HOME > AFP-JIJI PRESS NEWS JOURNAL > Article
Hajj pilgrims 'stone the devil' as Muslims mark Eid al-Adha
Pilgrims on Sunday performed the last major ritual of the hajj, the stoning of the devil, in western Saudi Arabia as Muslims around the globe celebrated the Eid al-Adha holiday.
As one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings wound down, authorities from multiple countries said at least 22 people had died, many of them from extreme heat, highlighting the acute physical toll of the annual rites which in recent years have fallen during the oven-like Saudi summer.
Beginning at dawn, the 1.8 million Muslims undertaking the pilgrimage this year threw seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolising the devil in the Mina valley, located outside Islam's holiest city of Mecca.
The ritual commemorates Abraham's stoning of the devil at the three spots where it is said Satan tried to dissuade him from obeying God's order to sacrifice his son.
Multiple stampedes have occurred in Mina over the years, most recently in 2015 when up to 2,300 worshippers were killed in the worst hajj disaster.
The site has been revamped since then to streamline the movement of the large crowds.
Roads leading to the concrete walls were nevertheless packed on Sunday, with some pilgrims struggling under the morning sun.
At least two pilgrims were seen lying on the side of the road, sheltered by buildings and cars.
It's very difficult, we can't find transport. I can't get up anymore, said Ahmed Alsayed Omran, a 70-year-old Egyptian retiree sitting on the sidewalk.
Temperatures soared well above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) each day and on Saturday hit 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on Mount Arafat, where pilgrims performed hours of outdoor prayers.
Jordan's foreign ministry said on Sunday that 14 Jordanian pilgrims had died after suffering sun stroke due to the extreme heat wave, and that 17 others were missing.
Iran reported the deaths of five pilgrims but did not specify the cause, while Senegal's foreign ministry said that three others had died.
Saudi Arabia has not provided any information on fatalities.
During last year's hajj at least 240 people -- many from Indonesia -- died, according to figures announced by various countries which also did not specify causes of death.
There were also more than 10,000 cases of heat-related illnesses, 10 percent of which were heat stroke, a health ministry spokesman told AFP.
- 'Very, very hot' -
Worshippers did their best to take the taxing conditions in stride, seizing what for many was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to pray at Islam's holiest shrines.
It's physically gruelling, but it's very spiritually charged. For me, I was sort of in awe at all times, said 49-year-old Canadian Neron Khan.
For part of the pilgrimage, I was in some sort of heat exhaustion situation, she added.
But I had to keep going because we were surrounded by everybody. And you just had to push through.
One treatment centre near Mount Arafat recorded 225 cases of heat stress and fatigue so far, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
It was very, very hot, Rohy Daiseca, a 60-year-old Gambian living in the United States, told AFP on Saturday night as pilgrims collected stones to throw.
Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), I put a lot of water on my head and it was OK.
Amal Mahrouss, a 55-year-old woman from Egypt, said she was happy beyond words and the hajj showed that we are all equal, that there are no differences between Muslims around the world.
One of the five pillars of Islam, the hajj must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means.
This year's figure of 1.8 million pilgrims is similar to last year's, and Saudi authorities said on Saturday that 1.6 million of them came from abroad.
These included 17,500 Syrians, according to Badreddine Mansour, director of a Saudi agency specialising in pilgrimages.
For Syrians living in government-controlled areas, hajj has long been out of reach but the reintegration of President Bashar al-Assad's government into the Arab fold last year has enabled direct flights to the pilgrimage.
For Ghada Rifai, 60, a retired teacher from Damascus, this meant a dream come true.
- Feast of the sacrifice -
Sunday's stoning ritual coincided with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, or the feast of the sacrifice, which honours Abraham's 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.
The festivities were clouded by the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
We don't feel the Eid holiday because our brothers in Gaza are oppressed under the (Israeli) occupation, said Najem Nawwar, a 43-year-old Egyptian pilgrim.
King Salman invited 2,000 Palestinians to the hajj at his own expense, including relatives of Gazans who have sought refuge elsewhere.
But Saudi authorities warned no political slogans would be tolerated.
That did not stop many worshippers from voicing solidarity with Palestinians.
We pray for them... and for the liberation of Palestine, so that we have two holidays instead of one, said Wadih Ali Khalifah, a 32-year-old Saudi pilgrim.
(2024/06/17 19:08)
Click Here for Japanese TranslationAFP-JIJI PRESS NEWS JOURNAL
- 06/26 20:12 Ukrainians risk lives to flee draft via icy Romanian pass
- 06/26 20:10 S. Korea administrative robot defunct after apparent suicide
- 06/26 18:08 US warns Israel over Lebanon as UN sounds alarm on Gaza
- 06/26 18:06 Kenya's Ruto vows 'full' response after deadly anti-tax protests
- 06/26 16:51 Phelps, Schmitt call for WADA reform in US hearing
- 06/26 16:50 Russia to block dozens of EU media outlets in 'retaliatory' move
- 06/25 18:59 Egypt tomb find may shed light on ancient diseases-- ministry
- 06/25 18:58 Gaza officials say Israeli strike kills 10 relatives of Hamas chief
- 06/25 17:55 Probe highlights 'attack on press freedom' in Gaza war
- 06/25 17:45 Hungary's Varga set for surgery on 'multiple' facial fractures
- 06/25 17:01 Families of October 7 attack victims sue UNRWA over 'helping' Hamas
- 06/25 16:57 Infamous Bangladesh hangman dies after turning writer, TikTok star
- 06/24 20:13 EU says Apple's App Store breaches bloc's digital rules
- 06/24 18:27 Euro 2024 security bulked after pitch invaders aim for Ronaldo selfies
- 06/24 18:25 Israel PM says 'intense' phase of Gaza war nearing end
- 06/24 18:14 Deaths from Indian toxic alcohol rise to more than 50
- 06/24 18:08 Blue Jays outfielder Martinez suspended 80 games for drugs violation
- 06/24 18:04 Gaza health officials say 24 killed in Israeli strikes
- 06/21 18:10 Mines, unexploded ordnance a daily menace for Afghanistan's children
- 06/21 18:06 England wary of 'bold' former boss Jones in Japan Test
- 06/21 18:03 Chinese sailors wield knives, axe in disputed sea clash with Philippines
- 06/21 17:13 Steve Cooper named manager of Premier League Leicester City
- 06/21 17:12 Actor Donald Sutherland dead at age 88
- 06/21 17:11 Lakers agree to coaching deal with TV analyst Redick-- reports
- 06/20 19:07 Brussels refuses to host Belgium-Israel match over security fears
- 06/20 19:03 US sprinter Knighton cleared for trials despite positive test
- 06/20 17:19 Philippines says Chinese coast guard boarded navy vessels in South China Sea
- 06/20 17:12 Loved ones search for missing as hajj death toll passes 900
- 06/20 17:07 Hezbollah threatens Israel after military says Lebanon offensive ready
- 06/20 17:05 New report warns of heat danger at Paris Olympics
- 06/19 17:47 Taiwan president says island 'will not bow' to China's pressure
- 06/19 17:45 Eleven swimmers in doping scandal named in China Olympic team
- 06/19 17:42 Macron says snap France vote was 'most responsible solution'
- 06/19 16:32 New mystery monolith appears in Nevada desert
- 06/19 16:30 Celine Dion offers a portrait of resilience in vulnerable documentary
- 06/19 16:28 Chinese 'underground bankers' launder Sinaloa drug money-- US
- 06/18 18:33 NATO chief seeks costs on China over Russia support
- 06/18 18:28 Search for dozens feared missing after deadly migrant shipwrecks off Italy
- 06/18 18:27 'Stop homophobia' in rugby, says France star Dupont
- 06/18 17:04 Thousands of Israelis turn out for anti-government protest
- 06/18 17:03 Put tobacco-style warnings on social media-- US health official
- 06/18 17:01 White House slams 'cheapfake' clips portraying Biden 'freezing'
- 06/17 19:09 Rare day of relative calm as Gaza sees 'tactical pause' for aid
- 06/17 19:08 Hajj pilgrims 'stone the devil' as Muslims mark Eid al-Adha
- 06/17 18:08 German police shoot man wielding weapons ahead of Euros match
- 06/17 16:52 Nuclear arms more prominent amid geopolitical tensions-- researchers
- 06/17 16:49 IOC issues first list of Russians and Belarusians eligible for Olympics
- 06/17 16:47 Trump turns 78 - and age is increasingly an issue