Muslim faithful gathered in Mina, southeast of Makkah, to throw pebbles at concrete pillars symbolizing the devil during the final ritual of the annual Hajj pilgrimage on Wednesday.

The ritual reenacts Prophet Abraham's stoning of the devil at three locations where Satan is said to have attempted to deter him from obeying God's command to sacrifice his son Ishmael.

This year, over 1.7 million pilgrims are participating in the Hajj, which involves several outdoor rituals spread across multiple days.

The pilgrimage takes place during extreme heat this year.

On Tuesday, pilgrims performed prayers atop Mount Arafat, where Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his final sermon, enduring temperatures as high as 45°C.

Following the prayers on Mount Arafat, pilgrims moved to Muzdalifah, located halfway between Arafat and Mina, to collect pebbles for the stoning ritual.

After completing this final ceremony, the pilgrims return to Makkah for a last circumambulation of the Kaaba, a cuboid structure at the center of the Grand Mosque towards which Muslims pray.

The last day of the Hajj coincides with Eid Al-Adha, a festival commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son before angel Gabriel offered a goat in place of Ishmael.

The festival is traditionally marked by the slaughter of a sheep, with some of the meat distributed among the needy.