The story behind the stoning of Satan during Hajj | Halek Hossain

 

The stoning of Satan is one of the main events of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca during the month of Dhul Hijjah.

During this ritual, Muslims throw pebbles at three pillars called 'Jamarat' located in the city of Mina, just east of Mecca. During the night spent in Muzdalifah, the pilgrims gather 70 stones to the three pillars representing Satan on the 10th, the day of Hajj. Muslims perform the same ritual for the next three days after circumambulating the Kaaba. Ibn Abbas narrated that:

"The Prophet made al-Fadl sit behind him on his mountain and al-Fadl said that he did not stop reciting Talbiyah until Jamra was stoned." (Al-Bukhari: 1685 and Muslim: 1282).

In another example Abdullah narrates that:

“He came to the largest Jamrah and placed the House on his left and the Mina on his right and stoned it seven times (with pebbles) and said, Thus on whom al-Baqarah was revealed (blessings and peace be upon him. Allah has stoned.” (Al-Bukhari: 1748 and Muslim: 1296). There is a lot of evidence that points to the importance of this ritual. Then, to fully appreciate the importance of this ritual it is necessary to understand its history and significance.

history

This ritual is a symbolic reenactment of the incident between Prophet Ibrahim and Satan. Allah Almighty ordered Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael. On the way to obeying this commandment, Satan repeatedly tried to prevent Abraham from obeying this commandment of Allah. Abraham was instructed by the angel Gabriel to throw a pebble at Satan. A famous Muslim historian Al-Azraqi explains this incident thus:

“When he [Ibrahim] left Mina and was brought down to Al-Aqaba, Satan appeared to him in a heap of polluted stones. Jibraeel (Jibril) said to him, throw him! Then Ibrahim threw seven stones at him so that he disappeared from him. Then he appeared to him on the middle stone pile. Gabriel said to him: "Throw him!" So he threw seven stones at her so that she disappeared from him. Then he appeared to him on a pile of small stones. Gabriel said to him: "Throw him!" So he threw seven stones like small stones to sling him. So Satan withdrew from him.”

This event was perpetuated in the lives of Muslims in the form of a ceremony during Hajj. And in remembrance of this event, Muslims perform this event every year during Hajj.

The significance behind stoning

Stone pelting at Jamarat means full obedience to Allah's order against which no Muslim should be discouraged. Ibrahim was ordered to sacrifice his son and Satan tried to dissuade Ibrahim from doing so, but Ibrahim showed full faith in Allah and followed his orders without question or temptation.

Satan tried to confuse Abraham and turn him away from submission to God's will. Abraham's heroism will be celebrated because Abraham remained childless until the age of seventy, when Allah gave him his first son, Ishmael. In this situation, it was a very great sacrifice for Ibrahim (a.s.). Satan tried to discourage Abraham with the argument of old age and who will see you at this age.

However, Ibrahim was firm in his faith and threw pebbles at Satan to drive him away. It was an act of putting aside his desires and wishes, which is expected of all Muslims during the Hajj and otherwise. Throwing stones at Satan is not as if Satan is present, but rather an exercise of faith: this act is proof that believers are able to resist the thoughts and desires that Satan puts into their minds.

Although a Haji is throwing a pebble at a pillar of the Jamarat, he or she is actually throwing it in the face of Satan because nothing annoys Satan more than people who follow Allah's commands. Abraham stoned the devil at the command of Allah, so Muslims all over the world show their hatred for the devil by throwing pebbles at the devil at the command of Allah.