MINA (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) – Pilgrims performed the last major ritual of the hajj, the "stoning of the devil", in western Saudi Arabia on Sunday, as Muslims the world over celebrate the Eidul Azha holiday.
Beginning at dawn, the 1.8 million Muslims undertaking the pilgrimage this year will throw seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolising the devil in the Mina valley, located outside Makkah, the holiest city in Islam.
The ritual commemorates Prophet Ibrahim'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.
The stoning ritual has been witness to multiple stampedes 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.
On Saturday night, pilgrims collected stones and slept under the stars in the plain of Muzdalifah, located halfway between Mina and Arafat, where they had spent the day praying outside in heat that reached 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
"It was very, very hot," said Rohy Daiseca, a 60-year-old Gambian living in the United States. "Alhamdulilah (thank God), I put a lot of water on my head and it was OK."
Worshippers have tried to take the gruelling conditions in stride, seizing what for many is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to pray at Islam's holiest shrines.
"I am so happy that I can't describe my feelings," said Amal Mahrouss, a 55-year-old woman from Egypt.
"This place shows us 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.
Feast of the sacrifice
The stoning ritual coincides with the feast of the sacrifice, or Eidul Azha, which honours Prophet Ibrahim'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.
This year's hajj and Eid holiday have been clouded by the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
"We are very sad for the Palestinians, and we have prayed a lot for them," said Intissar, a 25-year-old Syrian living in Saudi Arabia, who declined to give her surname.
King Salman invited 2,000 Palestinians to the hajj at his own expense, half of whom are family members of victims in Gaza who have sought refuge elsewhere.
But Saudi authorities have warned no political slogans would be tolerated during the pilgrimage.
That has not stopped many worshippers from voicing solidarity with Palestinians.
"Pray for our brothers in Palestine, in Gaza... may God give victory to the Muslims," one pilgrim shouted on Mount Arafat on Saturday.
In a message to hajj pilgrims on Saturday, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "the ironclad resistance of Palestine and the patient, oppressed people of Gaza... must be fully supported in every way".
Also read: Hajj 2024: Special prayers for Gaza, call for piety echo in sermon by Imam-e-Kaaba
Millions of pilgrims are currently in the Mount Arafat to perform Hajj where the Imam and Grand Mosque of Mecca preacher Dr Maher bin Hamd has delivered the annual Hajj sermon.