A sea of white-clad Muslim faithful started moving to nearby Muzdalifa, a few kilometers from the plain of `Arafat, where they will stay for the night.

Early Saturday, the faithful will make the animal sacrifice ritual, marking the start of the four-day `Eid Al-Adha.

They will also start as of Saturday the stone-throwing ritual.

Pilgrims hurl seven pebbles from behind a fence or from an overhead bridge every day for three days at each of the three 18-meter (58-foot) high concrete pillars symbolizing the devil.

Satan appeared on the same site to Prophet Abraham, son Isma`il and wife Hagar, who each threw seven stones at the devil.

One of the five pillars of Islam, hajj consists of several ceremonies meant to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.

Every able-bodied adult Muslim -- who can financially afford the trip -- must perform hajj once in their lifetime.

Muslim Unity

"Make the Muslim interest your supreme goal," said the mufti. (Reuters)

Sea of Muslim pilgrims stood on Mount `Arafat earlier Saturday where Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered his last sermon 14 centuries ago.

"O, Muslims, wake up," the mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Al-Sheikh, told the Muslim faithful.

He called on Muslims to cement their unity.

"Make the Muslim interest your supreme goal," he said, warning that the Muslim infighting was playing into the hands of enemies.

The Saudi mufti urged the Muslim leaders to preserve the Islamic identity of the Muslim countries.

He further urged the Muslim youth to stick to their faith to protect their countries.

The Mufti also warned against staging political demonstrations during hajj.

"The hajj rites are not the place for slogans, postures and name-calling," he said.

"The world today is full of hateful party and nationalistic slogans ... all we see is fighting, blood and terrorism, the result of erroneous ideological struggles."

While listening attentively, the Muslim pilgrims were wishing for Allah's forgiveness.

"Whenever I stand on Jebel al-Rahma (Mount `Arafat)I feel reborn," Ruquia Manouzi, a Moroccan woman, told Reuters.

Mohamado Thiam, a telecoms engineer from Senegal, said pilgrims are praying for Muslims in hotspots around the world.

"I'm very happy, look how our nation is expanding," he said.

"But we have to pray for our brethren in Iraq, in Palestine, in Sudan. There are people dying there."