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Muslims Perform Symbolic Stoning of Devil During Hajj Pilgrimage

by VOA News

   Nearly two million Muslims performed the final rites of the Islamic
   Hajj pilgrimage, the symbolic stoning of the devil, in Saudi Arabia, as
   faithful worldwide marked the start of the Eid al-Adha holiday.
   The rite takes place in the Saudi valley area of Mina, where pilgrims
   made their way toward the massive multi-story Jamarat Complexto and
   cast pebbles at three large columns where Muslims believe the devil
   tried to talk the Prophet Ibrahim out of submitting to God's will.

   More than 2,000 people were crashed to death in a stampede last year in
   Mina.

   The five-day-long Hajj is a series of rituals meant to cleanse the soul
   of sins and instill a sense of equality and brotherhood among Muslims.

   The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and all able-bodied
   Muslims are expected to take part in the Hajj at least once in their
   lifetimes.
   Most pilgrims will perform the stoning ritual for three days and sleep
   in tents at night before completing the Hajj.

   In Mecca, Islam's most sacred site, pilgrims circle the cube-shaped
   Kaaba, which represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness
   of God in Islam.
   While following a route the Prophet Muhammad once walked, the rites are
   believed to ultimately trace the footsteps of the prophets Ibrahim and
   Ismail or Abraham and Ishmael in the Bible.

   Some material for this report came from AP, AFP and Reuters.