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Reflections on Hajj 2015 tragedies

By Saheed Ahmad Rufai
09 October 2015   |   5:02 am
THE recent Hajj fatalities recorded in two separate unfortunate incidents in the Holy City of Makkah have generated an admixture of commiserations and name-calling or blame-apportioning as evident in media publications of various orientations concerning the what and how of the experiences. It is even remarkable that some smart individuals, organizations and even anti-Saudi countries…
Stampede near the holy city of Mecca during an Islamic rite in Saudi Arabia .

Stampede near the holy city of Mecca during an Islamic rite in Saudi Arabia .

THE recent Hajj fatalities recorded in two separate unfortunate incidents in the Holy City of Makkah have generated an admixture of commiserations and name-calling or blame-apportioning as evident in media publications of various orientations concerning the what and how of the experiences.

It is even remarkable that some smart individuals, organizations and even anti-Saudi countries were quick to cash in on the accidents to score some political points or advocate what they thought could reduce the influence of Saudi Arabian authorities in Hajj matters or pave way for the enthronement of a non-Saudi administration of Hajj operations.

Whichever way one looks at it or whatever side of the divide one belongs, it cannot be disputed that there are two common denominators in what may now be tagged the politics of Hajj 2015 Tragedies namely safety/security and the philosophy of Hajj. In the face of all the claims and counter-claims that constitute the narratives that we are currently assailed with especially in the Nigerian context, I thought it appropriate to provide information concerning what I know of the Saudi Arabian Government attitude to issues bordering on the safety and security of the pilgrims while in the Holy Lands.

It may be relevant to add that one of the factors that put me in a good stead to contribute to this discourse is that I relate closely with the Saudi Hajj authorities in the capacity of an Accredited Translator/Interpreter, have had access to documents on Saudi rules and regulations on Hajj safety and security through my services to the Establishment for the Coordinators of Pilgrims from Non-Arabic Speaking African Countries, and can therefore attest to the fact that the two tragedies could be attributed to anything anyone thinks, excepting Saudi negligence over or insensitivity to the plight of the pilgrims.

It should be pointed out however, that this position does not claim that there could not have been some deficiencies or inadequacies in the Saudi official preparations for 2015 Hajj. It may be a bitter truth that I cannot claim to have noticed one or two shortcomings during my association with Hajj authorities, even though such inadequacies are not of safety orientation. Yet, my emphasis here is on safety issues while the aspect concerning the philosophy of Hajj will be given a comprehensive treatment at a later date.

As regards the crane crash that claimed scores of lives at the Holy Ka’bah during the pre-Arafah exercise, it should be pointed out that unless an Investigative Panel later reveals the contrary, it may not be irrational to opine that the construction work that recorded that accident was a product of Saudi Arabian wander-lust for comfort for the pilgrims. Every enlightened Muslim appreciates the centrality of the Holy Ka’bah to the performance of hajj. This line of thinking is strengthened by the fact that all the obligatory rites of hajj except convergence at Arafah and stoning at the Jamaraat, are essentially fulfilled at the Holy House of Allah. I have written elsewhere during Hajj 2014 on how the decision of the Saudi Arabian authorities to increase the carrying capacity of the Holy Mosque attracted the attention of scholars, writers, researchers and the media who are not only interested in how such expansion will be carried out but also in the various measures put in place to contain the various challenges that may arise from the project. The rehabilitation at the circumambulation area of the Holy Ka’bah, has been cited by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj as the reason for the reduction of the population of external pilgrims by 20 per cent since 1433 A.H./2012. Yet the Saudi authorities added that that was only a temporary measure pending the completion of the construction work.

It is interesting to note that the project is a product of the need for more space for the accommodation of the increasing number of worshippers at the Holy House. Such a long-felt need occasioned the intervention of the Custodian of the Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bn Abdul-Azeez Al-Sa’ud who decisively took up the challenge of bringing about the desired expansion for the purpose of ensuring easy observance of rituals at the mosque whose current carrying capacity for the circumambulation section is put at 48,000 worshippers.

In an audio-visual release from the Saudi Arabian Hajj Ministry, the project was described as having being scheduled for execution in three phases in keeping with the First and Second Saudi Arabian Development Plan. In specific terms, the ground floor was planned to attract a 30 per cent additional capacity and the first floor, 75 per cent while the repositioning of pillars is expected to bring about a total carrying capacity of additional 44 per cent.

The first phase of the project which took off in Muharram 1435/2014, witnessed the demolition and reconstruction of structures on both the first and second floors of the Mataf (circumambulation) section whose ground floor was also expanded by 10 metres. The same phase of the project witnessed the widening of the Mas’ah from its earlier 20 metres capacity at the base to a bigger capacity of 50 metres. It certainly cannot be gainsaid that such an expansion is capable of facilitating easy and comfortable performance of rites in this section of the Holy House.

In the second phase which commenced immediately after Ramadan 1435/2014, witnessed the demolition of more structures, erection of temporary barriers and the bridging of both the first and second floors of the Mataf (circumambulation spot). The significance of this phase lies in its provision of an enabling environment for hajj rites at the Holy Ka’bah as it coincides with the Hajj season, which characteristically witnesses a heavy human traffic at the Holy House. Yet, the initiative of the Custodian of the Holy Mosques and timely systematic execution of the different phases of the project, as scheduled, has proved both credible and commendable as there seemed not to be any breakdown or disconnect in the estimated population of pilgrims and the projected carrying capacity put in place.

The third phase which took off immediately after Hajj 1435/2014 and was planned to cover the removal of the temporary structures erected in the previous phases. This phase was scheduled to end in Sha’ban 1436, after which the Mataf and Mas’ah sections of the Holy House shall have the capacity to accommodate 105, 000 worshippers at once. This was the laudable thinking involved in the expansion effort that had been on steadily and progressively for some time.

While it may not be easy to pronounce that the mammoth crowd at the Jamaraat could not have been better managed by Saudi authorities, it may not be fair to indict them over the crane crash. Although, the Saudi Government has remorsefully demonstrated its belief in the sanctity of human lives through its rapid responses to the accident at the Holy Mosque, especially through its self-imposed compensations to pilgrims and the punitive measures taken so far against the Construction Firm involved, it may not be out of place that more is still desired as preventive measures for possible though highly undesirable Hajj-related accidents.

I pray Allah to forgive and have mercy on the departed souls and commiserate with their families. I wish the injured ones merciful recovery. And I pray Allah to keep strengthening and supporting the Saudi Arabian Government and people in their great services to Islam through Hajj and other rewarding means.

• Dr. Ahmad Rufai is Ag. Dean, Faculty ofEducation, Sokoto State University.

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