Nearly two million pilgrims in Saudi Arabia began the final stage of the Hajj pilgrimage today by performing the stoning of the devil ritual at Mina before concluding their pilgrimage with the farewell circumambulation at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
The Stoning of the Devil, known as “Ramy al-Jamarat” in Arabic, symbolises the rejection of evil and temptation, rooted in the story of Prophet Ibrahim (as) and his defiance of Satan.
Allah SWT commanded Ibrahim(as) to sacrifice his son Ismail (as) as a test of faith. On his way to carry out this command, Satan appeared three times to tempt Ibrahim (as) into disobeying Allah — first to dissuade Ibrahim (as) himself, then his wife Hajar and finally his son Ismail (as).
Each time, Ibrahim (as), guided by the angel Jibril, drove Satan away by throwing stones at him. This act of defiance and steadfast faith is commemorated by pilgrims during Hajj.
The three locations where Satan appeared are symbolised by three structures called the Jamarat, located in Mina, a valley just east of Mecca. The ritual represents a Muslim’s commitment to resist temptation, reject evil and remain obedient to Allah.
The Stoning of the Devil takes place during the days of Tashreeq, which follow Eid al-Adha, the Islamic festival commemorating Ibrahim’s (as) willingness to sacrifice his son.
It begins on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah (the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar) and continues on the 11th, 12th, and optionally the 13th.
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Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman lauded the success of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage at a reception held at the Royal Court in Mina Palace.
“The continued success we witness today in serving pilgrims is the result of the efforts of our blessed state in serving the Two Holy Mosques, the holy sites, and their visitors,” the crown prince said. “We will continue to exert every effort to provide comfort to the pilgrims.”
Director of Public Security and Chairman of the Hajj Security Committee Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami said 213,323 military and security personnel participated in the Hajj operation.
Separately, Interior Ministry spokesperson Col. Talal bin Al-Shalhoub told a press briefing that the smooth operation was due to crowd management, highlighting the integration of all agencies and pilgrims’ compliance with guidelines.
He emphasised that the key factor was the joint security and media campaign “No Hajj Without a Permit,” which helped prevent unauthorised access and overcrowding.
The six-day Hajj season began on Wednesday, and the final rituals will continue until Monday.
The Saudi General Authority for Statistics said the number of Hajj pilgrims this year reached 1.673 million, including 1.506 million who arrived from outside the kingdom.
The Hajj pilgrimage is the fifth pillar of the Islamic faith, a ritual that must be performed by all Muslims, if financially viable, at least once in their lives.
It includes a number of rituals aimed at illustrating the fundamental concepts of Islam and commemorating the Prophet Ibrahim (as) and his family’s trials.
