MINA: Braving the menace of the swine flu pandemic, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world, especially from countries hit by the H1N1 virus, spent the second day of their stay in the tent city reciting verses from the Holy Qur’an offering prayers to Almighty Allah.
Pilgrims were undeterred and firm in their resolve to seek Allah’s mercy and rejected any scare due to the H1N1 virus.
“We never thought even for a second while planning to embark on Haj about the disease. We were firm in our resolve. And if we have to contract this disease it might happen in Mexico, from where we have come and the country that is badly hit by the virus,” said Nabeel Waleed.
Most of the pilgrims were performing Haj rituals without wearing facemasks. Interestingly the security officials or those involved in Haj management as well as local pilgrims were the ones seen with masks. Pilgrims from Asian countries were rarely seen with masks. Even the places, as per the health authorities directives, where they should have worn masks like the crowded Jamrat Bridge and the Grand Mosque in Makkah, many pilgrims were not wearing the masks or taking any precautions.
“It’s He who gives you pain and misery in the form of disease and we have come to His house to answer His call, so the thought of any fear or scare does not cross our mind,” said Shakil Ahmad from India, who is performing Haj with his wife Shahana Afzal.
Many pilgrims are regularly drinking Zamzam water known for its divine medicinal properties to avoid contracting diseases, including H1N1.
“We are here to pray and meditate, and are not at all afraid of any disease for two reasons. First we are in Allah’s holy land and second the abundance of Zamzam. Zamzam has cured people for centuries,” said Yahya Al-Fareedi from Ethiopia.
Many of the pilgrims said they had not taken any vaccine shots for swine flu neither back home nor after arriving in Saudi Arabia.
“We have adequate amount of tablets and masks for pilgrims. The Indian government sent medicines and masks worth 1.3 million rupees for this year’s Haj, but hardly any pilgrims have asked for them,” said Mohamed Amin Ahmad, an Indian Haj coordinator in Makkah.
“The myth about swine flu has been exploded in Mina and I’m sure the disease is more hype than reality,” said Indian pilgrim Shah Alam.
