Muslim pilgrims perform the symbolic 'stoning of the devil' ritual as the Hajj pilgrimage comes to an end in Saudi Arabia

Muslim pilgrims were preparing on Friday to carry out the final major ritual of the annual Hajj pilgrimage — the symbolic “stoning of the devil” — as Muslims worldwide began celebrating Eid al-Adha.

From dawn, more than 1.6 million pilgrims were expected to hurl seven pebbles at each of three large concrete pillars in Mina, just outside Mecca. The ritual reenacts the Prophet Abraham’s rejection of Satan at three locations where, according to Islamic tradition, the devil attempted to dissuade him from following God's command to sacrifice his son.

This year's Hajj was marked by extensive measures to combat extreme heat, as well as a strong crackdown on unauthorized pilgrims. The result was visibly smaller crowds and heightened security across Mecca and surrounding sites.

The precautions aimed to prevent a recurrence of last year’s tragedy, when 1,301 pilgrims—many of whom had entered Mecca without official permits—died amid scorching temperatures reaching 51.8°C (125°F). Without legal access to accommodations and official services, unregistered pilgrims were especially vulnerable to the heat.

Hajj permits are distributed to countries based on quotas and assigned to individuals via a lottery. Despite the risks, the high cost of official packages drives many to attempt the pilgrimage without permits, risking arrest and deportation.

The Mina stoning ritual has been the site of deadly incidents in the past, most notably the 2015 stampede that claimed over 2,300 lives in one of the worst disasters in Hajj history.

Hajj and the smaller Umrah pilgrimage generate billions in annual revenue for Saudi Arabia and bolster the religious authority of the Saudi monarch, who holds the title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina.

The conclusion of the Hajj aligns with the start of Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, observed with the slaughter of animals such as goats, sheep, cows, or camels to commemorate Abraham’s devotion to God.