Religious Institutions
Religious Institutions
The statement of Ahlul-Bayt World Assembly over 'Tragedy in Mina'
The basic question by Muslims around the world is that why no decisive measures are taken for the prevention of such events? And why even worse and bitterer events with more casualties occur every year?
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
“.. And whoever goes forth from his house towards Allah and His Messenger, and then death overtakes him, his reward is indeed with Allah…”
The catastrophic disaster of Eid al-Adha in the holy land of Mina, which resulted in the death and injury of hundreds of guests of Allah, has caused deep sorrow and concern: sorrow for a large number of believers and pilgrims of Allah of various nationalities who lost their lives, and concern for the fate of administration of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina.
Given that the Mina region has witnessed numerous tragedies for pilgrims, the basic question by Muslims around the world is that why no decisive measures are taken for the prevention of such events? And why even worse and bitterer events with more casualties occur every year? Why the lives and the health of this huge number of pilgrims who go to Hajj are not considered so important?
In yesterday's incident, more than anything, negligence towards the security of the pilgrims is significant; and the question is: if the blocking of the paths was necessary, why pilgrims were not notified of alternative paths? Why no guideposts were arranged to guide the pilgrims who were too weary after one night of lodge in the land of Mash’ar? Why not enough security forces were present to control the large population? Why there were no quick medical or relief services for the victims?
If initial efforts were accomplished to help the wounded pilgrims, the death toll was surely lower. Why this year, when the number of pilgrims was less than other years, the hospitality was like this? And why the government of Saudi Arabia is bragging rather than adopting a sense of duty and responsibility?
In addition to Mina, there is another example of negligence towards the security of the pilgrims, which is the development project that is being continued in Mecca during the Hajj where the frightening shadows of cranes and unstable structures are being seen over millions of pilgrims and two weeks ago killed dozens of them.
It is much regrettable that the Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially confessed the negligence of the construction work on safety issues!
The Ahlul Bayt World Assembly appeals to Islamic scholars, muftis, heads of Islamic states, human rights organizations, international organizations, particularly the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which agreed to reduce the number of pilgrims, and the great Islamic Ummah to move collectively to shift the administration of pilgrimage and pilgrims from the monopoly of one single country to all Muslim countries in order to use the capacity and facilities of all Muslims to put an end to these tragic disasters.
The Ahlul Bayt World Assembly expresses its condolences on this sad tragedy to the Holy Spirit of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.), his Infallible Household (peace be upon them) and to the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei and all survivors and mourners across the Muslim world.
We further pray to Almighty Allah to bestow His mercy upon the victims and wish speedy recovery for all the injured pilgrims. O’ Allah! We complain to you on the absence of our Holy Prophet, and on the nonappearance of our Imam, and on the high number of our enemies and low number of ourselves and severe conditions and attacks against us!
The Ahlul Bayt World Assembly
25 September 2015
The Statement of Al-Mustafa International University
Qom’s al-Mustafa International University has issued a statement condemning Saudi Arabian authorities over their role in last Thursday’s stampede in Mina, which killed over 2,000 pilgrims.
The following is an official statement from the representatives of the non-Iranian students and scholars of the Regional Consultants of al-Mustafa International University in condemnation of the recent incidents during the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah and Mina by the ruling Saud dynasty which led to the deaths of hundreds of pilgrims to the Holy Ka’bah.
In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
“And [remember] when We made the House a place of reward for mankind and a sanctuary, [declaring], ‘Take the venue of prayer from Abraham’s Station.’ We charged Abraham and Ishmael [with its upkeep, saying], ‘Purify My House for those who go around it, [for] those who make it a retreat and [for] those who bow and prostrate.” [Holy Quran 2:125]
May the peace and blessings of God Almighty and his angels be upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S) who came as the harbinger of monotheism to save mankind from polytheism, superstition and ignorance.
Peace be upon the Infallible Imams of guidance who explained the majestic dimensions of this lofty place and conveyed the divine wisdom and commandments related to the pilgrimage to the Sacred Mosque to their lovers.
Peace be upon all the Hajj pilgrims who responded to the call of the Lord to participate in this Abrahamic tradition just as the thirsty go to the source of water and like doves, the pilgrims sought refuge in the House of Monotheism to walk in the footsteps of the divine prophets and the angels and to circumambulate the divine throne.
“And it is the duty of mankind toward God to make pilgrimage to the House” [Holy Quran 3:97] and in the worlds of the Commander of the Faithful: “God has made obligatory upon you the pilgrimage [Hajj] to His Sacred House which is the turning point for the people who go to it as beasts or pigeons go towards spring water... They stood in the position of His Prophets and resembled His angels who surround the Divine Throne securing all the benefits of performing His worship and hastening towards His promised forgiveness” [Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon 1].
This painful catastrophe and heart-wrenching tragedy in Makkah’s Sacred Mosque and in Mina which led to the deaths and injury of many of the Guests of God transformed the Eid celebrations throughout the Islamic ummah and the joy of many families throughout the Islamic world into grief this year. No committed Muslim with a conscience can forget the sorrow and heartbreaking scenes of the deaths of men and women who were still in the holy clothes of ihram. The people of every race and colour from every Islamic denomination, and especially the large numbers of follows of the school of the Ahl al-Bayt (A), who lost their lives with dry lips while oppressed and without refuge in a foreign land.
In addition to the bad record of incompetence and mismanagement in previous years among the Saudi rulers, who claim to be the servants of the Two Holy Mosques, this year there have been increased divisions within the royal family and a struggle for power, the engagement of experienced and trained forces in the ongoing war, fratricide and crimes in Yemen, operations by Takfiri terrorists groups in many Islamic countries and the appointment of incompetent and uncommitted individuals to positions of power which have turned the majestic epic Hajj pilgrimage into a turbulent and horrific scene.
They cannot manage this Abrahamic assembly which should be the focus of Islamic unity, the embodiment of honour, integration and strengthening the foundations of faith and the power and glory of pure Muhammadan Islam against the oppressors and Zionism and which is the treatment centre of pain and wounds to the body of the Muslim ummah. Rather the House of Saud has prevented these practices and unfortunately, their incapability to providing physical security for the guests of God is becoming more and more obvious.
We represent the students and scholars of the Regional Consultants of al-Mustafa International University.
First: We offer our condolences in regard to this tragedy overwhelming to Imam al-Mahdi (AJ) and the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Community, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei (HA), and to the grieving survivors in all Islamic nations. We ask God Almighty to grant the highest ranks to the victims and to grant the wounded a speedy recovery and also grant the families of the victims great patience and divine rewards.
Secondly: We call for the Islamic community, especially the academics, scholars and officials of Islamic countries, conferences, academic and legal institutions to all speak with one voice to defend the great station of Hajj from the intellectual and doctrinal attacks of the atheists and egoists and to realize efforts to manage the Abrahamic pilgrims who represent the dignity, unity and cooperation of all governments and the elites of the Islamic community.
Thirdly: We also advise the Saudi rulers and warn them that that they are on the brink of collapse due to their allegiance to the arrogant powers of the world, the influence of Israel’s open and hidden conspiracies, their reliance on the dollar, their rule by force and deception and their arrogant conflicts, their pride and reliance on reactionary ideas, Takfirism and terrorism.
It is in the interest of the pilgrim’s lives in this world and in the hereafter that they adopt a path of cooperation with the guests of the House of God and to accept responsibility for this tragic incident, to apologize publicly and officially to the Islamic community (especially to the victims) to at least compensate their material and spiritual damages and to accept the moral consequences over the adverse consequences of this incident and not to expose themselves to more problems.
“And peace upon the righteous servants of God”
The Representatives of the Non-Iranian Seminarians and Scholars of the Regional Consultants of al-Mustafa International University,
September 28, 2015 [[1]]
Islamic Centre of England issued statement on Hajj Tragedy
The tragedy of Mina which took the lives of hundreds of pilgrims has brought about much grief and sorrow in the heart of the Muslim Ummah...
In His Name, the Beneficent, the Merciful
...And whoever leaves his home migrating toward God and His Apostle, and is then overtaken by death, his reward shall certainly fall on God, and God is all-forgiving, all-merciful. (4:100)
We are from Allah and to Him we shall return
The tragedy of Mina which took the lives of hundreds of pilgrims has brought about much grief and sorrow in the heart of the Muslim Ummah and in this regard the Islamic Centre of England extends its heartfelt condolences to the Imam of our time, to the righteous Islamic leadership, and to all the Muslims around the world, particularly the families of those lost in this tragedy. We ask Almighty Allah (swt) to elevate their status and give patience to their families.
The Islamic Centre of England calls upon the rulers of the Muslim countries to investigate the reasons behind this calamity and to form a multi-national operation of Muslim countries to secure the safety and security of the pilgrims in the Holy Lands in the future.
On this sad occasion, the Islamic Centre of England is holding a majlis fatiha ceremony for those pure souls who departed in this tragedy. The ceremony will share some thoughts from eye witnesses who have returned from Hajj in addition to a talk by His Eminence Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Ali Shomali, the Director of the Islamic Centre of England. This ceremony is open to everyone who wishes to share in the grief and sorrow of the occasion with us.
May Allah bless the martyrs.
Wasalaamu Alaikum Warahmat Allah Wabarakatuh,
Islamic Centre of England
29th September 2015 [[2]]