About one million worshippers began returning to Mina through Muzdalifah as part of preparations for the final stages of their Hajj after they had earlier gathered to witness the Arafat sermon, the most important ritual.
A few minutes after sunset, the pilgrims began moving toward the open but rocky plains of Muzdalifah, where they will pray Maghrib and Isha and collect pebbles for the ritual of stoning the devil at Jamrat al-Aqabah on Saturday, the first day of Eid al-Adha and the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.
The next three days — Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday — are the days of Tashriq, when pilgrims will throw seven pebbles at each of the small, middle, and large Jamarat.
Ambulances accompany the bus convoys on the route to Muzdalifah, while security patrols maintain intervals between vehicles to ensure an unimpeded traffic flow.
Some pilgrims travel on foot along the 25-kilometer route that connects Arafat to Mina through Muzdalifah and is the longest in the world.