Muslim pilgrims stone devil as hajj reaches final stages

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims from all over the world, grouped by nationality, stoned the devil in Saudi

Rituals will be over on Monday

Security forces are heavily deployed in stoning area as first aid teams remain on high alert around three adjacent pillars representing Satan.

By Lynne Nahhas - MINA (Saudi Arabia)

Arabia's Mina valley on Saturday, as the hajj reached its final stages.

Security forces were heavily deployed in the stoning area and first aid teams remained on high alert around the three adjacent pillars representing Satan.

Men, women and children from 189 countries moved easily from one pillar to the next shouting "Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest)" as they hurled pebbles at the stone walls.

They walked in groups carrying their national flags so no members would get lost in the massive crowds.

As many prayed after and during the stoning, others were taking pictures on their mobile phones of themselves next to the pillars.

The photographing was criticised by members of the security forces who said through loudspeakers: "How are you people stoning Satan and taking pictures with him at the same time?"

The ritual, which takes place in the kingdom's usually-deserted Mina valley and comes to life only during the annual hajj pilgrimage, began on Friday with the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday as the faithful began by stoning the largest pillar, Jamrat al-Aqaba.

Mina used to be the most dangerous phase of the hajj and the most problematic for the Saudi authorities, marred by deadly stampedes in the past as well as by fires in tent camps.

In the past few years, however, tents have been fire-proofed and gas canisters and cooking are now banned.

The stoning area has also been expanded to avoid overcrowding.

The Saudi authorities have built a five-level structure around the three stoning sites, allowing for a smooth flow of pilgrims who are only permitted to move in one direction throughout the area to prevent congestion.

The ritual is an emulation of Abraham's stoning of the devil at the three spots where it is said Satan tried to dissuade the biblical patriarch from obeying God's order to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.

According to the authorities, 168,000 police officers and civil defence personnel were mobilised for this year's hajj. For the stoning, they organised specific times of day for groups of pilgrims to perform the ritual.

Over three million registered pilgrims are taking part in the rituals which will be over on Monday. Many pilgrims, however, conclude the pilgrimage on Sunday.

Partners Of Zakat U.S.A.

**************************************************************************************************************************************

                     T.E.A.M...  TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE
Donate To Zakat U.S.A. Donations Tax Deductable

        Save more lives with 2.5

 

WE NEED YOUR HELP SO WE CAN HELP!  PLEASE DONATE TODAY ZAKAT U.S.A.

اضغط هنا:

Zakat U.S.A. At A Glance OPOW

 

Donate To Zakat U.S.A. Donations Tax Deductable

ZAKAT USA ON FACEBOOK

 

Crisis In The Horn Of Africa Pictures 1432 AH

 

 

Click Here:  OPOW Slide Show

             

                  OPOW NEEDS YOUR HELP

 

 

 

If you like this article please consider donating to :  Oppressed Peoples Online Word

Mission Statement Of Oppressed Peoples Online Word

Oppresses Peoples Online Word On Facebook

O.P.O.W. Email:   [e-mail] 

 Recent Stories On Oppressed Peoples Online Word

World News Up-dated :  Mosaic World News

 

OPOW Mission Statement....

Our Statement: That just might help us in our paradigm shift to a m...

http://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profiles/blogs/our-state...

oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com

We at Oppressed Peoples Online Word are constantly attempting to pass on what we think to be useful information related to Muslim and Non-Muslim around the wo…

 

Press TV Live

American Muslim Civic Pocket Guide