Saudi Gazette Report

MINA — The Hajj pilgrims performed four main rituals of Hajj in a smooth and serene atmosphere on Friday. The meticulously designed foolproof organizational and service plans for Hajj 2025 have transformed the pilgrims’ journey from Muzdalifah to Mina into a smooth crowd movement featuring easy access to the Jamarat facility for the stoning ritual in a safe and tranquil atmosphere.

These plans, implemented in coordination with various security and service agencies, have contributed to achieving the highest levels of discipline and organization by utilizing modern technological tools and well-designed operational models. These enabled smooth and safe crowd movement.

With hearts filled with joy and pleasure over performing the ritual of standing at Arafat, the apex point of the annual pilgrimage of Hajj, on Thursday, masses of pilgrims embarked on a symbolic stoning of the devil under the soaring summer heat. The ritual marks the final days of the Hajj and the start of the Eid Al-Adha celebrations for Muslims around the world on Friday, Dhul Hijjah 10, which is also known as Yaum Al-Nahr or the Day of Sacrifice.

On Friday morning, crowds of pilgrims headed on foot to the stoning areas. Some were seen pushing disabled pilgrims on wheelchairs on a multi-lane road leading to the complex housing the large pillars. Most pilgrims were seen sweltering and carrying umbrellas to protect them against the burning summer sun.

Upon reaching Mina, pilgrims performed stoning at Jamarat Al-Aqba (biggest pillar symbolizing Satan), following the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). They used seven pebbles for the stoning ritual. The pilgrims’ movement to hurl pebbles at Jamrat Al-Aqaba was smooth, orderly, and flexible on the floors of the giant Jamarat Bridge Complex with all the precautionary measures in place. Reaching the Jamarat, they stopped the chanting of talbiyah and started reciting takbeer (Allahu Akbar) while proceeding to perform the stoning ritual.

Around 300,000 pilgrims can perform the stoning ritual at the facility in an hour. All the security, health, ambulance, hygiene and civil defense services are well in place at the Jamarat Bridge. The security men were seen organizing the movement of pilgrims in the vast sprawling stoning area on the multi-level Jamarat Complex and at its entrances and exits. The heat-blocking coating of pedestrian paths in Mina leading to the Jamarat Bridge are giving some respite to the pilgrims under the scorching sun.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense has strengthened its preparations throughout the Jamarat facility and its surrounding areas to receive the pilgrims. The Civil Defense forces continued their field services by conducting operations throughout the Jamarat Bridge facility and surrounding areas to provide services to pilgrims.

Civil Defense teams and units are stationed at all points of the bridge and its main entrances. They are equipped with personnel, technical equipment, machinery, and protective gear, working in collaboration with Hajj security forces and relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of the pilgrims.

After performing the stoning ritual, the pilgrims sacrificed animals, and thus had a partial exit (first tahallul) from the state of ihram by shaving or cutting hair for men while women trim the length of a finger-tip from one strand of hair. They then changed back into normal clothing from ihram. Pilgrims then proceeded to Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Ifadah and sai’ (ritual of running between Safa and Marwah), two other pillars of Hajj. Those pilgrims who performed sai’ along with Tawaful Qudum (Tawaf of Arrival) need not perform it again.

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, working in close coordination with relevant authorities, has meticulously managed crowd movement within the mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba). In addition to crowd control, comprehensive services have been intensified to ensure pilgrims’ well-being, including rigorous cleaning and sterilization efforts, provision of multi-language guidance and counseling services, and 24-hour emergency and ambulance services

With the performance of tawaf and sai’, pilgrims would exit completely from the state of ihram. To assist pilgrims in completing their Hajj rituals, the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque is providing a 24-hour haircut service for complete tahallul.

The service is available at two convenient locations within the Grand Mosque: one near Al-Marwah Gate and the other in the eastern courtyard. A specialized and experienced team delivers this swift service, with each pilgrim's haircut taking two minutes. All tools used are fully sterilized, ensuring an efficient, prompt, and high-quality service that adheres to the strictest safety standards.

In the remaining two or three days of Hajj, which are known as Ayyamu Tashreeq or Tashreeq Days, the only ritual to be performed is stoning at each of the three Jamarat (Jamarat Al-Sughra, Jamarat Al-Wusta and Jamarat Al-Aqba) seven times each after staying overnight in Mina.