(Mina) More than 1.8 million Muslims performed the last major ritual of the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, near Mecca (west), under oppressive heat, on the first day of Eid al-Adha, a major holiday of Islam.
At least 22 people lost their lives during their pilgrimage, according to authorities in several countries.
Severe heat caused the death of at least 14 Jordanian pilgrims, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday, adding that 17 others were missing.
In Iran, the head of the Red Crescent for his part indicated that five Iranian pilgrims had “lost their lives […] in Mecca and Medina”, without immediately specifying the circumstances surrounding their death. Three Senegalese also died in Mecca, their country’s foreign ministry announced early Monday on X, without giving the cause of their death.
Sunday marked the ritual of the stoning of Satan for which, from dawn, faithful arrived in waves in the Mina valley in front of steles symbolizing the devil, on which they threw stones.
It is a ritual that they will repeat at least once in the coming days before making the final convolutions around the Kaaba, in the center of the Great Mosque, marking the end of the hajj.
The stoning ritual takes place on the first day of Eid al-Adha, a holiday celebrated by Muslims across the world.
In the middle of summer, in one of the hottest regions in the world, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees at midday on Sunday. Pilgrims were seen collapsed on the side of the road leading to the steles in Mina, sheltered by few buildings and cars.
PHOTO FADEL SENNA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The annual hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, began Friday in Mecca, western Saudi Arabia, with the participation of more than 1.8 million worshipers, most of them from from abroad.
“It’s very difficult, we can’t find transport, I can’t get up anymore,” said Ahmed Alsayed Omran, a 70-year-old Egyptian retiree, sitting on the sidewalk.
The authorities have not communicated on the number of cases of hyperthermia this year. More than 10,000 cases were recorded last year, including 10% heatstroke, the most serious case, according to a Saudi official.
“Phenomenal”
“The whole experience was physically exhausting,” said Neron Khan, a 49-year-old from Canada, saying she herself was at one point on the verge of exhaustion.
“But very spiritually charged,” she added. “Seeing so many different people […] coming here for the same goal is just phenomenal.”
As in 2023, more than 1.8 million faithful participated in the hajj this year, including 1.6 million from abroad, according to Saudi authorities.
On Saturday, the pilgrims spent the day praying and reciting the Koran at Mount Arafat, where temperatures reached 46 degrees Celsius, before sleeping under the stars in the Mouzdalifa plain, a few kilometers from Mina.
Despite the high temperatures, the gathering around the hill where the Prophet Muhammad is said to have delivered his last sermon, the highlight of the pilgrimage, was held with great fervor.
The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. It must be performed by all Muslims at least once in their life if they have the means.
Feast of Sacrifice
On the occasion of Eid, Muslims slaughter an animal, usually a sheep, and offer part of the meat to the needy, in memory of the sacrifice that Abraham almost made by wanting to immolate his son before the angel. Gabriel only offers him at the last minute to kill a sheep in his place, according to tradition.
However, the celebrations are overshadowed this year by the war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“We do not feel Eid, because our brothers in Gaza are oppressed under occupation [israélienne] “, said Najem Nawwar, a 43-year-old Egyptian pilgrim.
Saudi King Salman brought 2,000 Palestinians to the hajj at his own expense, half of whom are family members of Gaza victims who have taken refuge abroad.
The authorities have warned that no political slogans will be tolerated during the hajj.
But that did not prevent many pilgrims from expressing their solidarity with the Palestinians to AFP.
“We pray for them […] and for the liberation of Palestine, so that we have two holidays instead of one,” said Wadih Ali Khalifah, a 32-year-old Saudi.