Saudi authorities vow to make Hajj safer

[sonz]

The Saudi kingdom plans to avoid another Hajj disaster like the latest stampede that killed more than 363 pilgrims.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz called on Muslim scholars to issue religious edicts allowing pilgrims more time to perform the devil-stoning ritual.

"Islamic scholars must extrapolate solutions from the Qur’an ... in order for pilgrims to have more time for the stoning ritual ... it is their duty to save Muslims," Prince Nayef said.

The stoning ritual at the Jamarat area has witnesses several disasters, the worst were this year’s stampede and the 1990 tragedy when 1,426 pilgrims were crushed to death in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel in the holy city of Mecca.

Hajj authorities in Saudi Arabia believe that allowing the stoning to be performed thorough the day, instead of during the 5-1/2 hours between noon and sunset, would solve the issue of mass congestion and decrease the likelihood of deadly stampedes.

But there are differing views on the issue. Although some top Muslim clerics approve extending the hours of the stoning ritual, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, rejects it.

Former judge and Islamic scholar Abdul-Aziz al-Qassim says the issue should be studied by the Islamic Fiqh Academy, the jurisprudence arm of the Organization for the Islamic Conference, an umbrella group of all Muslim countries. "People should not be allowed to die because [they are following] a tradition of the prophet when an alternative has not been explicitly banned in the religion," he said.

An official at the Jeddah-based Islamic Fiqh Academy said that the organization plans to hold a conference on the issue that would include scholars from throughout the Muslim world.

"We will study the issue of stoning before noon and hopefully issue a group fatwa to express our point of view," says Abdul-Qahar Qamar, an Islamic law scholar and researcher at the academy.

Source: CSM

[afriend]

Well that's about time isn't it?

After the deaths of how many?

They have finally realised they need to change things.

[Bittersteel]

Saudis are hypocrites.They say they promote the Islamic law.The Islamic law bans Non-Muslims from entering Makkah and Madinah and yet they have let them in.Mostly CNN reporters.

www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/ pdffiles/PUB598.pdf

http://www.lewrockwell.com/latulippe/latulippe27.html

just look for yourselves.

[S_87]

:sl:

WHO exactly is hipocrties? *very high raised eyebrow* you have just accused a whole nation of hypocrisy. like 24+ million people.


anyway, they can make it super duper safe, but its the PILGRIMS who need training. they shouldnt push. they shouldnt take their luggage. they shoudlnt be inpatient....this is what causes the tragedies!

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[sapphire]

yup agree with sis amani...tht is soo true.....if only everyone stayed civilised and followed rules and thought of everyone else and the consequence maybe it qould be safer.......

[MetSudaisTwice]

salam
mshallah true, if pilgrims were more civilised and patient then no harm could happen inshallah. what was the point in taking belongings with you when you can leave it at your tent? just some dates and a bottle of zam zam water would be enough for you, not your whole luggage
wasalam