The outstanding Iranian Sunni scholar has expressed his deep concerns and regret over the Mina incident, demanding a clear investigation of the shocking and surprising incident.
Talking exclusively to “SunniOnline”, the official web portal of the Sunni community in Iran, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid Isma’eelzahi said, “Unfortunately, many of the pilgrims faced calamities in this year’s Hajj. The losses made everyone, especially Muslims, sad and regretful.”
In response to a question about the history of such painful incidents in Makkah al-Mukarramah, he said, “As far as I remember, in the past 50 years there were commonly three kinds of incidents for pilgrims; some people used to lose their lives during the stoning of the Devil at the place of pebbles. Another incident was taking place in the streets around the place of pebbles; many pilgrims used to lose their lives in the streets. I saw many times such incidents. The third kind of incident was taking place at tents as the pilgrims used to cook in their tents in Mina.”
Pointing out to the adopted plans for saving the lives of the pilgrims, Khateeb and Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan further said, “By using incombustible tents we have not seen any fire incident. The place of pebbles was covered by a multi-floor building and the number of causalities was decreased. Also, the police and civil defense personnel divided the pilgrims into groups to avoid stampede. The ways around the place also were divided into different ways for reaching the site and returning. After these plans, the problem was resolved to a great extent.”
Alluding to the incident took place in the ongoing pilgrimage, the rector of Darululoom Zahedan said, “The two incidents took place in Mataaf and Mina were shocking and painful. These accidents demand the accurate planning of the Saudi authorities. These incidents need a fair pathology; the reasons behind the events should be examined.”
“In the future, the pertinent authorities should follow the case with more caution. All pilgrims are the guests of the Saudi Kingdom and they perform Hajj under the management and hospitality of the Saudi government,” he added more.
The member of the Muslim World League’s supreme council underlined, “The government of the Saudi Kingdom has responsibilities regarding the pilgrims according to its capabilities. Everyone has responsibilities in accordance to his abilities as the Noble Qur’an suggests. The Saudi Kingdom can get the services of capable experts to manage the Hajj operation.”
Expressing his surprise on the Makkah and Mina accidents, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said, “Mina and Makkah are mountainous areas; thus taking place of such incidents in those small towns is common. But the incidents of this year were very surprising. The authorities must reach to the root causes of the incidents took lives of hundreds of the pilgrims.”
In the talk with SunniOnline, Shaikh Isma’eelzahi urged on the pre-training of pilgrims and correct guidance of them as many of them are not habitual with the civic life and rules.
At the end, he expressed his condolences to the victims of Mina, particularly the families of the martyr pilgrims and supplicated to the Almighty for their forgiveness.