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Hajj: Difference between revisions
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The '''Hajj''' (حج) is a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. It is an obligatory duty (''[[fard]]'' الفرض), and constitutes one of the [[Five Pillars of Islam]]. The pilgrimage takes place on the 12<sup>th</sup> month of the Islamic calendar, from the 7<sup>th</sup> to the 13<sup>th</sup> day of Dhu al-Hijjah. | The '''Hajj''' (حج) is a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. It is an obligatory duty (''[[fard]]'' الفرض), and constitutes one of the [[Five Pillars of Islam]]. The pilgrimage takes place on the 12<sup>th</sup> month of the Islamic calendar, from the 7<sup>th</sup> to the 13<sup>th</sup> day of Dhu al-Hijjah. | ||
The Hajj, along with the [[Ka'aba]], the [[Black Stone|black stone]], and many other aspects of [[Islam]], are [[Pagan Origins of Islam|pagan in origin]]. | The main rituals include walking seven times around the Kaaba, touching the Black Stone, traveling seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah, and symbolically stoning the Devil in Mina.<ref>Hoiberg (2000), p.237–238</ref> The Hajj, along with the [[Ka'aba]], the [[Black Stone|black stone]], and many other aspects of [[Islam]], are [[Pagan Origins of Islam|pagan in origin]]. | ||
==Incidents and Accidents== | |||
The Ka'aba is believed to be the "House of Allah" and the [[Qur'an]] tells us it's an "asylum of security for men",<ref>"...''Allah made the Ka'ba, the Sacred House, an asylum of security for men, as also the Sacred Months, the animals for offerings, and the garlands that mark them''..." - {{Quran|5|97}}</ref> so it would seem reasonable for Allah to protect or prevent any catastrophes from occurring in his house during the Hajj. However, this is not the case. | The Ka'aba is believed to be the "House of Allah" and the [[Qur'an]] tells us it's an "asylum of security for men",<ref>"...''Allah made the Ka'ba, the Sacred House, an asylum of security for men, as also the Sacred Months, the animals for offerings, and the garlands that mark them''..." - {{Quran|5|97}}</ref> so it would seem reasonable for Allah to protect or prevent any catastrophes from occurring in his house during the Hajj. However, this is not the case. | ||
Since 1987, officially there has been at least 3,315 deaths and another 1,500 injuries resulting from various accidents during the pilgrimage. These figures are extremely conservative, considering (for example) the 1994 stampede in Mecca. Officially only 250 people had died as a result of the stampede, and according to ''The Saudi Press Agency'' a total of 829 pilgrims had died during the pilgrimage for a variety of reasons, which included "old age, heart attacks" and "deaths that resulted because of the heavy throngs throwing pebbles on Monday." However witnesses, doctors and a senior Asian diplomat had said the death toll for the stampede alone could have been over 1,000.<ref name="The New York Times, May 25, 1994">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/25/world/at-least-250-muslims-die-in-mecca-stampede.html|2=2011-11-05}} At Least 250 Muslims Die in Mecca Stampede] - The New York Times, May 25, 1994</ref> | Since 1987, officially there has been at least 3,315 deaths and another 1,500 injuries resulting from various accidents during the pilgrimage. These figures are extremely conservative, considering (for example) the 1994 stampede in Mecca. Officially only 250 people had died as a result of the stampede, and according to ''The Saudi Press Agency'' a total of 829 pilgrims had died during the pilgrimage for a variety of reasons, which included "old age, heart attacks" and "deaths that resulted because of the heavy throngs throwing pebbles on Monday." However witnesses, doctors and a senior Asian diplomat had said the death toll for the stampede alone could have been over 1,000.<ref name="The New York Times, May 25, 1994">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/25/world/at-least-250-muslims-die-in-mecca-stampede.html|2=2011-11-05}} At Least 250 Muslims Die in Mecca Stampede] - The New York Times, May 25, 1994</ref> | ||