Mina

About Mina

Neighborhood of Mecca in Makkah Province, in western Saudi Arabia

Mina is a valley enclosed by mountains east of Makkah, on the road between the city and Mount Arafat, about six to eight kilometres from the Masjid al-Haram, within the district of the Holy Sites (al-Masha'ir). It covers roughly 20 square kilometres and contains the pilgrims' camps, the Jamarat area and the slaughterhouses where the sacrificial animals are offered. Mina is known for its role in the Hajj. Pilgrims stay here overnight on the Day of Tarwiyah (8 Dhu al-Hijjah) and again on the day of Eid al-Adha and the following days of Tashreeq until 13 Dhu al-Hijjah, and here they throw pebbles at the three Jamarat between sunrise and sunset on those days, recalling the Prophet Ibrahim's stoning of the devil who tried to stop him obeying God's command to sacrifice his son Isma'il. The modern multi-level Jamarat Bridge manages the movement of millions of pilgrims. Mina is nicknamed the City of Tents: more than 100,000 air-conditioned, fire-resistant tents have been erected here, with capacity for up to three million people, making it the largest tent city in the world. The longest pedestrian route in the world ends in Mina, starting at Jabal al-Rahma in Arafat and passing through Muzdalifah, with four shaded lanes equipped with seats and chilled water. Outside the Hajj days the valley stands empty.

Where:

Mecca, Saudi Arabia