Grand Mufti denounces terrorism ‘Hell for those who spill innocent blood; Global fiscal crisis could be tackled through Islamic economic system’ Hajj Sermon GK MONITORING DESK Srinagar, Oct 14: Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Monday for the high point of the annual Hajj, praying for an end to disputes and bloodshed as they performed Dhur and Asr prayers at Masjid-e-Namirah “Hell is the final abode for those who spill the blood of an innocent human,” said Sheikh Abdulaziz al- Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of the Kaaba. “Islam does not allow terrorism at any cost. Islam condemns all violence and terrorism plaguing the world today. Muslims should demonstrate a love for peace and unity,” he said. Officials said around 1.5 million pilgrims descended on the site, where they offered prayers and listened to the annual sermon from the Saudi top cleric at Masjid-e- Namirah. Helicopters hovered overhead and thousands of troops stood guard to organize roads flooded by men, women and children streaming towards Mount Arafat. The top cleric said Muslims throughout the world were going through a difficult time, and stressed that the global economic crisis could be controlled if the Islamic economic system was adopted. “Muslims should support the community by investing in their businesses,” he urged. The Grand Mufti called on Muslims to avoid divisions, chaos and sectarianism, saying, there is “no salvation or happiness for Muslim nations without adhering to the teachings of the religion.” “Your nation is a trust with you. You must safeguard its security, stability and resources, he said. “You should know that you are targeted by your enemy who wants to spread chaos among you. It’s time to confront this,” he added, in an apparent reference to the fighting going on in Syria and the violence affecting other Muslim countries in the Arab world. Chanting “Labaik Allahuma Labaik” (I am responding to your call, Oh God), many of pilgrims camped in small colorful tents and took shelter under trees to escape temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Special sprinklers were also helping cool the pilgrims. The pilgrims were arriving at Arafat from nearby Mina where most of them spent the night following the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) who performed the rituals 14 centuries ago. They had moved to Mina on Sunday from the holy city of Mecca, home to the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest place of worship which houses the Ka’aba towards which all Muslims pray daily five times. On reaching Arafat, they crowded onto the hill and the vast plain surrounding it to pray until sunset, when they are due to set off for nearby Muzdalifah. “I will pray the whole day for God to improve the situation for Muslims worldwide and an end to disputes and bloodshed in Arab countries,” 61-year-old Algerian pensioner Saeed Dherari said. Sitting at the side of an Arafat road, Syrian Ahmad al-Khader prayed for oppressed Syrians to be victorious. “I hope that God will grace all Muslims with security and stability,” said 75-year-old Khader who hails from the southern province of Daraa. “The regime is tyrannical and I pray for God to help the oppressed people,” he said. In Muzdalifa, pilgrims will spend the night before moving on in the morning to start the ritual of symbolically stoning the devil. The hajj, which officially ends on Friday, is one of the five pillars of Islam that every capable Muslim must perform at least once. Governor of Mecca province and head of the central hajj committee Prince Khaled al-Faisal said 1.38 million pilgrims had arrived from outside of the kingdom while only 117,000 hajj permits were issued for domestic pilgrims. This puts the number of pilgrims this year at almost 1.5 million, less than half of last year’s 3.2 million after Riyadh slashed Hajj quotas. Prince Khaled told the official SPA news agency late Sunday that authorities had turned back 70,000 nationals and expatriates for not carrying legal permits and had arrested 38,000 others for performing the hajj without a permit. Authorities had also seized as many as 138,000 vehicles for violating the Hajj rules and its owners will be penalized, the prince said. Saudi health authorities have stressed that no cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus has been detected so far this pilgrimage. The disease has killed 60 people worldwide, 51 of them in Saudi Arabia itself.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 02:37:22 +0000
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