What the Saudi authorities did to prevent a recurrence of 2015 Hajj fatalities

Several Nigerian Muslim families wore melancholic looks around this time, last year. The sad experience was occasioned by the twin tragedies recorded in the holy city of Mecca, almost in quick succession.  One of the two tragedies was the crane crash recorded in the open prayer ground of the Grand Mosque known as the Holy […]

Several Nigerian Muslim families wore melancholic looks around this time, last year. The sad experience was occasioned by the twin tragedies recorded in the holy city of Mecca, almost in quick succession.  One of the two tragedies was the crane crash recorded in the open prayer ground of the Grand Mosque known as the Holy Ka’bah while the other concerns the numerous fatalities of the pebble casting rite at the Jamaraat.  
There were both name-calling and blame-apportioning and the Saudi Hajj authorities were brazen and horrendous in “enlightening” the world about the “true story” of the tragedies. Notwithstanding, the two incidents of fatalities and almost irreparable casualties continued to earn the Saudi Hajj authorities pen-bashing and tongue-lacerations for a long time thereafter. It may be stated for the record that the present writer did not equivocate in interrogating the Saudi stance as he lent his voice to the international discourse generated in that regard by contributing several articles published in some of the leading outlets in Nigeria and overseas.
Almost instantaneously, the Saudi Hajj authorities remorsefully began to address the various issues emerging from the comments and debates attracted by the accidents.  Today, the 2016 hajj rites have reached their climax and there has not been a recurrence of the last year’s tragedy at the Jamaraat.  It behoves a critical mind to ask, what were the measures involved? Four main measures may be enumerated among several others minor ones. One of such measures was strict implementation by the Saudi authorities of the departmentalization of the hi-tech Jamaraat  Bridge into six levels to ensure smooth flow of pilgrims for the pebble-casting rite,  in a manner that has no potential to facilitate overcrowding or stampedes.
The strength of this measure lies in the dispersal of several thousands of pilgrims at various levels of the Jamaraat Bridge for the purpose of connecting them to the roads and streets that lead easily to their destinations, after the performance of the rite. This arrangement is not really a new measure. Effective implementation was rather the missing link in previous hajj operations.  Another measure was the enhanced level of monitoring involved in the scheduling for movement to Jamaraat. Again, the measure is not new altogether. Rather, the degree of efficacy offered by the measure this year was essentially an instrumentality of the enhanced quality in the performance of the Saudi Hajj coordinators technically called “mutawwifun”. The heart of the argument here is that there had always been some degree of non-challance  in the handling of the Jamaraat schedule by both the Saudi Hajj coordinators and state hajj officials from various countries, even though there also had always been some exceptions.
Three, and most importantly, the elaborate re-engineering of hajj operations by the Saudi authorities in a fashion that altered the landscape of rites especially with regard to the status of each ritual performed at specific sanctuaries. This is where Saudi Arabia recently did the most impressive job and offered the most creative interventions in consonance with the available body of Islamic jurisprudential provisions.
In some of my earlier interventions, I had thought it appropriate to provide information concerning what I know of the Saudi Arabian Government attitude to issues bordering on the safety and security of the pilgrims while in the Holy Lands.  It may be relevant to reiterate that one of the factors that put me in a good stead to contribute to this discourse is that I relate closely with the Saudi Hajj authorities in the capacity of an Accredited Translator/Interpreter, have had access to documents on Saudi rules and regulations on Hajj safety and security through my services to the Establishment for the Coordinators of Pilgrims from Non-Arabic Speaking African Countries, and can therefore attest to the fact that Saudi Arabia is neither negligent over nor insensitive to the plight of the pilgrims. It should be pointed out however, that this position does not claim that there could not have been some deficiencies or inadequacies in the Saudi official preparations for Hajj. It may be a bitter truth that I cannot claim not to have noticed one or two shortcomings during my association with Hajj authorities, even though some of such inadequacies are not of safety orientation.
Today pilgrims perform hajj rites in comfort at the Holy Ka’bah and the Jamaraat both of which witnessed last year’s tragedy. It is only fair to underscore the high sense of responsibility demonstrated by the Saudi hajj coordinators in this connection. As regards the Holy Ka’bah, it is interesting to note that the expansionist project is a product of the need for more space for the accommodation of the increasing number of worshippers at the Holy House. Such a long-felt need occasioned the intervention of the Custodian of the Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bn Abdul-Azeez Al-Sa’ud who decisively took up the challenge of bringing about the desired expansion for the purpose of ensuring easy observance of rituals at the mosque whose current carrying capacity for the circumambulation section is far above the earlier estimated 48,000 worshippers.
In an audio-visual release from the Saudi Arabian Hajj Ministry, the expansionist project was described as having being scheduled for execution in three phases in keeping with the First and Second Saudi Arabian Development Plan. In specific terms, the ground floor now attracts a 30% additional capacity and the first floor, 75% while the repositioning of pillars has now brought about a total carrying capacity of additional 44%.
 As regards the Jamaraat-related safety and security measures taken by the Saudi Hajj authorities, it should be noted that that really where Saudi Arabia deserves plaudits for performing up to global expectations. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has embarked on an aggressive campaign of various orientations and directed its organs such as the Establishments for Hajj Coordination to implement fully all the measures targeted at facilitating an accident-free pebble casting at the Jamaraat.  The present writer has the honour of being charged with the responsibility of translating from Arabic to English some of the highly sophisticated instruments developed for that purpose. The outcome of this year’s hajj operations, with regard to Saudi performance, may arguably be a testimony to the efficacy of such instruments.
Saudi Hajj authorities hold that Islam is committed to the elimination of discomfort from human life. They argue that that explains why it seeks to protect the human soul against destruction and prevent the occurrence of anything capable of ruining it. They maintain that It is pursuant to such a rationale that Allah permits eating from a lifeless animal in the absence of food, given that such an exigency permits the prohibited so that the forbidden becomes permissible, owing to the constraint involved.
The Saudi Hajj authorities believe that the ever increasing population of pilgrims on an annual basis has culminated in the stampeded nature of Muna during the pebble casting rite on the ‘Id day (10th of Dhul-Hijjah) and the following three days of the same month, noting that this experience has led to injuries and fatalities.
They rationalize that there is an urgent need to embrace discomfort-eliminating provisions of Islam with regard to the rites involved. This necessitates an arrangement for a stay at Muzdalifa till midnight, as prescribed by the Holy Prophet Muhammad, before advancing to Muna for pebble casting. They argue that this provision has the potential to prevent stampede and exposure of pilgrims to excessive heat especially in the face of high temperature. As for those who remain in Muzdalifa till daybreak, they are advised to return to their tents in Muna, in order to avoid a stampede, and thereafter leave to for pebble casting in consonance with the schedule carefully and painstakingly prepared by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in the interest of pilgrims.
Concerning pebble casting during the three days that follow the day of ‘Id, they observe that road and human congestion is normally occasioned by the insistence of most pilgrims to perform this rite immediately after mid day especially on the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah owing to most pilgrims’ wander-lust to perform the rite early in order to disperse before sunset. The Saudi Hajj coordinators find no strain in identifying this as one of the factors instrumental to several injuries and fatalities, as well as unbearable discomfort.
They are of the opinion that the Islamic Law does not favour the hurting and inconveniencing of mankind especially during acts of worship. This, they believe, makes mandatory the articulation of Shari’a provisions in that regard for the purpose of enlightening the pilgrims about such provisions in order to facilitate a gentle and tranquil observance of Hajj rites.
They rely on the fact that the Holy Prophet and all the prophets before him emphasized the virtue of protecting human soul against discomfort and destruction and the fact that the Almighty Allah enjoined this in the Qur’an where He says “Do not expose yourselves to destruction by your own hands”. The implication of this, in their estimation, is that any act or action contravening the protection of human soul is reprehensible.
Given that the lives of pilgrims are a trust to Hajj coordinators, Saudi authorities enjoin them to equip pilgrims and their guides with these Shari’a provision in order to facilitate pilgrims’ comfort.  It is instructive to note that is not the best to be closed-minded in the articulation of Hajj rules to pilgrims in a fashion capable of exposing them to danger, which is why it is permissible to embrace the most convenient of all the opinions offered in that connection. A superior argument is determined by the circumstances surrounding the experience involved. So, Muslims are enjoined to be promoters of glad-tidings and do not make Islam inconsiderable. The Holy Prophet was known for his practice of embracing the most convenient of all issues.
Consequently, the Saudi Hajj authorities enjoin Hajj coordinators and religious guides to enlighten pilgrims about this and enjoin them to keep to the schedule provided by the Ministry of Hajj and ‘Umrah, for their comfort and easy performance of their hajj rites.
The enlightenment provided in this connection proved highly rewarding to both the pilgrims and their coordinators in the 2016 hajj operations.   That explains why the arrangement put in place to achieve such a laudable Hajj experience should be applauded. If there had been a recurrence or even a minor replication of the tragedies of last year, this year, there would have been vituperations upon and condemnation of the Saudi Hajj authorities, from various quarters. And now that the reverse is the case and the outcome, impressive, it is only fair that the Hajj   thinkers and operators whose services have been engaged by the Hajj authorities, be associated with reverence and plaudits. Bravo, Saudi Arabia, for Hajj 2016!
Saheed Ahmad Rufai, Ag. Dean, Faculty of Education, Sokoto State University, Sokoto.