jamaraat

Jamaraat, in the context of Islam, refers to the three stone pillars or obelisks located in Mina near Mecca, collectively involved in the ritual of Ramy al-Jamarat, the stoning of the devil. The three pillars are named Jamarat al-Aqaba (the small), Jamarat al-Wusta (the middle), and Jamarat al-Kubra (the largest). The ritual is a central part of the Hajj pilgrimage and also observed during the days of Eid al-Adha and the subsequent days.

Ramy al-Jamarat involves throwing small pebbles at each pillar as a symbolic rejection of Satan’s temptations, dating to the biblical and Islamic tradition of Abraham. Pilgrims typically perform the stoning in a prescribed order, beginning with the smallest pillar and progressing to the largest, usually throwing seven stones at each pillar on each designated day. The pebbles are often collected from Muzdalifah before the ritual, though stones may be sourced locally as well. The act commemorates Abraham’s refusal to heed Satan’s temptations when asked to disobey God.

The Jamaraat area has undergone substantial modernization and expansion to manage large crowds and improve safety. Notable incidents, including deadly stampedes in 1990 and 2015, prompted redesigns of the Mina corridor and Jamarat facilities, with widened lanes and barrier systems to regulate flow. The practice remains a defining component of the Hajj, symbolizing faith, discipline, and submission in the pilgrimage.