What is Rami al-Jamarat in Hajj?

Rami al-Jamarat is a rite of Hajj in which the Hajjaj throw stones at the three Jamarat, the three stone walls representing Shaitan, to complete their Hajj. Rami al-Jamarat in Hajj, or stoning the devil, is compulsory for all pilgrims.

It is a practice that pilgrims participate in passionately, but it is important to understand that the devils are not captured in those stones. Rather it is a symbolic act to replicate the act of Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِٱ لسَّلَامُ),where he thwarted the manipulations of the Shaitan (devil) to steer him from Allah’s commands. This act reminds Muslims to hold steadfast their trust in Allah and say to the devil in all aspects of their life.

If you are going on Hajj or Umrah this year, here is all the information you need to know about the practice of Rami al-Jamarat.

What are Jamarat?

Jamarat is the plural of the Arabic word Jamarah which means a small pebble. Jamarat refers to the three stone walls that symbolically represent Shaitan and mark the place where Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) threw stones at Shaitaan when he tried to tempt him towards disobedience and to deviate from the orders of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎.

The three Jamarat are essential to Hajj, and Rami al-Jamarat is the 13^th obligation in Hajj, where pilgrims must pelt stones at the three Jamarat from 11^th to 13^thDhul Hijjah.

These three stone walls, previously pillars, are located in the tent city of Mina and hold great significance for Muslims. For both Umrah and Hajj, performing Rami al-Jamarat is an obligatory ritual to commemorate the act of Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِٱ لسَّلَامُ) that he displayed in obedience to Allah’s command.

The Significance of Ram al-Jamarat

The Jamarat hold a greater spiritual significance and are a reminder of how one must negate evil and remain steadfast in the way of righteousness. Each of the Jamarat symbolizes a sacrifice. The first Jamarat signifies the place where Shaitaan appeared for the first time and tried to lure Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)not to sacrifice his son.

The second Jamarat symbolizes the place where Shaitaan tried to tempt Bibi Hajrah (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)so that she would stop her son from being sacrificed. The last Jamarat signifies the effort of temptation by Shaitaan on Prophet Ismail (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) against the sacrifice.

The pelting of stones at Shaitaan also signifies the order of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)that was sent down through Angel Jibrael to drive Shaitaan away. Hence, Rami al-Jamarat is a compulsory Hajj ritual. Pilgrims collect pebbles or stones to pelt on these pillars during their stay in Muzdalifah.

Ibn Abbas explains this event’s significance,”The Prophet (ﷺ) made Al-Fadl ride behind him, and Al-Fadl informed that the Prophet (ﷺ) kept on reciting Talbiya till he did the Rami of the Jamrah. (Jamrat-Al-`Aqaba.).” (Al-Bukhari: 1685)

Jamarat Pillar Names

Each of the three pillars of Jamarat has its own name and is named according to the strength with which Shaitan (Satan) tried to divert the Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) from obeying the command of Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).

• Jamarah al-Ula or Jamarah Sughra

Jamarah al-Ula, the smallest Jamarat, is the first wall and is farthest from the point of performing the sacrifice. It is farthest from Makkah but is nearest to Masjid Al-Khafy. This is considered the point where Satan tried the least to persuade the Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).

• Jamarah al-Wusta

Jamarah al-Wusta is the second wall located between Jamarah al-Ula and Jamarah al-Aqaba. Initially, this was shaped like an obelisk, but it was built into a tall wall in 2004. This is place where Shaitaan tried to dissuade Bibi Hajrah (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).

• Jamarah al-Aqabah or Jamarah al-Kubra

Jamarah al-Aqabah is the largest devil located on the mountainside of the Mina. It is nearest to the point of sacrifice and is located on the mountainside of Mina. Jamarah al-Aqabah is a 1-meter-thick wall that is 25 meters long. This is the place where the Shaitan tried his hardest to convince Prophet Ismail to disobey his father and Allah.

How to Get to Jamarat?

The Jamarat is located at the farther end of Mina, close to Makkah. By car, it takes a person 6 minutes to reach the first Jamarah. All three Jamarat are connected by the Jamarat Bridge, which plays a vital role in facilitating the practice of Rami al-Jamarat in Hajj. The bridge has three openings and can facilitate around a million pilgrims.

Walking to the Jamarat is much easier than traveling by vehicle. However, with many pilgrims walking through the tunnels, walking can be a tiring experience. Make sure to wear comfortable footwear and keep a water bottle with you. Moreover, avoid sitting on the walkways as it may hinder the flow of pilgrims.

The practice of Rami al-Jamarat during Hajj takes place on the day of Eid al-Adha and the three days following that, i.e., from 11^th to 13^th Dhul Hijja. According to scholars, the practice of Rami al-Jamarat is to be performed anytime between sunrise and sunset.

The Types of Rami al-Jamarat

Rami on Yawm al-Nahr– 10^th of Dhul Hijjah (Day 3 of Hajj)

Yawm al-Nahar means the Day of Sacrifice; it is the 3^rd day of Hajj and the day of Eid al-Adha, when pilgrims must sacrifice animals to commemorate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim. The first Rami al-Jamarat is on this auspicious day.

• According to most scholars, the time for Ram on Yawm al-Nhar is from the Fajar Salah on the 10^th of DhulHijja to the time of Fajar Salah on the 11^th of DhulHijja.
• Rami begins after the pilgrims have finished Wuquf al-Mash’ar and have entered Mina.
• On this day, Rami is only required to be performed on Jamarat al-Aqaba.
• To perform Rami, Pilgrims are to throw seven pebbles from their right hand.
• The pelting of stones is not allowed before the Fajr prayer.
• It is Makruh (frowned upon, disliked, not the best time) to perform Rami, such as the time between Fajr prayer and sunrise and between sunset and Fajr prayer. This time is Makruh for men, but women may still perform Rami at this time.
• Rami of Jamarh al-Aqabah 10 minutes before Dhuhr Salah is Sunnah. However, during Hajj, the Jamarat are always crowded as millions of pilgrims perform Rai. Therefore, find a time when the place is the least crowded, especially if you are accompanied by elders and children.

Rami in Ayyam al-Tashreeq – 11^th, 12^th& 13th of Dhul Hijjah (Days 4 – 6 of Hajj)

Ayyam al-Tashreeq, also known as the days of drying meat, comprise the 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th of Dhul Hijjah. The details of Rami on the days of Tashreeqare as follows:

• The pilgrims are to perform Rami al-Jamarat on all three Jamarat in a specific sequence on all three days. First, pilgrims should perform Rami on Jamarat al-Ula, then Jamarat al-Wusta, and lastly, Jamarat al-Aqaba.
• Rami on days of Tashreeq should be done between sunrise and sunset. However, performing Rami on Ayyam al-Tashreeq before mid-day (Zawwal) is not allowed.
• Performing Rami from Dhuhr till sunset is Sunnah.

How to Perform Rami al-Jamarat?

Rami al-Jamaratin Hajj can be a crowded and emotionally charged experience. However, there are certain things that one has to be careful about when performing Rami. The Sunnah to fulfill when performing Rami includes:

• Collect stones that are the size of date pits.
• Being in the state of Wudhu – You must perform ablution before performing Rami.
• You should locate yourself such that Mina is on your right and Makkah is on your left.
• Keep at least a 5 meters distance from the wall.
• You should have at least 7 or more stones in your left hand and should pelt them from the right hand.
• With each pebble you throw, recite the Takbir with each throw and stop reciting Talbiyah once the pebble is within the wall’s boundaries.
• After performing Rami at smaller Jamarah, move away from the wall and make dua while facing the Qibla.
• Dua or supplication is not to be made after pelting the largest Jamarah.

Rami in Someone Else’s Place

It can be done on behalf of others, or you could ask someone to do it on your behalf if you are too old, sick, frail, and weak or are a pregnant woman.

Rami is obligatory for Hajj; without Rami, Hajj is incomplete. However, millions of Haji perform Hajj every year, and Rami can become crowded. In 2015, many hajis died in a stampede on the Jamarat Bridge. While Saudi authorities have since expanded the place and taken extensive measures to avoid such incidences, you can still let someone else perform Rami for you if you are not fit to perform it yourself.

Pelting on someone else’s behalf should be done only with the permission of that person. Doing it without permission is considered to be an invalid act and should not be done for the sake of convenience. When performing Rami for others, the procedure is the same as for oneself.

Things to Be Mindful of When Performing Rami

During the practice of Rami, try to aim for the stone to fall in the boundaries of the pillar since the throw won’t count if the pebble does not land in the boundaries. You will have to throw another stone for it to fall into the pot around the walls.

Also, do not throw stones from afar as they may hit someone, and neither go too close to the walls to drop the pebbles in the pot. The stones are to be thrown rather than merely placed in the pot. Do not bend over the fences, as you may get pushed over.

When in doubt about having missed the pillar or the enclosed space, throw the pebble again, and if you run out of the pebbles, you may ask someone to share theirs as it is allowed.

After performing Rami al-Jamarat, lower your head so that you are not hit by the stones in your face when leaving. Do not hoard the stones you did not throw. You can leave the rest of the pebbles rather than throw in excess at the Jamarat.

Conclusion for What is Rami al-Jamarat in Hajj?

Every year, millions of pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah stand in front of the Jamarat, the three stone walls that represent places where Shaitan tried to dissuade Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), Bibi Hajrah (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), and Prophet Ismail (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).

The pilgrims pelt stones at these pillars to signify that they negate evil and seek refuge from it while commemorating the Sunnah of the Prophets before them. While for Umrah, Rami al-Jamarat is not compulsory, and Hajj cannot be completed without performing this ritual.

In this article, we explained the concept and significance of Rami, the method to perform Rami on Yawm al-Nahar and Ayyam al-Tashreeq, and other issues associated with the rite of Rami al-Jamarat. We hope you find this useful when performing Rami during Hajj or Umrah. May Allah accept your ibadah.

FAQs

What are the names of the three Jamarat?

The Jamarat are named according to their size, and many scholars suggest even the strength of temptation that Satan had tried to use. The largest pillar is known asJamarah al Aqabah or Jamarah al Kubra. The middle one is called Jamarah al Wusta, and the smallest one is known as Jamarah al Ula.

What is the sequence of throwing stones at the three Jamarat?

The practice of Rami al Jamarah is to be carried out in a sequence, starting from the smallest pillar, Jamarah al-Ula, followed by Jamarah al-Wusta, and lastly, the greatest pillar Jamarah al Aqabah.

How many stones are thrown at each Jamarah?

The pilgrims are to pelt 7 stones at each of the Jamarah. In Muzdalifah, pilgrims may collect around 70 pebbles to be thrown at the three Jamarat in Mina. The extra pebbles are in case you lose a few.

What is the meaning of Ramy in Arabic?

The meaning of Ramy or Rami in Arabic stems from the verb ‘to throw.’ Rami is the act of throwing or pelting.

What should I recite when throwing stones at the Jamarat?

When pelting stones at the Jamarat, one should recite Takbir- ‘Allah-u-Akbar,’ meaning Allah is the greatest.

How big should the stones be?

The stones should not be bigger than pebbles. According to some scholars, the stones should not be bigger than the size of date pits or lentils. Avoid collecting stones that are too big, as they may injure someone if they are hit accidentally.