Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — A large number of pilgrims, mainly domestic pilgrims, started performing Tawaf Al-Wida (farewell circumambulation) before leaving Makkah on Monday evening after completing their rituals of Hajj.

The Saudi authorities announced that 50 percent of pilgrims have left Mina on Monday after performing their rituals while the remaining pilgrims would stay one more day in Mina and will return on Tuesday after completing their stoning ritual.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has prepared an integrated system of service to facilitate smooth performance of the tawaf ritual. This was with the follow up of Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, which has mobilized its human resources, including 500 workers, to manage and organize crowds, and that is in cooperation with the security authorities within the Grand Mosque.

Around 50 percent of the pilgrims had left earlier the tent city of Mina after completing the stoning ritual for Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Wida to mark the end of the pilgrimage. Pilgrims started the stoning ritual this afternoon in an orderly and peaceful way.

They stoned seven pebbles each, first at Jamrat Al-Sugra, then at Jamrat Al-Wusta, and finally at Jamrat Al-Aqba in a ritual emulating Prophet Ibrahim’s stoning of the devil at the three spots where he is said to have appeared trying to dissuade him from obeying God’s order to sacrifice his son Ismail. The ritual is the renunciation of evil in all its forms and a promise never to fall prey to the machinations and intrigues of Satan, the cursed.

Although Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, concludes officially on Tuesday, the third day of Tashreeq (Ayyam Al-Tashreeq), pilgrims are permitted to leave a day earlier. Half of the pilgrims of this year’s Hajj took advantage of the concession to leave a day earlier.

A huge contingent of security forces and Civil Defense personnel as well as health workers was seen at various points at the mammoth state-of-the-art Jamarat Complex, to oversee the smooth conduct of the stoning ritual. After reaching their accommodation in Mina, pilgrims packed their baggage and boarded buses that took them to Makkah to perform farewell Tawaf.

Most domestic pilgrims will leave Makkah on Monday after performing Tawaf Al-Wida while foreign pilgrims would stay back for some time depending on the schedule of their departure flights. They will perform Tawaf Al-Wida before leaving Makkah.

The pilgrims were seen in a euphoric mood after completing their lifetime spiritual journey. Several pilgrims expressed their joy and delight for getting a unique opportunity and the divine blessing to be among the limited number of the Guests of God.

They lauded the extraordinary efforts made by the government of Saudi Arabia, led by Custodian of the Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, as well as the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and all the agencies involved in the pilgrimage for the services that helped them perform their rituals in ease and comfort. They asked God to accept their Hajj and reward all those who contributed to the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.