Hajj Pilgrims Perform Stoning of Devil at Jamarat on First Day of Tashreeq

This handout satellite picture obtained from Planet Labs PBC and taken early on June 6, 2025 shows the Jamarat bridge in Mina on the first day of Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, and during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
This handout satellite picture obtained from Planet Labs PBC and taken early on June 6, 2025 shows the Jamarat bridge in Mina on the first day of Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, and during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
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Hajj Pilgrims Perform Stoning of Devil at Jamarat on First Day of Tashreeq

This handout satellite picture obtained from Planet Labs PBC and taken early on June 6, 2025 shows the Jamarat bridge in Mina on the first day of Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, and during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
This handout satellite picture obtained from Planet Labs PBC and taken early on June 6, 2025 shows the Jamarat bridge in Mina on the first day of Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, and during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (Planet Labs PBC / AFP)

Hajj pilgrims were performing the symbolic stoning of the devil on the first day of Tashreeq on Saturday.

They will stone the devil with three pebbles at Jamarat after having had performed the first phase of the stoning on Friday and ending their state of Ihram.

Also on Friday, which was the first day of Eid al-Adha, the pilgrims performed the Ifada tawaf of the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Before that, they had ascended Mount Arafat on Thursday – considered the peak of the Hajj.

The Saudi Interior Ministry has called on pilgrims to follow the designated paths that connect each area where rituals are performed.

It also called on them to follow the set timetable for each ritual.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said on Friday that the security forces continue to perform their duties in protecting the pilgrims and ensuring their safety as they carry out the sacred rituals.

For pilgrims seeking to depart on the second day of Tashreeq, he urged them to remain in their tents until their departure times.

He underscored the Interior Ministry’s continued security and organizational efforts to ensure the safety of the pilgrims as they complete their holy journey.



Saudi Arabia Says Will Not Allow Practices That Deviate Hajj from its Objectives

Security commanders are seen at the press conference in Makkah on Friday (Bashir Saleh)
Security commanders are seen at the press conference in Makkah on Friday (Bashir Saleh)
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Saudi Arabia Says Will Not Allow Practices That Deviate Hajj from its Objectives

Security commanders are seen at the press conference in Makkah on Friday (Bashir Saleh)
Security commanders are seen at the press conference in Makkah on Friday (Bashir Saleh)

Saudi Arabia said it would not allow the Hajj to be used for any activity that strays from its religious purpose, as more than 1.5 million pilgrims arrived from abroad by Friday afternoon.

He made his statement during a press conference by Hajj security commanders at the Unified Security Operations Center (911) in the Makkah region.

Officials outlined security, traffic, and organizational plans for this year’s holy pilgrimage, along with related instructions and guidelines.

Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, director of Public Security, said the Hajj security system was fully ready to carry out its duties.

“Our goal is for pilgrims to reach their destination, perform their rituals, and return home safely,” he stressed.

Al-Bassami said crowd management plans focused on regulating pilgrim flows and minimizing overlap between routes. Technology, he said, was playing a key role alongside security personnel on the ground.

He said authorities were prepared for various scenarios based on risk assessments, following extensive drills and field exercises to test the readiness of all security agencies.

Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Omari, commander of the Special Emergency Forces at the Presidency of State Security, described the security plans as “integrated, proactive and flexible.” He said security forces were deployed in the central area and the holy sites to protect pilgrims.

Maj. Gen. Dr. Hammoud Al-Faraj, director general of Civil Defense, said preparations for the Hajj season were complete.

“We trained all bodies involved in serving pilgrims on self-protection,” he said, adding that male and female volunteers were working alongside Civil Defense personnel across all tasks and operations.

Maj. Gen. Dr. Saleh Al-Murabba, commander of the Passports Forces for Hajj, said the “Makkah Route” initiative accounted for 30% of arriving pilgrims. He said 1,518,153 pilgrims had arrived from outside Saudi Arabia by Friday afternoon.


Saudi, Pakistani Interior Ministers Discuss Security Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
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Saudi, Pakistani Interior Ministers Discuss Security Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received on Friday a telephone call from his Pakistani counterpart Mohsin Naqvi for talks on issues of common interest.

They also reviewed aspects of security cooperation and coordination.


Saudi Leadership Congratulates Yemen on Unity Day

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
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Saudi Leadership Congratulates Yemen on Unity Day

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent on Friday a cable of congratulations to Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi on the occasion of his country's Unity Day.

King Salman wished the president continued good health, and the government and people of Yemen further security and stability.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent Al-Alimi a similar cable on the occasion.