CASTING THE PEBBLES

Another important ceremony is ramyu�r-rijAm, the casting of the pebbles.  On the tenth day, also the �Day of Sacrifice,� the pilgrim throws seven pebbles at Jamrat al-�Aqaba, also known as ShaitAnuu�l KabIr, the Great Devil.  While doing this, he chants: �In the name of God, the Almighty, I do this, and in hatred of the Devil and his shame.� Allah and Devil are somehow inseparable in certain theologies.

This ceremony celebrates an ancient event when the Devil successively met Adam, Abraham, and Ishmael, and was driven away by the simple method which Gabriel taught them of throwing seven small pebbles.  The three pillars at MinA represent the three occasions when this happened; therefore, the pilgrim casts seven stones at each of the three pillars.

There are several ahAdIs on the merits of throwing pebbles, on their size and number, and on the best time for throwing them.  The pebbles should be small- �I saw Allah�s Apostle throwing stones like pelting of small pebbles� (2979).  The best time for throwing them is after sunrise on the Day of Sacrifice- �Allah�s Messenger flung pebbles at Jamra on the Day of Nahr after sunrise, and after that-on the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhu�l-Hijja -when the sun had declined� (2980).  Their number should be odd.  �Odd number of stones are to be used for cleaning the private parts after answering the call of nature, and the casting of pebbles at the Jamrat is to be done by odd numbers (seven), and the number of circuits around al-SafA and al-Marwa is also odd (seven), and the number of circuits around the Ka�ba is also odd (seven),� says the Prophet (2982).

author : ram swarup