Pilgrims gathering at Mecca to perform annual Hajj rituals

JEDDAH: Muslims from across the world are gathering in Saudi Arabian city of Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage to take part in the following rituals:

– Ihram: Pilgrims wear special outfits, which for men is a two-piece white seamless garment. Women wear loose dress, generally white, with only the face and hands exposed. During this period, pilgrims must abstain from physical relations with opposite gender, quarreling, avoid to use perfume and not cut their hair or nails.

– Once in Mecca, pilgrims perform Tawaf, or circumambulation, seven times counter-clockwise, around the Kaaba, a black masonry cube in the centre of the Grand Mosque.

– Pilgrims then walk seven times between two stone spots at the mosque, emulating a search for water by Ibrahim’s wife Hagar in a ritual known as Sa’i.

These rituals are considered the umra, or lesser pilgrimage, and come ahead of the hajj’s main rites when pilgrims head to Mina, around five kilometres (three miles) east of the Grand Mosque.

– The next day, pilgrims gather on the hill known as Jabal al-Rahma (Mount of Mercy) and the surrounding Mount Arafat plain, 10 kilometres southeast of Mina, where the Imam of Ka’aba delivers Hajj sermon. The pilgrims remain at Mount Arafat until evening for prayer and to read the Koran.

Stoning the ‘devil’

– After sunset, pilgrims leave for Muzdalifah, half-way between Arafat and Mina, where they stay at least until midnight. They gather pebbles to perform the symbolic “stoning of the devil”.

– At the start of the Eid al-Adha feast, pilgrims return to Mina for the first of three daily stoning rites. Traditionally, seven pebbles are thrown at a post representing the devil, emulating the actions of Prophet Abraham. Since 2004, it has been replaced by walls to accommodate the rising numbers of pilgrims and to try to avoid a repeat of deadly crushes at the site.

– After the first stoning, sheep are slaughtered and the meat distributed to needy Muslims, symbolising Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who provided a lamb in the boy’s place at the last moment.

– Men then shave their heads or trim their hair while women cut a fingertip-length of their locks. After that they can end their ihram and change back into normal clothing.

– They then return to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, circumambulating seven times around the Kaaba, and again performing Sa’i.

– The pilgrims then return to Mina to continue the stoning ritual for two or three more days.

– Finally, they return to the Grand Mosque, circumambulating the Kaaba seven times.