Braving the heat and uneven surfaces, Muslim pilgrims scaled Mount Arafat to perform a key ritual of the annual Islamic pilgrimage.

Starting at dawn, the more than 1.6 million Muslims taking part in the pilgrimage will throw seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolising the devil in the Mina valley, on the outskirts of the holy city of Mecca.

Muslim worshippers prayed on Mount Arafat in the high point of the hajj pilgrimage Thursday as authorities urged them to avoid the hottest hours of the day after tragedy struck