MINA/MAKKAH, 25 February — Most pilgrims returned to Makkah yesterday after completing the stoning of the devil ritual.
Pilgrims performed the third day of symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamrat Bridge in Mina on the final day of the Haj before beginning their return home today. Some pilgrims stay behind in Mina to continue the stoning ritual for the fourth day, which is optional. And some others will travel to Madinah to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque. A majority of the pilgrims have already visited Madinah before the start of the Haj rites.
Pandemonium reigned in the streets as hundreds of thousands of faithful tried to leave Mina between noon and 2 p.m.
The 12-km journey to Makkah took up to four hours during that period. Some pilgrims claimed that they were pressed for time because their international transport was leaving on Monday. Others had not yet visited the Prophet’s Mosque and were anxious to head for Madinah after performing Tawaf Al-Widae, or the circling of the Ka’aba before saying farewell to the holy city.
Authorities declared the annual Haj trouble free yesterday as nearly two million Muslims performed final rituals before starting their journey home.
Officials have reported no accidents at the 1.6 km Jamrat Bridge, traditionally the most troublesome part of the Haj. At least 35 people died in a stampede during the stoning ritual last year. In 1998, 119 were killed in a similar incident.
Authorities have said 1.84 million people performed the Haj this year, compared to 1.8 million last year. Of these, 1.35 million came from abroad.
In light of the high temperatures and frightful rush, a number of Saudis changed their plans and remained at Mina. Several stated that they would be sleeping in the afternoon in the comfort of their air-conditioned tents and would only set out for Makkah after the evening prayer.
In the areas where the pilgrims had already left, workers were busy removing the electronics, furnishings and air-conditioners from the tents. All the electronic items and air-conditioners were tested to ensure they were working properly before they were taken for packing. The furnishings were inspected for damage or soiling.
The supervisor at one camp explained that they had no time to check the items as they flooded into the warehouses, so it must be done at Mina for greater efficiency. Today, the dismantling of the tents would begin.
The number of vendors in Mina appeared to have doubled over the previous days. Some were selling larger, more expensive goods than had been seen before. Small electronics, book stands, pillows, toys and prayer rugs were popular.
As the crowds withdrew to Makkah all the services in the holy city were stretched to their limit.
Firefighters had already been on duty half the night controlling a blaze that broke out at 2:30 a.m. in a 13-story building housing pilgrims from Algeria. The fire began on the ground floor of the building in the Aziziya District. It quickly engulfed the first floor as well. Smoke was extremely heavy up through the fifth story. By 5 a.m. the fire was under control but two Algerians, a man and a woman, had perished due to smoke inhalation. Another 15, Saudis and Algerians, were injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The pilgrims resident in the building were shifted to other quarters.
From mid-morning on Sunday, buses laden with pilgrims and their belongings began arriving in the area around the Grand Mosque. At first thousands and then tens of thousands were arriving hourly. By early afternoon the authorities were forced to tightly control entrance to the Grand Mosque. As 10 pilgrims departed from the mosque another 10 were allowed access.
Some tour operators were conscientious and instructed the pilgrims under their supervision to leave their belongings on their bus. The buses were then sent to distant parking lots to wait. The pilgrims were required to be back at a meeting point at a specified hour.
Unfortunately not all pilgrims were so well advised. Thousands showed up at the entrances to the Grand Mosque with food, suitcases and unwieldy bundles. The authorities had to argue with them and insist that they take their belongings to a nearby holding facility. Some pilgrims stacked their bags in unsightly piles and left one or two individuals to watch over them, increasing the congestion in the area. Even at the height of the rush, every purse and tote bag taken into the Grand Mosque was opened and inspected.
Speaking with the pilgrims, Arab News found that those who were carrying their luggage had nowhere to stay in Makkah. One pilgrim, Mohammed Irshad, said that after finishing his farewell tawaf he would just go to Jeddah and sleep at the airport until it was time for his flight.
While some pilgrims were performing their first Haj, many had done the pilgrimage dozens of times.
Zubaida Hassan, a 55-year-old Indian, has performed Haj 27 times. She was so ecstatic about the experience that she stated she wished she could come for Haj every year. Another Indian, Hassan B.K., who is over 70-year-old, did Haj for the first time in 1959. Now, counting this year, he has done the pilgrimage 42 times.
“I am so happy with the Haj this year!” exclaimed Hassan B.K. “It couldn’t have gone smoother. At Arafat I prayed for world peace and for Islam to grow stronger globally.”
The Saudi government is trying to control the numbers at Haj. Saudi citizens and other residents of the Kingdom are allowed to perform the Haj only once every five years. In light of this, Arab News asked pilgrims what they thought about those who perform the Haj multiple times.
“One time is enough for everyone,” said Saudi national Ali Al-Qahtani. Ameen, from Morocco, explained that he had now done the Haj three times. “Once for myself, once for my mother and once for my father,” said Ameen, “and that is enough.”
Mohammed Othman, from Sudan, came for Haj in 1998 for the first time, and he’s back again this year. “The facilities are excellent and there’s plenty of room for everyone,” enthused Othman. “It’s not like before. I would come every year if I could.”
Dr. Ahmed Sarhan, a Saudi, had the last word. “Come once and be blessed,” said Sarhan, with sincerity. “If you have enough money to come for the Haj again, use those funds to propagate the faith instead. Your reward will be greater.”
