Muslims stone 'devil' as hajj pilgrimage nears end

Rasa - Two million Muslims ritually stoned the devil Saturday (Oct 4) in the last major rite of this year's haj in Saudi Arabia, while fellow believers around the world celebrated Eid al-Adha.

News ID: 1311

Date: 05 October 2014 - 13:38

RNA - The ritual emulates the prophet Abraham, who is said to have stoned the devil at three locations when he tried to dissuade Abraham from God's order to sacrifice his son. At the last moment, God spares the boy, sending a sheep to be sacrificed in his place.

Two million Muslims ritually stoned the devil Saturday (Oct 4) in the last major rite of this year's haj in Saudi Arabia, while fellow believers around the world celebrated Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice. The stoning occurred in Mina, about five kilometres east of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

All roads leading to Mina, a city that only comes to life during the days of haj, were blocked as the crowds dressed in white flowed into the area. They crowded into a five-storey structure that resembles a parking garage, and from there tossed pebbles at one of three walls representing Satan.

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