Azlan Othman in Mina, Makkah
Brunei pilgrims were among the million Muslim worshippers who travelled from Makkah since Saturday for the ‘stoning the devil’ ritual at three Jamarat (or pillars symbolising the devil) in Mina – beginning with the smallest pillar, Jamarat Al-Ula, moving to the medium Jamarat Al-Wusta before reaching the largest, Jamarat Al-Aqaba.
Yesterday, they completed the stoning ritual after spending three days and two nights in air-conditioned white tents.
On arrival, the Bruneian pilgrims walked about 20 to 30 minutes to the tents as buses were prohibited from entering the tunnel.
Fortunately, the tents for Brunei pilgrims were situated rather close to the stoning ritual site.
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims marched towards Jamarat day and night with water sprinkling posts to cool them down as temperatures swelled to 42 degrees Celsius.
Security personnel, health workers and volunteers were deployed to the site to oversee the event.
Brunei pilgrims arrived in Mina after performing Wuquf in Arafah – the most important Haj ritual – the previous day, passing by Muzdalifah.
Seven pebbles were used for the stoning ritual. The pilgrims’ movement in throwing pebbles at Jamarat Al-Aqaba went smoothly and in an orderly manner on the floors of the giant Jamarat bridge.
Brunei pilgrims left Mina for Makkah yesterday for their Tawaf Wida’ before leaving Makkah, Saudi Arabia, after completing the haj.
On the eve of their departure, Brunei pilgrims under the Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd package organised a Khatam Al-Quran, Dikir and Marhaban as well as the recitation of Selawat Tafrijiyyah.
The pilgrims are set to return to the Sultanate on Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) flights on July 15 and 16 after spending a month in Madinah and Makkah for haj.
