2 million Muslims stone devil at Haj, feast begins

MINA: Two million Muslims ritually stoned the devil Saturday in the last major ritual of this year's Haj in Saudi Arabia, while fellow believers around the world celebrated Eid Al Adha, the feast of sacrifice.

The stoning took place in Mina, about five kilometres (three miles) east of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

Pilgrims had moved to Mina overnight Friday on foot, motorbikes, and buses from Mount Arafat after the Haj reached its zenith with a day of prayer, as well as tears by pilgrims moved by the sanctity of the spot where Prophet Mohammed is believed to have given his final sermon 14 centuries ago.

In the stoning ritual, pilgrims throw pebbles, which they collected at Muzdalifah on the way to Mina, at walls to emulate Abraham who is said to have stoned the devil at three locations when he tried to dissuade Abraham from God's order to sacrifice his son.