According To Azraky, The Pagan Arabs, In Commemoration Of This
Tradition, Used To Cast Stones In This Valley As They
Returned from the
pilgrimage; and set up seven idols at Muna, of which there was one in
each of the
Three spots where the devil appeared, at each of which they
cast three stones. Mohammed, who made this ceremony one of the chief
duties of the hadjys, increased the number of stones to seven. At the
entrance of the valley, towards Mezdelfe, stands a rude stone pillar, or
rather altar, between six and seven feet high, in the midst of the
street, against which the first seven stones are thrown, as the place
where the devil made his first stand: towards the middle of the valley
is a similar pillar, and at its western end a wall of stones, which is
made to serve the same purpose. The hadjys crowded in rapid succession
round the first pillar, called "Djamrat el Awla;" and every one threw
seven small stones successively upon it: they then passed to the second
and third spots, (called "Djamrat el Owsat," and "Djamrat el Sofaly," or
"el Akaba," or "el Aksa,") where the same ceremony was repeated. In
throwing the stones, they are to exclaim, "In the name of God; God is
great (we do this) to secure ourselves from the devil and his troops."
The stones used for this purpose are to be of the size of a horse-bean,
or thereabouts; and the pilgrims are advised to collect them in the
plain of Mezdelfe, but they may likewise take them from Muna; and many
people, contrary to the law, collect those that have already been
thrown.
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