Hajj pilgrims throw stones at pillars representing Satan

Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims began hurling pebbles at three huge stone pillars before dawn today in the symbolic stoning of the devil.

This is one of the final rituals of Islam’s hajj which has drawn more than 2.5 million people to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The completion of dawn prayers also marked the start of the Eid al-Ahda, the feast of the sacrifice, which recalls Abraham’s readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail – as God tested the biblical patriarch’s faith. At the last moment, God substituted a sheep for Ismail.

The story is shared by all the great monotheistic religions – Islam, Judaism and Christianity. And as a reminder of Abraham’s test, each pilgrim should buy a sheep for slaughter as a blood sacrifice.

Saudi authorities have instituted a system whereby pilgrims purchase a coupon costing 390 Saudi riyals (€86).

Sheep purchased through the system are slaughtered at special facilities and distributed to the needy.