This refers to the article “Haj is time for worship, not politics.” (Sept. 13)
This came as a pleasant surprise that Saudi Arabia, under Vision 2030, plans to host 30 million Umrah pilgrims. No surprise then if the government has invested more than SR450 billion for the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques project alone.
The impeccable management, marshaling thousands of government officials, security personnel and volunteers, and taking pilgrims’ every care at every step of Haj, is indeed a subject of international management studies and which rightly draws applause from every Muslim individual and organization.
While the world in general appears overwhelmed by this fine arrangement, there are some within us who leave no stone unturned to malign the Kingdom and politicize the Haj affairs.
They daydream of depriving the Kingdom of the Haj management, raising the issue of Haj accountability. This is absurd and a self-destructing behavior. This is one reason why they are increasingly getting sidelined globally in matters of Muslim and Islamic affair.
Saudi Arabia has taken as the writer has rightly said “a clear policy separating Haj from politics, because the pilgrimage is a ritual devoted solely to worship and prayer, not politics.”
Is Haj the right place for settling political or ideological scores? The writer says it is “unacceptable and reprehensible,” which is perfectly in tune with the Muslim thinking today.
The Kingdom must send out a strong message that enough is enough, setting a red line that is not to be crossed or sullied by political and sectarian slogans.
This must be backed by a sustained campaign worldwide to put things across in right perspective.
This is important, as in this new century, more than physical wars, the factors that catalyze things to make any difference are certain tools that we need to master over like those of media, including social e-forums, and of course academia. — Seraj Hasan, Alkhobar
Well done, Saudi Arabia
