Badea Abu Al-Naja And Hassan Cheruppa Saudi Gazette MINA/MAKKAH — On the second day of the stoning ritual on Sunday, over two million pilgrims pelted pebbles at each of the three Jamarat (pillars symbolizing Satan) in Mina. The afternoon ritual was smooth and peaceful. Chanting “Allah-o-Akbar” (God is the Greatest), pilgrims hurled seven pebbles each first at Jamarat Al-Sughra, then at Jamarat Al-Wusta, and finally at Jamarat Al-Aqba. After performing stoning at each of the first two pillars, they turned towrad Qiblah, raised their hands and beseeched Almighty Allah's mercy and forgiveness. Stoning at Jamarat is the main ritual pilgrims have to perform during the last three days of Haj, known also as Ayyam Al-Tashreeq. It is to emulate the stoning of Satan at three spots by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) where the devil is said to have appeared trying to dissuade him from obeying Allah's order to sacrifice his son, Ismail (pbuh). In essence, it is a renunciation of evil in all its forms and a solemn promise never to fall prey to the machinations and intrigues of Satan, the cursed. Huge presence of security forces and Civil Defense personnel was seen at various points at the mammoth state-of-the-art Jamarat complex, which has the capacity to hold 300,000 pilgrims per hour, as well as on the passages leading to Jamarat. Under the direct supervision of Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, and Emir of Makkah and Chairman of the Central Haj Committee Prince Mishal Bin Abdullah, the forces had performed a huge task of crowd management smoothly. A large number of security men were engaged in preventing pilgrims from squatting on the pathways leading to Jamarat and thus facilitating smooth flow of pilgrims between Jamarat and their places of accommodation. More than 1.3 million pilgrims have so far benefited from the Mashair train, which is transporting 360,000 pilgrims a day. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry officials were seen ensuring supply of food and other essential goods at various outlets and stores at reasonable prices in Mina. On Sunday, pilgrims performed four main rituals of Haj – stoning at Jamarat Al-Aqba, sacrifice of animals, shaving head or cutting their hair, and performing Tawaf Al-Ifadah and Sai. With this, pilgrims had an exit from their state of ihram and they started wearing normal dress. Most of the pilgrims will leave Mina after performing the stoning ritual for the third day on Monday while the remaining pilgrims will stay back in the Tent City to complete the stoning ritual on Tuesday, the third day of Tashreeq, following the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Although the Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam, comes to a close officially on Tuesday, pilgrims are allowed to leave a day earlier. Those pilgrims who leave Makkah Monday will perform their Tawaf Al-Wida (farewell circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba), which is the last ritual of Haj. Some pilgrims will leave Saudi Arabia Monday itself at the end of this year's totally incident-free Haj. A total of 2,085,238 pilgrims, including 1,389,053 foreigners, performed this year's Haj which was by and large hassle-free and very much comfortable. Addressing a press conference in Mina on Saturday, Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, attributed the resounding success of Haj to the excellent outcome of the government's Haj operation plan and cooperation of pilgrims as well as full support of various Haj missions.
