Jamarat - Stoning of Satan

Stoning of the Devil is part of the Hajj pilgrimage. Every pilgrim throws pebbles at three walls called jamarat in the city of Mina just outside Makkah. It is one of a series of ritual acts that must be performed in the Hajj.

What is Jamarat?

When Prophet Abraham left Mina to sacrifice his son according to the will of God, Satan appeared to him to lure him away from not following God's command. Archagel Gabriel said to him: “Pelt him!” so Abraham threw seven stone at him. And the Devil withdrew from him. After a while, after he walked a little further, Satan appeared again trying to lure him again, Abraham again pelted seven pebbles at him and Satan withdrew again. After a while, as he walk further, Satan reappeared again and Abraham pelted seven more stones at him to cast him away.

All three jamarat represent the devil. The first and largest represents his temptation of Abraham against sacrificing Ishmael, the second represents the temptation of Abraham's wife Hagar to induce her to stop him, and the third represents his temptation of Ishmael to avoid being sacrificed. He was rebuked each time, and the throwing of the stones during the annual Hajj pilgrimage symbolizes those rebukes.

The stoning of the jamarat also represents the repudiation of man's self and the act of casting aside one's low desires and wishes.

During those two or three days after the Eid that one is in Mina, one must stone the three Jamarat, meaning that one must trample upon his internal despot.

The stoning of the three Jamarat is in essence, the trampling upon the despots and waging war against all of them. When one focuses on them and the hatred for them, then one automatically focuses with complete attention upon one's self – and rightfully so – while stoning the Jamarat, one must focus entirely upon one's self.

This year, most likely the stoning will be done on 28th, 29th & 30th Nov. depending on the sighting of the moon.