MINA: By Sunday evening in Mecca, more than 850,000 pilgrims had performed Tawaf Al-Ifadah, a ritual commemorating the final days of the pilgrimage and the beginning of Eid Al-Adha celebrations for Muslims around the world.
The long day began with masses of pilgrims setting out for the symbolic stoning of the devil in Muzdalifah in the face of intense summer heat. Stoning is one of the final rites of the pilgrimage, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.
It came a day after more than 1.8 million pilgrims gathered on the holy hill known as Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, which Muslim pilgrims visit to perform the annual five-day hajj rituals. Tawaf Al Ifadah is performed by Hajj pilgrims after returning from Mina.
At a press conference on Sunday evening, Col. Talal bin Abdulmohsen Al-Shalhoub, spokesman for the Saudi Interior Ministry, said that all pilgrims had safely returned to their tents in Mina after leaving Muzdalifah.
He stressed that security forces continue their efforts to ensure the safety of the Guests of Allah during their stay in Mina, including during rituals at the Jamarat Bridge and the Grand Mosque. “These services include crowd control and management on all routes connecting their overnight stays in tents, the bridge and the Grand Mosque, as well as during tawaf. I call on all guests to strictly follow the instructions regarding ritual services,” he said.
Pilgrims throw stones at pillars during the symbolic stoning of the devil, one of the last rites of the pilgrimage, in the Jamarat of Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, June 16, 2024 (SPA)
The spokesman also advised pilgrims not to take personal belongings with them when going to the Jamarat Bridge or the Holy Mosque.
“I further urge those intending to leave Mina on the second day of Tashreeq to follow the prescribed guidelines,” he added.
The days of Tashreeq are the three days following the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, Eid al-Adha, and are known for the ritual of stoning the three pillars at Mina, symbolizing the rejection of temptations and evil.
However, pilgrims can leave Mecca before sunset on the 12th day of Dhul Hijjah. Al-Shalhoub further reported that a total of 78,872 calls were received to the 911 center in the Makkah region on 10 Thul Hijjah, including security reports and service inquiries, all of which were promptly resolved.
He stressed Saudi leadership’s close monitoring of all security sectors, noting the continuous improvement in their performance each year. “Our security personnel are exemplary role models in discharging their duties and facilitating the pilgrims’ pilgrimage,” he concluded.
For his part, Ayedh Al-Ghuwainem, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah for Hajj Affairs, said that organizational plans and efforts have been implemented in harmony with all participating Hajj agencies.
“The stoning process took place safely and peacefully in just ten hours, achieving a compliance rate of 95 percent,” he said.
He further added that the plans were designed to take into account the diverse legal preferences of pilgrims, using modern technologies and pre-planned schedules for grouping pilgrims. Al-Ghuwainem stated that more than 800,000 pilgrims arrived in Mina before dawn on Sunday and by all the pilgrims reached Mina.
According to the deputy minister, after arriving at Jamarat Bridge, about 70 percent of the pilgrims used the first and fourth floors, while the rest went to the second and third floors.
“Moreover, more than 850,000 worshipers have so far performed Ifadah tawaf from midnight using shuttle buses to and from the Grand Mosque,” he said.
The deputy minister added that the challenge they faced along with the authorities concerned was that most of the pilgrims preferred to travel on foot, despite all awareness campaigns and availability of all modes of transport. He also appealed to pilgrims to follow the recommendations.