The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah temporarily stopped pilgrims from performing the symbolic stoning ritual at Jamarat Bridge.
This decision comes as a precautionary measure to protect pilgrims from the intense heat. The ritual was halted from 11am to 4pm.
Dr. Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, made the announcement on Monday in Mina, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. He explained that the measure was necessary to ensure the well-being and safety of pilgrims during the extreme heat.
Security personnel were stationed at camps to enforce the restriction, while the Office of Hajj Affairs and service providers were urged to comply with the directive.
Meanwhile, two Nigerian illegal migrants, Muhammed Umar and Nazifi Tasi’u Garba, were apprehended by the Nigerian Hajj Commission for infiltrating pilgrims’ tents. They were handed over to the Saudi Police and fined 10,000 Saudi Riyals.
Beyond Boders notes that the stoning ritual, known as “Stoning of the Devil,” is an important part of the Hajj pilgrimage. It symbolizes rejecting temptation and affirming faith in Allah.
This year, over 1.83 million pilgrims performed the Hajj, including 1,611,310 foreign pilgrims and 221,854 domestic pilgrims.
