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HajWithKT: Why we pelt stones at three walls during Haj pilgrimage

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Makkah - The 'devils' are three walls in the tent city of Mina.

By Sahim Salim (Reporting from Makkah)

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Published: Mon 12 Aug 2019, 11:43 AM

Last updated: Mon 12 Aug 2019, 8:00 PM

It's a sunny day out here in Mina, Saudi Arabia, and there are bald heads all around, for the over 2 million Haj pilgrims have completed most of the rituals and shaved their heads. Now, just one ritual remains: Finish stoning the 'devils'.
The 'devils' are three walls in the tent city of Mina. They are located one after another and are symbolic of the three sites where actual devils are believed to have appeared before the Prophet Ibrahim to stop him from carrying out a divine mission.

On Sunday, the Hajis went to one of the three walls called Jamrah Al Qubra and pelted seven stones at it. Today, the pilgrims will go to all three walls and pelt seven stones at each one of them. They will then do the same on Tuesday and Wednesday. So, why exactly do we do it?
For you to understand this, you need to know the story behind the festival of Eid Al Adha. The festival celebrates the Prophet Ibrahim's supreme submission to God's will. It is believed that God directed the Prophet to sacrifice his beloved son, the Prophet Ismail. As Prophet Ibrahim was taking his son to carry out the sacrifice, the devil is said to have appeared in front of him at the three spots where the walls stand. An angel directed the Prophet to pelt seven stones each at the devil.
The prophet carried on after doing as instructed and reached the spot where he prepared to make the supreme sacrifice. At the last moment, God sent a sheep to him to sacrifice instead of his own son. Muslims celebrate Eid Al Adha to celebrate Prophet Ibrahim's supreme devotion. And Hajis pelt stones at the three walls to commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim's resolve.
 


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