Can Saudi Arabia solve the pilgrim challenge?
- By Jin Liangxiang
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 30, 2015
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Muslim pilgrims head to attend Hajj rituals in Mina outside Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 26, 2015. The death toll in Thursday's stampede in Mina, neighboring the holy city Mecca, has risen to 769, Saudi Health Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Saturday. The accident took place amid a rush of the stoning as part of Hajj rituals. Muslim pilgrims throw stones on a wall representing devil. (Xinhua) |
The Haj stampede in Mecca on September 24 that left 714 pilgrims dead is a real human catastrophe. While Muslims are blaming Saudi Arabia for poor management, the Islamic world at large has to find ways to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
Saudi Arabia has made tremendous efforts to deliver convenience and safety for the pilgrimage and these should be appreciated. It has been constructing a high-speed railway between Mecca and Medina, and the tent city that can host 3 million pilgrims at once greatly impressed visitors to the Shanghai Expo in 2010. It also provides a hundred thousand guards to protect the pilgrimage every year.
While an investigation is still underway, the incident that occurred was a pure accident. Saudi claims that the disaster was caused by some African pilgrims not following directions is contradicted by pilgrims accusing the organizers of closing some of the streets. Iran claims the Saudi government should be held responsible.
However, what's most important is that the special difficulty of managing the pilgrimage should also be understood against a background of increasing numbers taking part.
Pilgrimage is a required Islamic religious duty. In ancient times, pilgrims had to travel to Mecca on foot via mountains, rivers and deserts on foot. That demanding journey kept numbers down.
It is a different story now. The reasons are simple. Transportation has become much easier, more convenient and more comfortable. The numbers of pious Muslims flying to Mecca from all directions can easily reach millions every year. And financial and physical capabilities that used to be required are much less.
Two other factors also serve to increase the numbers. The first is that Saudi Arabia has been promoting itself as the Guardian of the two holy cities, Mecca and Medina. In a broader sense, it is trying to establish itself as the political and spiritual center and assume leadership in the Islamic world.
The second aspect is that, in the new century, Muslims all over the world are becoming increasingly aware of their Islamic identity. That is another major momentum behind the large number of visitors.
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