Hajj Pilgrims Complete Final Stoning Ritual Near Mecca

Muslim pilgrims completed the final major ritual of the annual hajj on Wednesday by throwing pebbles at concrete pillars in the valley of Mina, southeast of Mecca. The ceremony reenacts the Prophet Abraham's stoning of the devil at three sites where Satan is said to have tried to dissuade him from obeying God's command to sacrifice his son Ishmael.

7 million people are participating in the hajj this year. The pilgrimage is obligatory for Muslims who have the physical and financial means to perform it at least once in their lifetime. Pilgrims endured temperatures of 45C on Tuesday while praying on Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his final sermon.

They spent the following night at Muzdalifah collecting pebbles before moving to Mina for the stoning.

-Israeli confrontation with Iran that has drawn in Gulf states. A fragile ceasefire in place since April 8 has largely halted active fighting, though diplomatic efforts to reach a permanent settlement remain inconclusive. After the stoning, pilgrims return to Mecca for a final circumambulation of the Kaaba, the cuboid structure at the center of the Grand Mosque that serves as the focal point for Muslim prayer worldwide.

Wednesday's conclusion coincides with Eid al-Adha, the festival commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son before an angel intervened and substituted a goat. The holiday is traditionally observed with the slaughter of a sheep, portions of which are distributed to those in need.