While visiting historic, sacred places of Makkah, one should not forget about the birthplace of…
Jamarat
Jamarat are three stone pillars in the tent city of Mina. Pelting or stoning of these pillars is an obligation in Haj in remembrance of steadfastness of Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام against Shaytan (devil).
Hajj is the main Ibadah that is a total accumulation of sunnah’s of Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام and His family.
These three pillars are named as;
- Jamarah-al-Oola or Jamarah-e-Sughra (the first or the small Jamarah),
- Jamarah-al-Wusta (the middle Jamarah)
- Jamarah-al-Uqbah or Jamarah-al Kubra ( last or the largest Jamarah)
These are named so as to explain the strength with which devil tried to persuade Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) from completing his sacrifice of His beloved son Prophet Isma’eel عليه السلام.
Jamarah-al-Oola/Sughra is the place that is at a greater distance from the point of sacrifice and devil did his least effort here whereas Jamarah-al-Uqbah/Kubra is nearest to that point and devil tried his utmost effort of persuasion at this point.
The sacrifice of Prophet Ismael عليه السلام by Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام was being carried out after Prophet Ibrahim(A.S) had same dream for three consecutive nights seeing this sacrifice. This was when he decided that those dreams were a message/wahi; as dreams of a Prophet are always true. He took his son and set off for sacrifice and on the way revealed his dream and its message to Prophet Isma’el عليه السلام and He agreed readily to fulfill the God’s will. Each time when Satan tried to divert Prophet Ibrahim’s عليه السلام attention, Prophet casted seven stones on him following the command of Hazrat Jabrail عليه السلام. This laid the basis for pelting/rami of Jamarat pillars as an acceptance that Muslims should not be carried out by Satan.
This stoning is carried out from 10th of ZulHajj till the 13th of ZulHajj. On Eid Day i.e. 10th ZulHajj only the Jamarat al-Uqbah is pelted and on the following three days all three are to be pelted.
The standing position for pelting should be such that Makkah is on left and Mina on the right side. The stones for this purpose are collected from Muzdalifah ideally (but can be picked from Mina as well). The size of these stones should not be bigger than beans and the stone should be thrown seven times separately not all seven at once. This ritual has to be performed by each individual but in case of sickness or weakness an agent can be hired to carry out this act.
This obligatory ritual, if mistakenly or deliberately, is overlooked or missed due to any reason or if a part of it is missed, one should return to mina and perform it on any other day. But, if one recalls after leaving Makkah it is not important to return instantly, but the qadah of it can be performed any time in the following year before next Hajj.
On 11th, 12th and 13th ZulHajj the Pelting is in the sequence of the pillars Sughra, then Wusta and lastly Uqbah. It is masnoon (advised) to make dua’a after pelting Sughra and Wusta, but not after Uqbah. This act has to be performed as per directives given to pilgrims.
Summary
Reviewer
Halima Ali
Review Date
Reviewed Item
Jamarat
About the Author
Eaalim Travel is enthusiastic about imparting knowledge about the perfect example and life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and in doing so the idea is to create a deep love as well as connection with our Prophet ﷺ.
