Muslim pilgrims resume symbolic stoning of the devil

MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims took advantage of the early hours of Monday to participate in the second day of symbolic stoning of the devil, as the summer midday heat has caused heat stroke among the thousands of people completing the pilgrimage of the hajj

The final days of the haj coincide with celebrations of the Eid al-Adha holiday, or Feast of Sacrifice, among Muslims around the world.

The stoning of pillars representing the devil takes place in Mina, a desert plain outside the city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. There was a third day of stoning scheduled for the Tuesday before the Farewell Tawaf, in which worshipers walk in circles around the Kaaba, a cubic structure in Mecca.

The haj pilgrimage is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. All Muslims are required to make the journey at least once in their lifetime if they have the physical and financial means to do so.

More than 1.83 million Muslims will perform the haj in 2024, slightly less than the 1.84 million last year, according to Saudi authorities.

The rites largely commemorate passages from the Quran about the Prophet Ibrahim, his son the Prophet Ismail, and Ismail’s mother Hajar, mentioned in the Bible as Abraham, Ishmael and Hagar.

The celebrations have taken place this year in harsh summer heat, with temperatures expected to reach 49 degrees Celsius in Mecca and holy sites in and around the city on Monday, according to the Saudi National Center of Meteorology.

“Of course, this is something very hard and tiring. The temperature is abnormal compared to previous years, and this affects us a lot,” said Ahmed Al-baradie, an Egyptian pilgrim, after completing the second symbolic stoning of him.

More than 2,760 attendees suffered heat stroke and heat stress on Sunday, at the start of the first round of stoning, according to the Ministry of Health. Jordan announced on Sunday that 14 Jordanian pilgrims had died from heat stroke.

On Monday morning there were fewer pilgrims on the streets leading to the pillars than the day before.

The haj is one of the most crowded religious events in the world. The rituals officially began on Friday when pilgrims left Mecca’s Grand Mosque towards Mina, and then Mount Arafat. From there they return to Mina, where they spend up to three days throwing seven pebbles at three pillars, a ritual that symbolizes the expulsion of evil and sin.

While in Mina, pilgrims visit Mecca for “tawaf,” which involves circling the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque seven times counterclockwise. Then the Farewell Tawaf is done again, which ends the hajj.

Once finished, men are expected to shave their heads and women to cut a lock of hair as a symbol of renewal.

Afterwards, most pilgrims leave Mecca for the city of Medina, about 340 kilometers, to pray at the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad.