Hajj 2012 Days 3 - 5

The third day of hajj was on Friday the 26th of October 2012. After performing the fajr prayers in Muzdalifa,  the pilgrims make their way to Mina for the stoning of the devil ritual (Ramy al Jamaraat). It is a symbolic event which is represented by three huge pillars. On the 3rd day of Hajj only the biggest pillar would be pelted at. After this stoning process, the pilgrims would then sacrifice an animal such as a lamb, goat or camel. Thereafter, the devotess would come out of the state of ihram by shaving off the hair in the case of men and clipping a small bit of hair in the case of females. The pilgrims would then proceed to Makkah to perform the tawaaf-e-ziyarah. Pilgrims would circumambulate the Kaabah in an anti- clockwise direction seven times. Thereafter they would perform two rakaats salaah behind the Maqaam -e -Ebrahim , drink water from the well of zam zam and then proceed to walk between the mountains of safa and marwa. The significance of walking between safa and marwa is to empathize with Hajra the wife of Prophet Ebrahim (as) and to feel her pain and suffering as she was searching for water in the desert for her son Ismail (as). She walked seven times between the mountains of Safa and marwa in distress until she finally seen the angel Gabriel digging the earth with his heels at the place of Zam zam and water began to flow.This act of running far and wide in search of water for her baby was loved by God Almighty that He made this act of running between safa and marwa compulsory for every man and woman who performs hajj.Allah mentions in the Quraan: “Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah” [Surah Baqara:158]

This is a perfect example of the status that is allocated to women in Islam.

The pilgrims then make their way to the tent city of Mina where they would spend the next two nights. On the 4th and 5th day of the Hajj process the devotees would systematically do the stoning of the three pillars that are a representation of Satan.They would first pelt the small pillar, followed by the medium one and then the biggest of them all. The act of stoning the devil (shaytan) commemorates the three attempts the devil made to prevent the Prophet Ibrahim (as) from sacrificing his son Ismail (as) . The Prophet rejected all three of the devil’s attempts, stoning him and driving him away. The three stone pillars mark the places where the failed temptations took place and the act of stoning signifies the Prophet Ibrahim’s constant obedience to God Almighty and the vanquishing of the devil.

On the fifth day of hajj which is the ultimate and final day, the pilgrims then make their way back to Makkah to perform the Tawaaf-e- Alwida or the farewell tawaaf. This final act of circumambulating around the house of Allah seven times marks the end of the Hajj process.