Haj rituals begin early on the day after Eid Al Adha

Saudi Haj pilgrims gather at Mina, near Mecca, to perform the ‘stoning of the devil’ ritual, in which they throw stones at three walls that represent the rejection of Satan by Ibrahim, his wife and hiShow more

After the long and busy day of Eid Al Adha, pilgrims rose at dawn on Wednesday to offer their prayers in Mina.

After midday they returned to the Jamarat to throw stones at the three walls in the “stoning of the devil” ritual.

Each pilgrim throws seven stones at each of the walls, moving from east to west.

As they throw the pebbles, each pilgrim says “Allah Akbar” – “God is Great” – and offers a personal prayer.

With each throw, they cast aside their base desires and reorient themselves to God’s commands.

The three walls represent the Prophet Ibrahim, his wife Hagar and his son Ismail resisting Satan’s attempts to make them disobey God.

Pilgrims then return to the Grand Mosque in Mecca to perform Tawaf Al Efadha, the circling of the Kaaba, seven times.