​Pilgrims start leaving Makkah as Hajj comes to an end

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Sunday 27 Sep 2015 - 17:37 Makkah mean time-14-12-1436 Mina (IINA) - All Hajj pilgrims have left the Tent City of Mina on Sunday after performing the stoning ritual for the fourth and final day.  Almost all the domestic pilgrims as well as most pilgrims from the neighboring countries left Makkah on Saturday evening and Sunday after performing Tawaf Al Wida (farewell circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba), which is the last ritual of the six-day Hajj. Many pilgrims from neighboring countries as well as domestic pilgrims from various parts of the Kingdom have arrived in Madinah to visit the Prophet’s Mosque. The Saudi authorities have completed all preparations to receive the pilgrims there.  The Saudi Arabian Airlines and other aviation companies have readied all facilities for the departure of pilgrims. The pilgrims will leave on board 667 flights from King Abdulaziz International Airport Jeddah, and these included 337 domestic flights.   Most of the Hajj pilgrims had left Mina after the stoning ritual for the third day on Saturday. The remaining pilgrims, who stayed back in the tent city, completed the stoning ritual on Sunday, the third day of Tashreeq, following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Although the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, came to a close officially on Sunday, pilgrims were allowed to leave a day earlier. Pilgrims performed the stoning ritual this afternoon in a very smooth and peaceful way. They stoned seven pebbles first at Jamrat Al-Sughra, then at Jamrat Al-Wusta, and finally at Jamrat Al-Aqba. It is to emulate the stoning of Satan at three spots by Prophet Ibrahim where the devil is said to have appeared trying to dissuade him from obeying Allah’s order to sacrifice his son, Ismail. The ritual is renunciation of evil in all its forms and a promise never to fall prey to the machinations and intrigues of Satan, the cursed. HA/IINA