Pilgrims perform the last major ritual of the haj, the \u201cstoning of the devil\u201d, in western Saudi Arabia on Sunday, as Muslims in parts of the world celebrate Eidul Azha. In Pakistan, Eidul Azha will officially be observed tomorrow. Beginning at dawn, the 1.8 million Muslims undertaking the pilgrimage this year will throw seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolising the devil in the Mina valley, located outside Makkah, the holiest city in Islam. The ritual commemorates Prophet Ibrahim\u2019s stoning of the devil at the three spots where it is said Satan tried to dissuade him from obeying God\u2019s order to sacrifice his son. The stoning ritual has been witness to multiple stampedes over the years, most recently in 2015 when up to 2,300 worshippers were killed in the worst haj disaster. The site has been revamped since then to streamline the movement of the large crowds. On Saturday night, pilgrims collected stones and slept under the stars in the plain of Muzdalifah, located halfway between Mina and Arafat, where they had spent the day praying outside in heat that reached 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit). \u201cIt was very, very hot,\u201d said Rohy Daiseca, a 60-year-old Gambian living in the United States. \u201cAlhamdulilah (thank God), I put a lot of water on my head and it was OK.\u201d Worshippers have tried to take the gruelling conditions in stride, seizing what for many is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to pray at Islam\u2019s holiest shrines. \u201cI am so happy that I can\u2019t describe my feelings,\u201d said Amal Mahrouss, a 55-year-old woman from Egypt. \u201cThis place shows us that we are all equal, that there are no differences between Muslims around the world.\u201d One of the five pillars of Islam, the haj must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means. This year\u2019s figure of 1.8m pilgrims is similar to last year\u2019s, and Saudi authorities said on Saturday that 1.6m of them came from abroad. Feast of the sacrifice The stoning ritual coincides with the feast of the sacrifice, or Eidul Azha, which honours Prophet Ibrahim\u2019s willingness to sacrifice his son before God offered a sheep instead. Worshippers typically slaughter a sheep and offer part of the meat to the needy. This year\u2019s haj and Eidul Azha have been clouded by Israel\u2019s eight-month-long military offensive against Hamas in the Gaza strip. \u201cWe are very sad for the Palestinians, and we have prayed a lot for them,\u201d said Intissar, a 25-year-old Syrian living in Saudi Arabia, who declined to give her surname. King Salman invited 2,000 Palestinians to the haj at his own expense, half of whom are family members of victims in Gaza who have sought refuge elsewhere. But Saudi authorities have warned no political slogans would be tolerated during the pilgrimage. That has not stopped many worshippers from voicing solidarity with Palestinians. \u201cPray for our brothers in Palestine, in Gaza\u2026 may God give victory to the Muslims,\u201d one pilgrim shouted on Mount Arafat on Saturday. In a message to haj pilgrims on Saturday, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said \u201cthe ironclad resistance of Palestine and the patient, oppressed people of Gaza\u2026 must be fully supported in every way\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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