Stoning of the Satan, Qurbani, and Haircut

Mina is a place in the haram region and it is between Muzdalifah and Mecca. Stoning of the devil and Qurbani are performed here on the days between the 10-13th of Dhu al-Hijjah (days of Eid al-Adha). Although it is sunnah to spend the night at Mina during the days of stoning the devil, today it might not be possible because of confluence.

The place where the stoning of the devil takes place called “Jamarat.” On the first day of Eid al-Adha, pilgrims throw seven stones at the Jamarat Aqabah, also known as the big devil. Pilgrims stop reciting the talbiyah with the first stone thrown. While those who intended to perform Hajj al-Ifrad leave the state of Ihram following the stoning of the devil, those who intended to perform Hajj al-Tamattu and Hajj al-Qiran do so after they perform the ritual of qurbani and have a haircut. Thereby all ihram bans except sexual intercourse are lifted (the first tahallul). Such ban also becomes lifted upon the Tawaf Ziyarah (the second tahallul).

As of the noons the second and third days of the eid, pilgrims throw seven stones each at the smallest devil (Jamrah Sughra), the middle-size devil (Jamrah Wusta) and the largest devil (Jamrah Aqaba), respectively. Those who will not stay at Mina on the fourth day of eid are not responsible for throwing the stones of this day.

Mina means extreme desire. Prophet Ibrahim and his family underwent a challenging test here. When Prophet Ibrahim (ra) was ordered to sacrifice his son, the devil tried to stop him. Thereupon Prophet Ibrahim (ra), his wife Hajar (ra), and his son Ismael stoned the devil. Thus, they proved their love and loyalty to Allah (swt). The ritual of "stoning of the devil" symbolizes this incident.

With reference to the lessons learned from the test Prophet Ibrahim (ra) and his family underwent, pilgrims endeavor to pass their own tests. They overcome all the temporary fondness such as parents, properties, position, fame, etc. and open their hearts to the love and affection of Allah (swt). 

Uttering “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar. I am throwing stones aiming at the satan and his followers,"  pilgrims throw pebbles at the jamrahs. A pilgrim perceives the fact that every pebble thrown at the jamarat is a symbol and, in fact; he comprehends that he has to stone the wishes and desires of his nafs. He tries to stone all the aspects that prevent him from resigning himself to Allah (swt) as well as his desires that drive a wedge between himself and Allah (swt). He wages a war against every wrong feeling that occupies his heart such as arrogance, vanity, hatred, lust, and ambition. A pilgrim turns towards Allah (swt) through du'a to become triumphant against satan and his/her nafs. He takes refuge in Allah (swt), the Most Merciful, against the evil of satan, the Rajm (stoned). 

Those who intended to perform hajj tamattu or hajj qiran slaughters a qurbani animal with the gratitude of being able to perform the worships of umrah and hajj at once. This kind of qurbani is called "Hady," and represents one's devotion to Allah (swt) and being able to give sacrifice his possessions for the sake of Allah (swt). The Holy Qur'an mentions of the slaughtered qurbani animals as the "symbols of Allah (swt)." The verse “Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you” emphasizes that the truth represented by the qurbani is a symbol to attain taqwa (piety). (Hajj, 22/36-37) 

Pilgrims have a haircut after the slaughtering of the qurbani animal. Symbolically, shaving is to sacrifice a part of one's self. It stands for one's sacrificing his life and head in the way of Allah (swt). Each strand of hair represents the pouring sins of the pilgrim.

Having performed waqfat at Arafat and Muzdalifah, stoned the satan and slaughtered a qurbani animal in Mina and become purified from sins, pilgrims return to the Ka’bah, where they had been away for a couple of days, to perform the tawaf ziyarah with the happiness of a victory that they had won against their nafs. This tawaf impresses a seal on the worship of hajj. After many worships and religious duties performed with faith, love, obedience, surrender, patience, and loyalty, the hajj worship ends with the tawaf ziyarah. The “Baitullah” is visited in the eid to make obeisance to the owner of the House. If they have yet to perform sa'y, pilgrims perform it after tawaf. They pray to Allah (swt) for Him to accept their hajj. 

They say goodbye to the Ka’bah with the idea of reuniting again and hope that they are one of the believers stated in the following hadith: “Those who perform hajj for the sake of Allah (swt) and abstain from (contrasting to Allah's (swt) consent) bad words and acts and opposing Allah (swt), (except from rightful share of a person) returns from hajj as pure as when he was born (purified from sins).” (Bukhari, Hajj, 4)