RIYADH: The death toll from this year's Haj has exceeded 1,000, an AFP tally said on Thursday (Jun 20), more than half of them unregistered worshippers who performed the pilgrimage in extreme heat in Saudi Arabi
I would argue that Muslims are, by default, required by their religion to make the hajj.
No it does not. The verse is quite clear: {وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا} {And for God is the duty of the people to perform the Hajj to the House, whoever is able to make a way to it} emphasis mine. If someone knows they can’t: sick, poor, etc… the verse says basically don’t go.
While I wouldn’t call myself an Islamic scholar, I would say I do know a bit about it.
Do you know that in certain cases Hajj is haram? Possibly risking your life is one reason why many have prohibited it.
Not the worst outcome for whom? People are dead. I’ll bet there’s at least one child, sibling, or parent who isn’t terribly comforted by the idea that their loved one is a martyr.
For the faithful it is not. I don’t know what to say more than this. They could have not performed hajj but they chose to oblige themselves.
You realize that my entire comment basically boiled down to, “I wonder if this will make chime question their faith,” so imho replying that I shouldn’t feel bad for the faithful is a little bit missing the point.
If it’s not clear, I’m not a Muslim, and not religious at all. Even if all of the families are comforted by their religion, I will still feel pain for them.
I wonder if this will make chime question their faith
Why would they question their faith? The Quran clearly states go to pilgrimage only if you can. Perhaps they felt compelled to go, but surely they knew they didn’t have to.
People who are religious are generally not afraid to die. There are endless risks associated with pilgrimage beyond just a heat stroke.
No it does not. The verse is quite clear: {وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا} {And for God is the duty of the people to perform the Hajj to the House, whoever is able to make a way to it} emphasis mine. If someone knows they can’t: sick, poor, etc… the verse says basically don’t go.
Do you know that in certain cases Hajj is haram? Possibly risking your life is one reason why many have prohibited it.
For the faithful it is not. I don’t know what to say more than this. They could have not performed hajj but they chose to oblige themselves.
You realize that my entire comment basically boiled down to, “I wonder if this will make chime question their faith,” so imho replying that I shouldn’t feel bad for the faithful is a little bit missing the point.
If it’s not clear, I’m not a Muslim, and not religious at all. Even if all of the families are comforted by their religion, I will still feel pain for them.
Why would they question their faith? The Quran clearly states go to pilgrimage only if you can. Perhaps they felt compelled to go, but surely they knew they didn’t have to.
People who are religious are generally not afraid to die. There are endless risks associated with pilgrimage beyond just a heat stroke.