Hundreds of thousands of Muslims converged on Mina valley in Saudi Arabia Tuesday to join a symbolic stoning of the devil, the final stage of the annual Haj pilgrimage.
The occasion coincides with the first day of Eidul Azha, the feast of sacrifice celebrated by Muslims around the world.
Although the numbers this year are down to less than half the 3.2 million who attended last year’s Haj, the crowds of faithful managed to transform the Mina valley, just outside the holy city of Mecca, into a vast sea of white as they flocked from all directions towards the place of stoning.
An endless torrent of pilgrims, dressed in the ihram, a two-piece seamless white garment, cried “Allahu Akbar” (God is the greatest) as they hurled pebbles they had collected overnight at nearby Muzdalifah at concrete pillars representing the devil.
After pausing to say prayers, they then moved along the massive concrete structure constructed by Saudi authorities to avoid deadly incidents.
Hundreds of police guarding the multi-storey building struggled at times to keep the crowd under control but those performing the ritual reported a less chaotic experience than in past years.
“The crowd this year was smaller and as a result the movement was smoother,” said Shiraz Khorshid from Pakistan.
“My experience was very nice and arrangements were excellent at all facilities,” said Khorshid, a 35-year-old lecturer at a training institute in eastern Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia this year slashed the numbers of pilgrims from abroad by 21 percent and reduced the number of permits for domestic pilgrims by more than half, allowing a total of 1.5 million pilgrims, including 1.38 million foreigners from 188 countries.
The kingdom cut the quotas over fears of infections from the MERS respiratory virus and because of massive projects to expand the capacity of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest place of worship.
Health authorities have insisted that no cases of MERS or any other epidemic has been detected among pilgrims.
The stoning rituals continue until Friday but pilgrims in a hurry can complete it a day early.
The pilgrims had been on the move since early Sunday when the annual haj began. They left Mecca to Mina where then climbed MountArafat on Monday for the high point of the Haj.
After spending the day at MountArafat in prayer and reflection, pilgrims Monday evening travelled on to Muzdalifah to collect stones and to stay the night.
Early on Tuesday, they continued to Mina in groups, with leaders carrying their countries’ flags and banners.
A group of Syrians were seen carrying the rebels’ flag while a number of Egyptians raised their four fingers, a sign of support for deposed president Mohammed Morsi.
The stoning of the devil used to mark the most dangerous phase of Haj for Saudi authorities as it was marred by deadly stampedes in the past as well as fires in tent camps.
Was this Hujj? Are Hajees supposed to be assembled in Arafaat on the 8th day? In the last three years this is the second time Hajees have been assembled on 8th day in Arafaat. Last time it happened in 2010. In 2010 everyone who goes by the sighting of crescent in the sky and living in countries from Australia to the Americas celebrated Eiduzzoha on Wednesday. Moon observation report from across the world can be seen on: moonsighting.com and Arabic website: icoproject.org.
The Moroccans are the only Arabic speakers who go strictly by what Allah shows in the sky. So we can see the Moroccans celebrating Eid today Oct. 16, 2013 with those who obey what Allah shows in the sky. Muslims in S Africa do the same. This is solid proof that Today is Eid day from Australia to Morocco and also beyond.as commanded by Allah. So who are the people who celebrated fake Eid yesterday? Those who obey those who show by their deeds that "Allah is wrong" . Those people can be found in Riyadh holding to ransom all the pro-Prophet(saw) people i.e Arab Ulamah and even some pro-Prophet(saw) Princes. Should Muslims support the anti-Prophet(saw) elements in Riyadh or oppose them?
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