Pilgrims arrive Mina for stoning ritual

Pilgrims began arriving in Mina valley at the outskirts of Saudi Arabia at dawn to perform the ritual of stoning the Jamarat.

The News Agency of Nigeria authorities have allocated multiple paths to ensure a smooth movement of pilgrims across the Jamarat facility’s various floors.

The Jamarat bridge connected to pedestrian bridges and the Mashaer train, was well-managed with security, health, ambulance, and civil defence services in place.

Pilgrims stoned Jamrat al-Aqaba in an orderly manner, following a prepared schedule, and after completing the ritual, they returned to their camps smoothly.

With the completion of this ritual, pilgrims will proceed with other essential Hajj rituals, including sacrificing animals, shaving their heads (for men), tawaf al-ifadah (circling the Kaaba) and saii (walking between Safa and Marwa hills).

According to a report by Study.com, the Jamarat are three stone pillars located in Mecca that play a vital role in the Hajj pilgrimage.

Pilgrims throw pebbles at these pillars in a ritual known as rajm al-jamarat, or the Stoning of the Devil, symbolizing the rejection of Satan and reaffirmation of faith in Allah.

Study.com stated that the ritual commemorates the story of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham in the Christian tradition), who was tested by Allah and commanded to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.

According to Islamic tradition, Satan appeared three times to tempt Ibrahim into disobeying Allah’s command. Each time, the angel Jibraeel (Gabriel) instructed Ibrahim to drive Satan away by throwing stones at him.

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The Jamarat mark the locations where this stoning is believed to have occurred. Today, the original stone piles have been replaced by stone walls to accommodate pilgrims.

The three pillars vary in size, with the smallest representing the first temptation and the largest, Jamarat al-Aqabah, symbolizing Satan’s most persistent attempt.

By reenacting this act during Hajj, Muslims express their rejection of evil and renew their devotion to Allah. The ritual is a mandatory component of the pilgrimage to Mecca, alongside visiting the Kaaba and the Black Stone.