Hajj, the fifth essential and obligatory pillar of Islam, is performed in the city of Makkah, Saudia Arabia from the 9th Dhull Hijjah (the 12th month of Islam calander) till the 13th of the of the month. We have already published a number of posts about the step by step and day by day guide of the Hajj rituals spanned over these five days, which can be acccessed from the links given at the end of this post.
The Stoning of the Devil (Arabic: رمي الجمرات ramy al-jamarāt, lit. "throwing of the jamarāt is one of the ritual of the Hajj which takes place on 10-12th day of the Dhull Hijjah. In this post we will dwell on thw why of the need of the stoning and when.
The Jamarat (Arabic: الجمرات) are three stone walls, formerly pillars, which are pelted as a compulsory ritual of Hajj in emulation of the actions of the Prophet Ebrahim (Abraham عليه السلام). They represent the three locations where Prophet Ebrahim (عليه السلام) pelted the Shaytan (Satan) with stones when he tried to dissuade him from sacrificing his son Ismail (عليه السلام). The pillars are called ‘Jamrat-al-Ula’, ‘Jamrat-al-Wusta’ and ‘Jamrat-al-Qubra’.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Author: أمانة العاصمة المقدسة / Source
Above is the 1942 photo of one of the Jamarat. Until 2004, the three jamarāt (singular: jamrah) were tall pillars. After the 2004 Hajj, Saudi authorities replaced the pillars with 26-metre-long (85 ft) walls for safety (as can be seen in the video below); for many people were accidentally throwing pebbles at people on the other side. To allow easier access to the jamarāt, a single-tiered pedestrian bridge called the Jamaraat Bridge was built around them, allowing pilgrims to throw stones from either ground level or from the bridge.
The jamarāt are named (starting from the east):
- The first jamrah (al-jamrah al-'ūlā), or the smallest jamrah (الجمرة الصغرى al-jamrah aṣ-ṣughrā),
- The middle jamrah (الجمرة الوسطى al-jamrah al-wusṭā),
- The largest jamrah (الجمرة الكبرى al-jamrah al-kubrā), or Jamrah of Aqaba (جمرة العقبة jamrat al-ʿaqaba).
In one of our earliest posts on the night stay at Muzdalliah, we mentioned collection of pebbles from the plains of Muzdallifah for the stoning of the Jamarat. Once on 10th of DHull Hijjah, the pilgrims return to Mina, one of the ritual of the day is the stoning of the Jamrat-al-Ula (The bigger devil). Then on successive next days, pelting of stones at ‘Jamrat-al-Wusta’ and ‘Jamrat-al-Qubra’ (the middle and the smallest Devils) with seven stones each.
The pilgrims throw stones on the Jamarat to follow the example of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and reject evil. This ritual, called Ramy al-Jamarat, symbolizes Prophet Ibrahim’s rejection of Satan when he tried to tempt him away from obeying Allah. By throwing stones, Muslims declare their commitment to resist sin and stay firm in their faith. It’s a powerful act of worship that reminds believers to overcome personal struggles and stay on the straight path.
Events that lead to the ritual of Stoning of the Devil (Arabic: رمي الجمرات ramy al-jamarāt:
All three jamarāt represent the devil: the first and largest represents his temptation of Abraham against sacrificing Ishmael (Ismāʿīl); the second represents the temptation of Abraham's wife Hagar (Hājar) to induce her to stop him; the third represents his temptation of Ishmael to avoid being sacrificed. He was rebuked each time, and the throwing of the stones symbolizes those rebukes.
The ritual re-enacts Abraham's pilgrimage to Mecca as explained by the Muslim historian al-Azraqi:
- When he [Abraham] left Mina and was brought down to (the defile called) al-Aqaba, the Devil appeared to him at Stone-Heap of the Defile. Gabriel (Jibrayil) said to him: "Pelt him!" so Abraham threw seven stones at him so that he disappeared from him.
- Then he appeared to him at the Middle Stone-Heap. Gabriel said to him: "Pelt him!" so he pelted him with seven stones so that he disappeared from him.
- Then he appeared to him at the Little Stone-Heap. Gabriel said to him: "Pelt him!" so he pelted him with seven stones like the little stones for throwing with a sling. So the Devil withdrew from him.
Is there really a Devil in Makkah in the city of Allah?
Many non-Muslims questions why there is Devil in the city so revered by Allah. The simple answer is a big NO.
- There isn’t a physical devil in Makkah that pilgrims throw stones at. The pillars, called the Jamarat, are symbolic. They represent the places where Satan tried to tempt Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and stop him from obeying Allah’s command.
- The stoning at the Jamarat express the resolve of the Muslims that they reject the Devil and all forms of evil, the same way Prophet Ebraheem did when the Devil physically appeared before him to mislead him from obeying the commands of Allah.
- The act of pelting stone at Jamarat is thus a reminder that we all face temptations and challenges, just like Prophet Ibrahim did, and we need to stay strong and obedient to Allah.
- This ritual also encourages us to think deeply about our own struggles. It helps us recognize the “Satan” within ourselves, our weaknesses, bad habits, and wrong desires and commit to overcoming them. By performing this act, we renew our faith and show our determination to follow the right path.
Theological Insight into the ritual of pelting stones at Jamarat:
The stoning of the jamarāt also represents the repudiation of man's self (an-nafs al-'amāra, literally the "internal despot") and the act of casting aside one's low desires and wishes. As one Islamic theologian states:
- In our dail lives, an "internal despot" refers to a situation where a person, group, or entity exhibits despotic behavior within a larger structure or organization, rather than being a leader of an entire nation or entity. It describes someone who exercises power and authority in a repressive, unpredictable, and often vengeful manner, particularly in a workplace or other social context.
- Correlating this explanation of an internal despot, if one is able to crush al‑nafs al‑'amāra during the stoning of Jamrat al‑ʿAqaba (the Jamrah of Aqaba), then one has taken the next step in attaining closeness to Allah, and since between the servant and Allah there is no more than the distance of one step, if one has been able to take this step and make it past one's own low desires and wishes, then that which follows is the level of closeness to Allah.
- During those two or three days after the Eid that one is in Mina, one must stone the three jamarāt, meaning that one must trample upon his internal despot (an-nafs al-'amāra), the external despot of the Shaitan from the Jinn, and the Shayṭān from among the Humans (the enemies of religion and of humanity).
Thus, the stoning of the three jamarāt is, in essence, the trampling upon the despots and waging war against all of them. When one focuses on them and the hatred for them, then one automatically focuses with complete attention upon one's self – and rightfully so – while stoning the jamarāt, one must focus entirely upon one's self. It is an attack on a person's internal temptations or base desires, and signals a moving away from the self and towards further submission to Allah's will.
Let us watch a video of pelting the stone at one of the Jamarat:
To know more about Hajj, please refer to our reference pages:
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
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