Emir of Kano and leader of the Nigerian Central Coordinating Team of the 2015 Hajj Muhammad Sanusi II has said that he will recommend that Nigerians stop participating in the Jamarat (symbolic stoning of the devil) rite of Hajj in Mina except they are given accommodation close to the site where they are to perform the rite.
He stated this on Saturday in Makkah when he led an official delegation on visit to pilgrims residences.
Speaking when the team and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) officials led by its chairman Abdullahi Mukhtar visited Sokoto pilgrims, Sanusi said that blacks, particularly Nigerians were not responsible for the Mina stampede that led to more than 900 people killed.
He however said Nigeria does not have any issue with the Saudi authorities, but that they must understand that no human being is superior to another in the sight of Allah, except he who fears Allah most and that the stoning of the devil was not worth the blood of any Muslim.
Emir Sanusi who quoted several verses of the Qur’an and the saying of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to substantiate his point said refusal to even perform the stoning of devil rituals does not in any way invalidate one’s Hajj.
“During the era of Prophet Muhammad, he permitted pilgrims who came on camels to stay in Makkah after Arafat, instead of staying in Mina and sleeping at Muzdalifa. So, if the Prophet can 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,” he asked.
“Therefore, it will be part of my recommendation to the Federal government that, if we cannot get accommodation close to Jamarat 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.
“Besides, that if one deliberately refuses to even perform the stoning of the devil rituals, 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. As is it presently, sleeping in Mina and Muzdalifa is not backed by any Hadith (sayings/deeds of Prophet Muhammad) or verse of the Qur’an. So, why do we continue to do it?” Sanusi argued. – Daily Trust.
