Muslim pilgrims 'stone the devil' as hajj nears end in Saudi Arabia

Muslim pilgrims 'stone the devil' as hajj nears end in Saudi Arabia

Pilgrims perform the last major ritual of the hajj -- the 'stoning of the devil' --  as Muslims around the globe celebrate the beginning of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

Many of the 1.6 million pilgrims headed to the site just outside the holy city of Mecca before daybreak to avoid the searing temperatures and to begin throwing seven stones at each of the three concrete walls.

The ritual commemorates Abraham's stoning of the devil at the three spots where it is said Satan tried to dissuade him from obeying God's order to sacrifice his son.

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