Starting at dawn, 1.8 million Muslims will throw seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolizing the devil in the Mina valley near Makkah. This ritual commemorates Prophet Abraham’s rejection of the devil’s attempts to dissuade him from sacrificing his son.
Over the years, the stoning ritual has seen multiple stampedes, including a tragic incident in 2015 where up to 2,300 worshippers died. The site has since been redesigned to manage the large crowds more safely.
On Saturday night, pilgrims gathered stones and slept outdoors in Muzdalifah, halfway between Mina and Arafat, enduring temperatures as high as 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
“It was very, very hot,” said Rohy Daiseca, a 60-year-old Gambian living in the United States. “Thank God, I put a lot of water on my head and it was OK.”
“I am so happy that I can’t describe my feelings,” said Amal Mahrouss, a 55-year-old woman from Egypt. “This place shows us that we are all equal, with no differences between Muslims around the world.”
As one of the five pillars of Islam, the hajj must be performed at least once by all Muslims who can afford it. This year’s number of pilgrims is similar to last year’s, with 1.6 million coming from abroad.
