The Beginning of Haj

It is that time of the year, when Millions of Muslims from all over the world make their annual pilgrimage to the Haj. The holy cities of Mecca and Medina is where the pilgrimage takes place, and it lasts for close to a month. However, this post is not going to look at the religious aspects of the Haj. This post is going to deal with he backdrop under which this pilgrimage has begun, as well as the dangers and corruption associated with the Haj.

The Haj Pilgrimage of 2006 is taking place at a time when the Middle East is more dangerous than it was ever before. The tension in Iraq has reached boiling point, and things have flared up yet again between Israel and the Palestinians. To add to the whole tension, things are looking extremely unstable in Lebanon, where Shitte Muslims are planning to overthrow the Sunni led government. In Iraq, the death sentence of former Presdient Saddam Hussein is looming large. The events in Iraq is probably the spark that might set the entire Middle East on fire. To the time of writing this entry, the news was being relayed that Saddam Hussein's death sentence will be carried out in a matter of hours. This time, even the Haj is not safe. Al-Qaeda has threatened attacks at the Haj, as well as targetting the Saudi Royal family. So, the Haj pilgrimage is now fraught with more dangers than ever before.

One feature of the Haj that has been there for a long time has been the security arrangements. The period during which the Stoning of the devil takes place is the most dangerous. It is at this time that many people die. To add to the woes, a stampede might break out and might result in large deaths. There is sometimes Gross Negligence on the part of the devotees that can lead to other people getting hurt. For example, in 2002, a Gas cylinder exploded in a devotees tent and this led to several deaths. The world will wait and watch as to how safe this time the Haj is going to be.

To add to the broader troubles, here in India, Bribery and Corruption have tainted the Haj. In an Expose by Cobrapost and IBN, it was revealed that members of the Haj Committee took bribes from poor muslims so that they could go to the Haj. The Government of India subsidizes Haj Quota so that all Muslims can have a chance to go to the Haj. By paying Bribes and manipulating the selection of the people under the subsidized scheme, the people in charge have taken advantage of people's faith. (The full information on the Haj Expose can be seen on www.ibnlive.com)

The Haj pilgrimage is carried out annually and millions of muslims come to the holy site and pray for peace and good wishes. But, reality outside of the Haj is grim and as the years go by, it seems to become more dangerous. 2007 ushers in another dangerous year for the middle east, which will also undergo tremendous change following the events that have taken place in 2006.