Hajj: Nigeria threatens Saudi Arabia over death of pilgrims

…We may not stone devil again, says Emir

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NIGERIA: THROUGH the Amirul Hajj and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, Nigeria has sent a warning signal to the Saudi Arabian government.

The Emir threatened on Friday that henceforth Nigeria may no longer participate in the stoning of the devil during holy pilgrimage to Mecca unless the oil-rich country provides accommodation close to Jamrat where the Arabs reside in Mina for its pilgrims.

It would be recalled that almost 1,000 pilgrims – including 64 Nigerians – died with several thousands injured in the last hajj exercise during the ritual of stoning the devil.

Two weeks earlier, a crane had killed almost 200 pilgrims with hundreds injured during construction expansion in Mecca.

Sanusi also rejected the claim that Africans, particularly Nigerians, were responsible for the stampede.

The monarch, who quoted several verses in the Islamic book, Quoran, stated that refusual to stone the devil by pilgrims does not invalidate pilgrimage to the holy land.

“During the era of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), he permitted pilgrims who came on camels to stay in Makkah after Arafat, instead of staying in Mina and sleeping at Muzdalifa,” he said, adding: “So, if the Prophet could give such grace to some people, just to protect their animals, why didn’t our scholars educate our people properly to avoid this untoward hardship and death?”
Sanusi, a one time Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, also said: “Therefore, it will be part of my recommendation to the Federal Government that, if we cannot get accommodation close to Jamrat where the Arabs reside in Mina, then this year may be the last time we will sleep in Mina and Muzdalifa because we want to stone the devil.”
“If one deliberately refuses to perform the stoning of the devil ritual, all he needs to do is just to slaughter a ram. So, if this is the situation, why do we go and suffer and die instead of sacrificing a ram,” the Emir further stressed.