Pilgrims begin 'satan stoning' ritual (The Hajj)

BBC ^ | February 11, 2003

[Indy Pendance]

Muslims perform the ritual stoning of the devil

More than two million Muslims have begun performing the symbolic stoning of the devil at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca - the Hajj.

A sea of white-robed pilgrims made their way to Mina, just outside Mecca, after praying at Mount Arafat on Tuesday and collecting pebbles for the stoning ritual.

This year's Hajj is taking place against the backdrop of a looming war with Iraq and growing anger among Muslims over the US policy towards the Arab world.

The Saudi authorities have deployed thousands of troops to maintain order and have vowed to crack down firmly on any attempt to disrupt the pilgrimage.

Police and armed guards lined the route to Mina, while armoured vehicles patrolled the roads and helicopters hovered overhead.

Measures have also been taken to try to prevent a recurrence of stampedes which have claimed hundreds of lives during the ritual in recent years.

Once in a lifetime

The pilgrimage, which takes Muslims in the footsteps of Mohammed, Islam's 7th-Century prophet, is the biggest annual mass movement of people on the planet.

Hajj disasters

2001: 35 people die in stampede during stoning

1998: At least 118 trampled to death

1997: 343 pilgrims die and 1,500 injured in fire

1994: 270 killed in a stampede as worshippers surged forwards during stoning.

1990: 1,426 pilgrims killed in overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to holy sites

1987: 400 die in Iranian-Saudi confrontation

In Mina, the devil is represented by three giant concrete pillars.

On Tuesday, pilgrims throw only seven small stones at the first pillar, known as the "big Satan".

The stoning continues over the next three days and after completing the ritual, pilgrims circle the Kaaba - a cube-shaped stone structure at the centre of Mecca's Grand Mosque - seven times.

Then they say farewell prayers and ask God to accept their pilgrimage, which every able-bodied Muslim must make once in a lifetime.

After the stoning ritual, pilgrims may celebrate the start of the Eid al-Adha, or feast of sacrifice, by slaughtering a camel, a cow or a sheep.

[laconic]

They're stoning the devil? What do they have, a life-sized statue of bin Laden?

[egarvue]

Is it just me, or is there a massive proliferation of these articles about the Hajj this year? For the life of me, I cannot figure out what liberal journalists find attractive about a religion like Islam...

[piasa]

I wonder why the devil is represented by three pillars instead of one, or none at all? I can guess but it seems weird.

[banjo joe]

Interesting that satan is represented by three pillars.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

[laconic]

I have some candidates for the other two pillars representing Satan but I'll shut my mouth.

[banjo joe]

You caught that, too. The irony: In Christianity God is a tri-une being. In islam, god is a single being, and satan's represented by three pillars.

Hmmm. By design?

[dennisw]

Crazy as all get out!

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

[AppyPappy]

Now that is one stupid ritual. And I thought the Stations of the Cross was a bit too Catholic for me.

[laconic]

There have already been 14 pilgrims trampeled to death this morning (the Stoning always seems to be marked by some type of disaster which commonly occurs when you have masses of people pushing against one another). Of course, the photo here looks like the stoners are in a circle throwing the rocks at the pillars. I would imagine there are probably some "accidental" hits on pilgrims standing opposite in the circle.

[dennisw]

Tue Feb 11, 7:39 AM ET

Muslims perform the ritual 'Stoning of the Devil' in the town of Mina, near the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003 . Thousands of Muslim pilgrims threw pebbles at three stone pillars representing the devil, carrying out a cleansing ritual at a site just outside the holy city of Mecca. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Tue Feb 11, 7:38 AM ET

Muslims perform the ritual 'Stoning of the Devil' in the town of Mina, near the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003 . Thousands of Muslim pilgrims threw pebbles at three stone pillars representing the devil, carrying out a cleansing ritual at a site just outside the holy city. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Tue Feb 11, 8:48 AM ET

Thousands of Muslims gather in the Saudi Arabian town of Mina to perform the ritual 'Stoning of the Devil' near the holy city of Mecca, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003 . Thousands of Muslim pilgrims threw pebbles at three stone pillars representing the devil, carrying out a cleansing ritual. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

 

Tue Feb 11, 8:48 AM ET

Thousands of Muslims gather in the Saudi Arabian town of Mina to perform the ritual 'Stoning of the Devil' in the town of Mina, near the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003 . Thousands of Muslim pilgrims threw pebbles at three stone pillars representing the devil, carrying out a cleansing ritual at a site just outside the holy city. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

 

Mon Feb 10,10:58 AM ET

Muslim pilgrim speaks on a mobile phone on Jabal al-Rahman the Mount of Mercy, at the center of the plain of Arafat, near Mecca early morning February 10, 2003. In Arafat, the climax of the rites, pilgrims recite the Koran, and perform continuously intense prayer. After Arafat, pilgrims spend the night in Muzdalifah, before spending three nights in Mena for the stoning the devil ritual, performing sacrifice, and celebrate Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice). REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

 

 

Mon Feb 10,10:57 AM ET

Pilgrims climb Jabal al-Rahman, the Mount of Mercy, at the center of the plain of Arafat, near Mecca as they perform wuquf February 10, 2003. In Arafat, the climax of the rites, pilgrims recite the Koran, and perform continuously intense prayer. After Arafat, pilgrims spend the night in Muzdalifah, before spending three nights in Mena for the stoning the devil ritual, performing sacrifice, and celebrate Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice). REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

 

 

[jriemer]

Hey Guys,

The Islamists are throwing rocks at you two in effigy again. It's that time of year, so I would be careful when you're walking on the street or driving a car. One of them might mistake you for a stone pillar.

Be careful out there...

[twyn1]

Just heard a report on FOX News that 14 pilgrims have been killed in the Haj (crushed in a crowd ?)

[dennisw]

I would imagine there are probably some "accidental" hits on pilgrims standing opposite in the circle.

A bit like dodgeball. But w/ rocks.

[openotherend]

I don't get. Where's the bowling pins? Where's the giant teddy bears?

[apillar]

Look closely at the picture...

What are those little yellow signs of their back?

Arabic for "Kick Me"?

[Indy Pendance]

Thanks for the pictures!

[TLBSHOW]

These people are nuts!