Muslim faithful on Wednesday performed the symbolic “stoning of the devil” ritual near the holy city of Mecca, marking one of the climactic moments of the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
From the early hours of the day, massive crowds of pilgrims converged on the valley of Mina, southeast of Mecca, to throw pebbles at giant concrete pillars representing the devil.
The ritual reenacts the actions of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who, according to Islamic tradition, stoned Satan at three different locations after the devil attempted to dissuade him from obeying God’s command to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.
More than 1.7 million pilgrims are participating in this year’s hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, which every Muslim who is physically and financially able is expected to perform at least once in a lifetime.
This year’s pilgrimage comes amid continued global tensions and regional instability in the Middle East.
For the third consecutive year, the annual Islamic gathering has taken place under the shadow of war, this time influenced by the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has heightened concerns across Gulf nations.
Although a fragile ceasefire reached on April 8 has largely reduced active fighting, diplomatic efforts to secure a permanent resolution to the crisis remain inconclusive.
The hajj rituals have also been marked by extreme weather conditions, with pilgrims enduring intense desert temperatures throughout the exercise.
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On Tuesday, pilgrims gathered at Mount Arafat, where Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his farewell sermon, under temperatures reportedly reaching 45 degrees Celsius.
After prayers at Arafat, pilgrims moved to Muzdalifah, where they spent the night outdoors collecting pebbles later used for the stoning ritual in Mina.
Following the completion of the symbolic stoning, pilgrims are expected to return to Mecca to perform the farewell circumambulation of the Kaaba, the cuboid structure at the centre of the Grand Mosque and Islam’s holiest site.
The final phase of the hajj coincides with the celebration of Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, which commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God before divine intervention replaced the child with a ram.
Eid al-Adha is traditionally marked by the slaughtering of animals such as sheep, goats or cows, with portions of the meat distributed to the poor and needy as part of acts of charity and devotion.