Posted on 12/19/2007 10:42:27 PM PST by doug from upland
Pilgrims pack Mecca ahead of annual haj By Jonathan Wright Fri Dec 14, 10:11 AM ET
MECCA, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - About 1 million Muslim pilgrims from across the world packed the mosque and streets around the Kaaba shrine in the holy city of Mecca for the last Friday prayers before the annual haj pilgrimage.
Pilgrims trekked to the mosque hours in advance to reserve a space for their prayer mats as close as possible to the Kaaba, a cubic stone structure which Muslims regard as the centre of an ancestral monotheistic cult established by the prophet Ibrahim, known to Jews and Christians as the patriarch Abraham.
When the spaces in the inner courtyard filled up, the pilgrims chose spaces in the outer courtyard. Latecomers spread their mats on stairways of the shopping mall overlooking the vast mosque and later in the narrow alleys behind.
More than 1.4 million have flocked to Saudi Arabia to prepare for the five-day rites which start on Monday and are a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for every Muslim who can afford it.
Friday prayers in the Grand Mosque are not part of the haj program but many pilgrims attend as a matter of course.
They sat for hours, murmuring prayers, reading from pocket Korans and doing their homework on the complex and grueling rituals they will perform next week.
CIRCLES AROUND THE KAABA
While Muslims in most places pray in parallel lines facing Mecca, in Mecca they pray in circles centered on the Kaaba.
By the time the pilgrimage rituals start with a mass circumambulation of the Kaaba, Saudis and residents of the kingdom will have taken the total beyond 2 million.
The haj is often described as the world's biggest religious gathering, and men and women from more than 100 countries take part. Some of the largest contingents come from Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
"See how people come from all over the world -- Chinese, Pakistani, Algerians, even Americans. It shows that we are all brothers," said an Algerian who gave his name as Ibrahim.
Saudi state television said on Thursday the police were taking strict measures to keep out aspiring pilgrims who do not have permission to attend.
One of the biggest concerns for the Saudi authorities is managing the large crowds and preventing stampedes and crushes.
The previous haj was spared any major incident but in the January 2006 pilgrimage 362 people were crushed to death during a stone-throwing ritual at the Jamarat Bridge. It was the worst haj tragedy in 16 years.
Even at the prayers on Friday, crowding was a problem in some areas, with pilgrims able to move only at a snail's pace. Elderly pilgrims in wheelchairs or accompanied by relatives to help them walk added to the congestion.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may attend this year's haj and he would be the first Iranian president to take part.
Iranian media said on Wednesday that Ahmadinejad had received a formal invitation from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is friendly towards the United States, which Iran regards as hostile towards Muslims.
The climax of the pilgrimage comes on Tuesday when pilgrims spend the afternoon gathered en masse on the plain of Arafat, about 15 km (10 miles) east of Mecca city.
The annual Haj crushing
A History of Hajj Tragedies
The annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, known as the hajj, has been plagued by disaster in recent years, leaving thousands of pilgrims killed, many in stampedes.
The annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, known as the hajj, has been plagued by disaster in recent years, leaving thousands of pilgrims killed, many in stampedes.
This year around 2.5m people from around the world were participating in the annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia’s holiest shrines when at least 345 of them were killed in a stampede today.
It started when pilgrims tripped over luggage that had been dropped amid the crowds of people rushing to carry out the devil-stoning ritual at the al-Jamarat site in the city of Mina, which is just outside Mecca.
Today’s news comes after 76 pilgrims were killed when a hostel in Mecca collapsed in a narrow street.
Some 3,000 people have died in incidents at the hajj in the last 20 years in stampedes, demonstrations, and fires at pilgrim camping areas and one person was killed when a bomb exploded near Mecca’s Grand Mosque in 1989.
The worst incident in modern times was in 1990 when a stampede at a tunnel in Mecca killed 1,426 pilgrims, many of them Malaysians, Indonesian and Pakistanis. The pilgrims were killed in in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to the holy sites in Mecca, where pilgrims go through a series of rituals on the hajj and travel from all over the world to attend.
The most recent stampede tragedy was just two years ago when 250 pilgrims were crushed to death at Jamarat Bridge, prompting calls for greater safety measures to be put in place.
This year Saudi Arabian authorities had made various attempts to improve safety for the pilgrims, some of whom save up for years to fulfil the duty of every Muslim to try and do the hajj at least once in their lifetimes.
Ramps and walkways to the al-Jamarat site had been widened and the tall obelisks which the faithful throw stones at to symbolically purge themselves of the devil had been rebuilt as stone walls 26 metres long. It had been hoped that by allowing people a greater area to pelt the religious monuments with pebbles, the site would be safer.
As well as the changes to the al-Jamarat site, some 60,000 security staff have been put in place this year to try and avoid accidents, and to deter attacks by Islamist extremists who oppose the Saudi royals.
Since the crowds began arriving earlier in the week, helicopters have been flying overhead watching the pilgrims, and authorities monitor the crowds from a control room through closed-circuit television.
But often the police appear overwhelmed, unable to manage the crowds - a task complicated by peddlers selling food and souvenirs to the pilgrims and jamming up traffic.
In theory, two of the ramps leading up to the pillars are for entry and two for exit, but pilgrims often ignore the rules and go up and down wherever they wish.
Signs giving directions to pilgrims - many of whom are at the site for the first time - are scant.
Previous disasters in recent years include:
February 1 2004 244 pilgrims killed and a similar number injured at al-Jamarat
March 5 2001 35 people killed in stampede at al-Jamarat
April 9 1998 Around 180 pilgrims trampled to death when panic erupted after several fell off an overpass at al-Jamarat
April 15 1997 Fires driven by high winds tear through a sprawling, overcrowded tent city at Mina, trapping and killing more than 340 pilgrims and injuring 1,500
May 23 1994 270 pilgrims, most of them Indonesian, killed at al-Jamarat
July 2 1990 1,426 pilgrims, many of them Malaysians, Indonesian and Pakistanis, killed in stampede in overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to holy sites in Mecca in the worst hajj tragedy of modern times
July 9 1989 Two bombs explode in Mecca, killing one pilgrim, and wounding 16 others. Saudi authorities blame Iranian-inspired terrorists and later behead 16 Kuwaiti Shia Muslims for bombings. Iran denied involvement.
July 31 1987 402 people, mostly Iranian pilgrims, killed and 649 wounded in Mecca when security forces clash with Iranians staging illegal anti-US demonstration
Hajj Insurance
Sir,
I was surprised to see a newspaper report that some Muslim leaders have suggested insurance for Hajj Pilgrims. I do not know what exactly this means? The idea is preposterous. All I can say is, no Hajee will try to take a life insurance for going to Hajj. It will affect the sanctity of the Hajj. This is a political gimmick.
Secondly, what about the Hindus going to Tirupathi, Kumbakonam or to Aiyyappan Temple, or Amarnath temple’ Sikhs going to the Golden temple, Christians to Bethlehem or Vatican etc? Why should they not be insured? India is a secular country, so why should a welfare scheme be initiated for one community only? Let there be similar schemes for all communities. Otherwise, it is all likely to be considered as appeasement of Muslims for no fault of theirs.
By M.Z. Chida, P.O.Box.No.2625, Chennai.
Islamic insurance scheme for Haj pilgrims launched
Posted by under Insurance News
The Pak-Kuwait Takaful Company in collaboration with the Polani International has launched the first Islamic insurance scheme for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in Pakistan.
Original post by Advisen FPN and Elliott Back
If Islam is THE religion of peace, why is there a death penalty for any non-muslim who dares to enter the capital of the Islamic empire?
Story posted on www.cair.com
CAIR-LA: KFI Host Under Fire for Islamophobic Remarks
Source: Billboard Radio Monitor
Clear Channel talk KFI Los Angeles morning man Bill Handel is under fire from a Muslim civil liberties group because of comments he reportedly made earlier this month. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has asked that Handel apologize for making fun of a stampede that killed hundreds of Muslims during an annual pilgrimage.
Over 350 pilgrims were killed and hundreds injured in a stampede Jan. 12 in Mecca, where thousands of people were rushing to carry out a symbolic ritual of stoning the devil, according to the Associated Press.
That same day, Handel reportedly imitated the people screaming and then joked that the Muslims at the pilgrimage should use a helicopter to monitor pilgrimage traffic.
The group quoted Handel as saying: "This is Mahmoud Nolan. Hajj in the Sky. There is an accident. … Ali lost his sandal on the on-ramp to the Martin Luther King Jr. freeway."
Two years ago, KFI issued an on-air apology after the group filed a complaint with the FCC following a skit that claimed Muslims have sex with animals, don't bathe and hate Jews.
Billboard Radio Monitor has contacted KFI for a statement, but at press time, the call had not been returned.
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-Mail: sabihak@cair.com
+++++
©2000 The Council on American-Islamic Relations ~ 453 New Jersey Ave SE ~ Washington, DC 20003-4034
Tel. 202.488.8787
Fax. 202.488.0833
Email: cair@cair-net.org.
Issues/Feedback About Website: webmaster@cair-net.org.
The Saudis have their own insurance policy with regards to Mecca.
When Wahhabi terrorists captured the Grand Mosque, the Saudis negotiated the peace by agreeing to fund the international missionary expansion of Wahhabism. But the Saudis want a little extra insurance against the Wahhabis turning on them so this is why the US is still a welcome presence in SA.
DFU SONG: Video Killed the Radio Star (CAIR wants to get the radio star -- Bill Handel at KFI)
DFU SONGS | 1-2006 | Lyrics, Doug from Upland
Posted on 01/30/2006 9:22:05 PM PST by doug from upland
MIDI - VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR
I awoke to KFI and heard Bill Handel
It seems someone named Ali had lost his sandal
Oh, my goodness, has he caused another scandal
Ooh ah ooh
He made fun of Muslims who had been stampeding
Helicopters in the sky they might be needing
Perhaps radio decorum he's exceeding
Ooh ah ooh...it drove them crazy
Ooh ah ooh...just freaking crazy
CAIR wants to get the radio star...CAIR wants to get the radio star
This time he had gone too far....and they were not laughing
They demanded that he start apologizing
From a Nobel Peace Prize guy it was surprising
This is something he can't be minimizing
Ooh ah ooh...it drove them crazy
Ooh ah ooh...just freaking crazy
CAIR wants to get the radio star...CAIR wants to get the radio star
This time he had gone too far....will they sue him for big dinar
This time they're not laughing...no, they were not laughing
But let's see things logically...Muslims don't say live and let be
They want to kill you and me
THEY KEEP BLOWING UP THINGS!
CAIR wants to get the radio star...CAIR wants to get the radio star
This time he had gone too far....sometimes he's doing things so bizarre
But he doesn't blow up cars...who do the CAIR guys think they are
CAIR wants to get the radio star...CAIR wants to get the radio star
CAIR wants to get the radio star...CAIR wants to get the radio star
CAIR wants to get the radio star...CAIR wants to get the radio star
CAIR wants to get the radio star...CAIR wants to get the radio star
CAIR wants to get the radio star...CAIR wants to get the radio star
CAIR wants to get the radio star
But check out the great local shopping and hotel coming soon:
http://www.abrajalbait.com/
Good find. I like it.
Really fun song. Paul Potts sings “Nuke Mecca” - http://youtube.com/watch?v=nZzUSiFIIg8
The Traffic at The Airports in Singapore Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta during these two weeks EID al Mubarak.... is the worst I have seen at any time anywhere in the world... The plane Charters leave the airports with the numbers and precision of the Berlin Airlift!! I once walked a Mile and a half in KL to get a taxi away from the International airport 4 hour wait logjam...for a taxi.. a veteran traveler move. The guy who sat next to me on the plane made the Mistake of waiting at the terminal for the Taxi... 4 hours later he is checking in at my Hotel the Shangri la.. I since had a Nice Indian Curry Feast pounded down a few beers with friends and was ready for a Good night sleep.. while this guy is ready to howl at the Front desk checkin crew..
In Kuwait it is easy.. they just Drive..and Visit our neighbor to the west!
Thanks for sharing the insight and experience. My guess is, I will never get there. :)
Mankin roadside vendor killed by Haj Mob after selling thousands of burgers containing undisclosed pork.Thought to be CIA Ops intelligence operative from Piggly Wiggly, USA.
%20copy.jpg)
LOL snort
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.