An unfortunate result that is cleary preventable. These things occur too often at Walmart sales, soccer games, and everyday life. It's awful that people think their time is more valuable than anyone else. From Tuesday: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4600310.stm The Saudi interior ministry had promised a "special plan" to ensure a smooth flow of pilgrims towards the pillars. ...Saudi Arabia has spent millions of dollars since 2004 to improve safety measures at Mina. From Today: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4606002.stm At least 345 Muslim pilgrims have died in a crush during the stone-throwing ritual at the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, officials say. HAJJ DISASTERS 1987: 400 die as Saudi authorities confront pro-Iranian demonstration 1990: 1,426 pilgrims killed in tunnel leading to holy sites 1994: 270 killed in stampede 1997: 343 pilgrims die and 1,500 injured in fire 1998: At least 118 trampled to death 2001: 35 die in stampede 2003: 14 are crushed to death 2004: 251 trampled to death in stampede
You see it on the freeways everyday. Idiots behind two tons of steel going 85 mph, swirving in and out of traffic, causing more traffic by not waiting in line...all because they think their time is more valuable than everyone else's.
Does it really mean that much for people to be physically there to throw the stone? This happens just about every year yet they still haven't been able to control the it, very sad.
Bill Maher: New Rule: Update the Hajj. Every year, the words “Islamic” and “stampede” seem to appear in the same sentence when millions of Muslims descend upon Mecca to observe what’s called the Hajj. I don’t understand Arabs: You’ve got the most oil in the world, and your religion involves walking. Next year, I want to see a looser Hajj with a cooler name, like Allahpalooza.
Yes, it does mean alot for people to be there physically to throw the stone. This happens yearly yes, agreed, but its kinda hard to control that many people in such a limited area, no matter HOW much money you have...
Not really, no one wants to just die in the middle of the biggest event of their lives... ofcourse, there is the feeling that they may die while completing a duty towards allah, so it may not be as bad, but there is definately not a finite feeling for death amongst the people.
hajj is a big event for all the branches of islam... while some may feel that they will be rewarded if they die in the cause of allah, they would much rather complete the hajj and have all their sins forgiven, and be given a new start.
The Saudi authorities are to blame, they've just never quiet gotten a plan in place to prevent these stampedes from happening, although some argue they're inevitable when you have nearly 2-3 million pilgrims at a time. I am afraid we will be hearing the same thing happening every year pretty much around the same time.
I've heard its one of the Five Pillars of Islam along with, faith, prayer, charity and fasting on Ramadan so I would presume it applies to all branches of Islam.
Somebody offer Bin Laden and Zarqawi free plane tickets so they can do their Hajj. This sounds like a promising way to get rid of them.
this is what happens at the time of the stoning of the devils pillar, firstly let me explain why this is done. in three different places there are three different pillars, each one is a location where shaytan (satan) tried to turn Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) away from the path of God, so Muslims stone these three pillars that represent Satan. And there are 4 million people trying to do this at the same time, during Hajj, and since there are so many people trying to get there, some trip and get walked over, as its very hard to get up when you fall. you have to be there to understand, cant really describe it, but there are so many people coming from the back, and its also at a slope, so more people may fall, nobody means to walk over anyone, but once you fall its hard to get up, there are many people that will try and hold up the HUGE human line behind, but its hard to do, many people also get saved, but since there are so many people pushing to go ahead, its hard to help everyone. i tried to explain that as best as possible. hope that helps. EDIT- oh and "stoning the devil" is only a small part of hajj, you people should really do your research or just ask, before making your assumptions about something you do not have knowledge of
and it doesnt help that people that come for one hajj stay after illegally, and carry their whole belongings with them during these events, and if one bag or something like that gets caught in somoenes foot and they trip, then before you know it, your gunna be a human carpet.
How about not walking on someone who has fallen. And the guy behind you should do the same. That helps. Unless walking on another person is standard fare.
have you ever been to hajj? do you think people want to run people over and kill them? no if these people had that kind of mindset they would not be at hajj you cannot stop walking even if you try, there are millions of people pushing from behind, what dont you understand? i guess if you could be there you would understand the ignorance of certain people on this board continues to amaze me, i will say it again, dont make assumptions about something you know nothing about
forget hajj, ive seen people been walked over at blackfriday. people who had no idea there was a person underneat them, now think something like that and ad a few 2 million to it. millions of people are just moving constantly forward. If a person falls in row 25 people in row 50 would have no way of knowing that someone has fallen and would constantly move. 20 rows of pushing people will overwhelm the 5 rows of people who know someone has fallen and are trying to stop. Just multiply this by a lot more. trust me, its easier said than done...
