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Muslim pilgrims marked the final day of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca on Friday, performing the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat complex in Mina, according to Africa News. The ritual, which involves casting pebbles at pillars representing the devil, commemorates the Prophet Abraham's rejection of Satan's temptation to disobey God's command.

The pilgrimage, which drew about 1.7 million people this year, took place amid intense heat, with temperatures rising above 40°C, Africa News reported. Many pilgrims poured water over their heads or carried umbrellas to cope with the conditions, and Saudi authorities stressed the importance of drinking water and reducing direct sun exposure.

Coverage Comparison

Africa News reported that thousands of pilgrims prayed at dawn and circled the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure at the center of Mecca's Grand Mosque, on the second day of Eid al-Adha. The outlet also noted that the final days of the Hajj coincide with Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, during which Muslims typically slaughter sheep or cattle and distribute part of the meat to the poor.

Al Jazeera reported that over a million pilgrims participated in the stone-throwing ritual in Mina on the third day of Hajj, describing it as symbolising the stoning of the devil and the rejection of temptation.

Dawn reported that pilgrims gathered in the valley of Mina from dawn to throw pebbles at concrete pillars, and that the ritual reenacts the Prophet Ibrahim's stoning of the devil at three places where Satan is said to have tried to dissuade him from obeying God's command to sacrifice his son.

Dawn added that more than 1.7 million people are taking part in the haj this year and that the pilgrimage has, for the third year in a row, been overshadowed by war—this time the US-Israeli conflict with Iran that has drawn in the Gulf nations. The outlet noted that a fragile ceasefire, in place since April 8, has mostly brought a halt to the fighting, but diplomatic efforts to end the war have proved inconclusive so far.

Africa News also mentioned the backdrop of the Iran war in its report, noting that about 1.7 million people made the journey to Islam's holiest site despite that context.

Key Claims

  • About 1.7 million people participated in this year's Hajj pilgrimage, as reported by Africa News and Dawn.
  • Pilgrims threw pebbles at pillars or concrete pillars symbolising the devil as part of the stoning ritual, reported by Africa News, Al Jazeera, and Dawn.
  • The Hajj is taking place during intense heat, with temperatures above 40°C, as reported by Africa News and Dawn. Dawn noted that on Tuesday, pilgrims prayed atop Mount Arafat enduring temperatures of 45°C.
  • The final days of the Hajj coincide with Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, as reported by Africa News.
  • A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8 in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, a claim carried by Dawn.

Perspectives

The coverage reflects a generally neutral, factual tone across outlets. Africa News and Al Jazeera focus on the religious rituals and the scale of the pilgrimage. Dawn places the Hajj in the context of the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran, noting the ceasefire and the war's overshadowing of the festival for the third consecutive year.