Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar in a ritual called Jamarat. (Press Trust of India)
Mina:
Tens of thousands of Muslims from around the world, including Indians, participated in the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina Valley on the last day of the Haj on Monday as Saudi King called for concerted global efforts to defeat the scourge of terrorism.
Chanting "Allah-o-Akbar" (God is the Greatest), pilgrims hurled seven pebbles each at the three walls representing the devil -- Jamarat Al-Sughra, Jamarat Al-Wusta, and Jamarat Al-Aqba.
After performing stoning, pilgrims turned towards Kaaba, raised their hands, praying for Allah's mercy and forgiveness.
Many pilgrims were seen crying with just a day to go for this year's Haj to end.
Haj this year has been incident-free.
"Over 100 missing cases among Indian pilgrims have been reported which is comparatively less than last year," Indian Consul General B S Mubarak told PTI.
"It was a once in a life-time experience. A feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction is there as we have completed an enriching and life-changing journey," V M Ibraheem, an Indian pilgrim from Kerala, told PTI.
Saudi King Abdullah in his address to Haj pilgrims called for concerted international efforts to fight and defeat the scourge which has nothing to do with Islam.
"Terrorism is neither attached to Islam nor to all other heavenly religions. It is a rotten element, which has no remedy to it except amputation," the King said in the address which was read out by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defence.
"Extremism, which has generated terrorism, behoves us to combine our efforts to fight it and defeat it because it has nothing to do with Islam," he said.
"With Allah's grace we are restlessly going to amputate it in order to protect our youth from engaging in extremist ideas and narrow self-interests, rather than decent Islamic brotherhood," he said.
Stoning at Jamarat is the main ritual pilgrims have to perform during the last three days of Haj, known also as Ayyam Al-Tashreeq.
Sunday's stoning ritual was marred by mild rain in the afternoon.
It is to emulate the stoning of Satan at three spots by Prophet Ibrahim where the devil is said to have appeared trying to dissuade him from obeying Allah's order to sacrifice his son, Ismail.
In essence, stoning ritual is a renunciation of evil in all its forms and a solemn promise never to fall prey to the machinations and intrigues of Satan.
Ghulam Mohammad Sarvari, a pilgrim from Afghanistan, said "Leaving these holy sites behind makes me sad but the journey has been very fruitful and only Allah has made this possible as three weeks back I had no idea, I was coming here."
Huge presence of security forces 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.
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.
Many pilgrims left for Mecca after the stoning on Monday to perform the farewell circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba, the black cubical structure inside the Grand Mecca mosque.
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.
A total of 136,020 Indians took part in Haj this year.
Chanting "Allah-o-Akbar" (God is the Greatest), pilgrims hurled seven pebbles each at the three walls representing the devil -- Jamarat Al-Sughra, Jamarat Al-Wusta, and Jamarat Al-Aqba.
After performing stoning, pilgrims turned towards Kaaba, raised their hands, praying for Allah's mercy and forgiveness.
Many pilgrims were seen crying with just a day to go for this year's Haj to end.
Haj this year has been incident-free.
"Over 100 missing cases among Indian pilgrims have been reported which is comparatively less than last year," Indian Consul General B S Mubarak told PTI.
"It was a once in a life-time experience. A feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction is there as we have completed an enriching and life-changing journey," V M Ibraheem, an Indian pilgrim from Kerala, told PTI.
Saudi King Abdullah in his address to Haj pilgrims called for concerted international efforts to fight and defeat the scourge which has nothing to do with Islam.
"Terrorism is neither attached to Islam nor to all other heavenly religions. It is a rotten element, which has no remedy to it except amputation," the King said in the address which was read out by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defence.
"Extremism, which has generated terrorism, behoves us to combine our efforts to fight it and defeat it because it has nothing to do with Islam," he said.
"With Allah's grace we are restlessly going to amputate it in order to protect our youth from engaging in extremist ideas and narrow self-interests, rather than decent Islamic brotherhood," he said.
Stoning at Jamarat is the main ritual pilgrims have to perform during the last three days of Haj, known also as Ayyam Al-Tashreeq.
Sunday's stoning ritual was marred by mild rain in the afternoon.
It is to emulate the stoning of Satan at three spots by Prophet Ibrahim where the devil is said to have appeared trying to dissuade him from obeying Allah's order to sacrifice his son, Ismail.
In essence, stoning ritual is a renunciation of evil in all its forms and a solemn promise never to fall prey to the machinations and intrigues of Satan.
Ghulam Mohammad Sarvari, a pilgrim from Afghanistan, said "Leaving these holy sites behind makes me sad but the journey has been very fruitful and only Allah has made this possible as three weeks back I had no idea, I was coming here."
Huge presence of security forces 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.
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.
Many pilgrims left for Mecca after the stoning on Monday to perform the farewell circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba, the black cubical structure inside the Grand Mecca mosque.
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.
A total of 136,020 Indians took part in Haj this year.
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