SAUDI ARABIA: An estimated 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims carry out the ritual stoning of the devil on first day of Eil al-Adha

Record ID: 189250

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: An estimated 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims carry out the ritual stoning of the devil on first day of Eil al-Adha
  • Date: 15th October 2013
  • Summary: MINA, NEAR MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 15, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CROWDS OF PILGRIMS ARRIVING VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS THROWING STONES AT PILLARS PILGRIMS PRAYING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN PILGRIM, SAMI, SAYING: "We came from Muzdalifa after al-Fager prayer, we have just arrived, it is very nice, al-Jamarat is well organised and its very simple to perform the stoning. I took part in the stoning in 2001 and it was very hard and the place was very narrow, but now it is very good and air-conditioned. " WIDE OF STONE THROWING VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS SHAVING HEADS
  • Embargoed: 30th October 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA4AE6MB3YO6CSP4RF37SMNCNJU
  • Story Text: About a 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims carried out the ritual stoning of the devil on the first day of Eid al-Adha on Tuesday (October 15).
    The ritual, part of the Haj pilgrimage in Mecca, symbolised the stoning of the devil and the rejection of temptation.
    The ritual is meant to mirror Ibrahim's stoning of the devil when he tried to dissuade the prophet from obeying God's order to sacrifice his son Ishmael.
    "We have just arrived, it is very nice, al-Jamarat is well organised and its very simple to perform the stoning. I took part in the stoning in 2001 and it was very hard and the place was very narrow, but now it is very good and air-conditioned," Sami, an Egyptian pilgrim wearing the traditional ihram, said.
    The pilgrims collect stones at Muzdalifa in the days preceding Eid al-Adha. The pebbles are been thrown at walls at the Jamarat Bridge on three occasions over the next three days.
    After the stoning every pilgrim must cut or shave their hair.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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