Muslim Pilgrims Celebrate Al-Adha Feast, Perform Devil-Stoning Ritual

Some 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims celebrated Eid al-Adha (feast of sacrifice) on Tuesday as they preformed began the symbolic rite of stoning the devil.Deveil-stoning in Mina

The pilgrims headed to desert valley of Mina, near the Saudi holy city of Makkah, were they used previously collected pebbles to stone a series of three pillars representing the devil.

Pilgrims filed in crowds through a multi-level structure housing the walls symbolizing the devil.

The ritual is an emulation of Prophet Ibrahim’s stoning of the devil at the three spots where he had appeared trying to dissuade him from obeying God’s order to sacrifice his son, Ismael.

Pilgrims spent the night at Muzdalifah, halfway between the holy mount of Arafat and Mina, where they also collect pebbles for the stoning rite in Mina during the next three days.

Earlier in the day men, women and children from across the Muslim world flooded the roads to Arafat chanting “Labaik Allahum Labaik” (At your service, Oh God), as they observed the peak of the hajj.