Pilgrims Perform Final Hajj Rites in Mina, Mecca
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Nearly 1.7 million pilgrims have begun the final phase of the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, performing the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina before concluding with the farewell circumambulation in Mecca.
The pilgrims in Saudi Arabia began the final stage of the Hajj pilgrimage on Saturday.
They performed the ritual stoning of the devil at the Jamarat complex in Mina.
This rite precedes the farewell circumambulation at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
Early groups of pilgrims arrived at Jamarat and carried out the stoning ritual.
The Saudi Interior Ministry urged pilgrims to follow assigned routes when going to and returning from Jamarat.
The Saudi General Authority for Statistics reported that 1,673,230 pilgrims took part in this year's Hajj.
Of those, 1,506,576 arrived from outside the kingdom.
The number of domestic pilgrims, including Saudi citizens and residents, was 166,654.
Last year, over 1.8 million Muslims from 200 countries performed the Hajj.
Pilgrims are required to stay in Mina during the nights of the 11th and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah.
They must remain there from sunset until midnight with the intention of worship.
Those who have returned to Mecca must go back to Mina before sunset.
On the 11th and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims must throw seven stones at each of the three Jamarat.
They begin with the first Jamarah, followed by the middle, and end with the Jamarah al-Aqaba.
