has indicated that no outbreak of any disease that could affect public health has been reported during the Hajj celebration. They also reiterated that the Hajj plans were being carried out "smoothly" and safely.

This ritual consists of throwing pebbles at three stone structures located in the city of Mina itself. This act, known as Rami, is intended to symbolise the actions of Ibrahim when he faced the ordeal of sacrificing his own son, Ismail, at the command of Allah, according to Islam.

According to The Quran, on the way for Ibrahim to carry out this commandment, the devil reportedly appeared to him three times in an attempt to dissuade him. When Ibrahim arrived at Jamarat al-Aqaba, the archangel Gabriel instructed him to throw seven pebbles at the devil, which caused him to flee.

With the act of 'stoning' the pilgrims intend to pay homage to this passage. The pilgrims arrive at Jamarat and then head towards Jamarat al-Aqaba, a large pillar at which they throw a total of seven pebbles while repeating 'Allah is the Greatest' with each throw. The pilgrims in turn throw the pebbles at two other pillars, built on the places where the devil is said to have appeared. 

After this act, the pilgrims proceed to shave and cut their hair. Women cut their hair to the length of a fingertip. They are also allowed to return to wearing comfortable clothes and to return to doing all the things that were forbidden during ihram, the state of sacralisation in which pilgrims must find themselves during their pilgrimage, except for sexual intercourse. 

The pilgrims will then perform Tawaf al-ifadha, at which point they will circle the Kabaa a total of seven times and then set out to perform the five daily prayers behind Maqam Ibrahim, a rock in front of the Kabaa where Ibrahim is believed to have performed his prayers.