Mina – The Valley of Struggle and Surrender

Mina – The Valley of Struggle and Surrender

Mina is one of the most significant stations in the rites of Hajj.
Yet it is not merely a geographical location;
it is a valley of trial where the soul confronts its inner self.

In Sufi tradition, Minā is a stage in the path of Seyr-u Sulūk,
where the individual battles inner enemies, faces the ego, and moves toward truth.

Philosophically, Minā sits
at the center of free will and moral choice.

Stoning the devil is not merely a symbolic act;
it is an intentional defiance of evil and a redirection of the will toward truth.

Minā: A Symbol of Inner Conflict

In Sufism, the human journey is described
from nafs al-ammārah (the commanding self)
to nafs al-mutma’innah (the peaceful self).
This path demands constant purification and progress.

Minā is the battlefield
where one confronts the satanic aspects of the self.

Ritual of Rebellion: Casting Stones at the Inner Idols

Though outwardly a ritual,
the stoning is a rebellion against inner idols—desires, ego, pride, and attachment to the world.

What is stoned is not only Satan,
but every internal barrier that veils the truth.

Surrender and the Abrahamic Ethic

Minā is also the place
where Prophet Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son, Ismail.

This event symbolizes
the peak of submission and the test of reason and faith.

In Sufism, this is interpreted as
“the sacrifice of the self.”
Abraham did not sacrifice his son,
but his attachment, his love, and his very being for the sake of Allah.

Ismail’s words express absolute faith and free will:

“My father, do as you are commanded.”

From the Outward to the Inward: A Ritual of the Heart

Though stoning may seem external,
it is essentially a ritual of inner purification.

As stones are cast, the soul declares:

• “O arrogance, I no longer want you.”

• “O selfishness, I sever my ties with you.”

• “O worldly desire, there is no place for you in my heart.”

In Sufi terms, this is part of the journey:
“Min al-nafs ilā al-Haqq” – From the self to the Truth.

Philosophically, it reflects
self-awareness, ethical decision-making, and conscious resistance to evil.

To Be Human in Minā

In Minā, a person must turn inward.
The stones should be chosen not by the hands, but by the heart.
Every stone is a decision;
every throw, a purification.

The three stonings correspond to
three stages of the self in Sufi psychology:

1. First stoning: Nafs al-Ammārah – The commanding self

2. Second stoning: Nafs al-Lawwāmah – The self-reproaching soul

3. Third stoning: Nafs al-Mulhamah – The inspired self

Each step is a movement toward one’s essence.
Each stone is a “LĀ” – the “LĀ” in Lā ilāha illallāh.
A faith that begins with denial—
only by rejecting falsehood can truth be embraced.

Conclusion: Minā Is a Valley of the Heart

Minā is not just a location—
it is a state of being, a spiritual valley.

To enter that valley
requires not only physical presence but spiritual readiness.

Stoning the devil is not war; it is purification.
With each stone thrown,
a person says “STOP” to the darkness within.

In Sufi thought, Minā is
a place of annihilation of the self (fanā) and the pursuit of eternal truth (baqā).

Philosophically, Minā symbolizes
freedom, will, ethics, and the reconstruction of human dignity.

So each time we arrive in Minā, we must ask ourselves:
“Which inner demon am I silencing with which stone?”

Dr. Özer Akpınar
Researcher – Historian