There is a curious phenomenon that Bani Saud have monetized Hajj, an important Islamic obligation, while complaining about Islamic Iran’s monetization ofthe Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway, for the benefit of the Ummah.
In this series of articles, ICIT director Zafar Bangash offers his personal reflections on Hajj. These are not related to the performance of the manasik of Hajj but the Bani Saud’s mismanagement of this vital Islamic obligation.
At every step of the way in performing Hajj, Bani Saud incompetence is the greatest impediment. Despite their decades-long illegal occupation of the Haramayn, they do not seem to have learned anything. Perhaps, they do not care.
If a mishap happens—and this is a common occurrence during Hajj—the Bani Saud’s default reaction is to close the roads around the area. They do not tell bus drivers where to go, they simply cannot go forward. It creates unnecessary problems and adds to endless confusion.
Struggling for hotel accommodation in Makkah and then being checked out of it a full 15 hours before our departure from Jeddah was a deliberate fraud. The Saudi operators wanted to save an day’s hotel costs without caring for our comfort or well-being even though we had paid the full cost.
Hajj is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam. There is, however, a fundamental difference between what the Qur’an ordains how it should be performed and what the Bani Saud occupiers insist pilgrims must do: indulge in rituals. Muslims must resist this corruption of Hajj.
The Bani Sa‘ud have turned Hajj into a money-making racket. This is contrary to Allah’s teachings in the noble Qur’an. Why do Muslims allow such deviations from divine commands? Saudi agents are also involved in the gouging of innocent Muslims.
Hajj should be the natural time to discuss the plight of the Palestinian people and find a solution to zionist-perpetrated genocide. Instead, the illegal occupiers of the Haramyn, the Banu Saud, have reduced it to an empty ritual devoid of its original purpose.
Far from being the spiritual journey and fulfilment of a life-long desire to perform Hajj, for many pilgrims this year’s pilgrimage turned out to be a deadly experience. Thousands of pilgrims died because of Saudi incompetence and callousness.
Hajj is an important pillar of Islam and the largest assembly of the Ummah. Yet under the control of Bani Saud, it has been reduced to empty rituals. Discussion of burning issues like the plight of the Palestinians facing the zionist onslaught is strictly forbidden. Why?
Hajj is one of the important obligations in Islam. Most Muslims perform it in a mechanical manner without realizing its true import based on the teachings of the Qur’an.
Muslims worldwide have been dismayed to learn that an Israeli Jewish reporter managed to sneak into Makkah and even visit Arafat, reporting for Channel 13 in the zionist entity. How did he get there when non-Muslims are not allowed in Makkah? The Saudis have a lot to answer for.
After two years of restrictions, Muslims were looking forward to performing Hajj but the Saudis have imposed new restrictions especially for pilgrims from North America, Europe and Australia. We have long argued that Hajj administration should be taken out of Saudi control. They are not the owners of Hajj and unfit to run its affairs.
While only a million pilgrims will be allowed to perform Hajj this year—an improvement on the last two years—the Saudis have sourced out the system to a Hindu fascist outfit. It will be a “lottery” system, akin to gambling. This is forbidden in Islam. Saudi policies clearly show they are unfit to administer the affairs of Hajj.
Every Saudi policy relating to Hajj or Umrah is not only against the tenets of Islam but also a disaster for the Muslim Ummah. The Saudis’ latest restrictions allowing pilgrims of only 18-60 years age to perform Umrah is completely idiotic.
