Devil Wins Hajj Battle Again, 244 Trampled to Death

[spl_cadet]

Devil Wins Hajj Battle Again, 244 Trampled to Death

(2004-02-01) -- In the annual contest between stone pillars symbolizing the devil and thousands of devoted stone-throwing Muslims, the devil won again this year as at least 244 pilgrims died of trampling during the Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca.

"We were disorganized and Satan came ready to play," said an unnamed Imam speaking for Allah, the official deity of Islam. "We threw everything we had at him and those stone pillars are none the worse for the attack. But hundreds of our people are dead, or on the injured reserve list. Ultimately, you have to blame leadership. Allah and his preachers take personal responsibility for the loss."

The Imam said the loss will not affect his mission "to propagate the deep truths of our religion so that all citizens of earth can benefit from the peaceful, intellectual and spiritual teachings of Islam."

"I know it's a cliché," he added. "But we'll go back to the films and the playbook, make some adjustments and next year we'll be back to rock the Hajj."

[CatholicSage]

Sad, but certainly ironic from a Christian point of view...

[apologetics]

It is not even like this is the first such incident. Since 1990, there has been such an incident almost every two years. One would think that such a massive loss of life would engender change, but that does not appear to be the case. This is a strange and bizarre ritual that seems to have nothing more than a symbolic statement.....very strange......

[Fideist345]

This is a strange and bizarre ritual that seems to have nothing more than a symbolic statement.....very strange......

It is much more to Muslims. For the people of that region, the Kaaba (or Ka'bah) was erected by Abraham.

I think it is so old, that nobody knows who constructed it.

[Dr T]

It is much more to Muslims. For the people of that region, the Kaaba (or Ka'bah) was erected by Abraham.

I think it is so old, that nobody knows who constructed it.

I think you are right that the origins are lost in time, but isn't true that it has been rebuilt on several occasions, and in one of the numerous Muslim civil wars it was removed from Mecca altogether and what is there now is what was rebuilt after the return?

I can't give a quote for this, just seem to remember reading it somewhere.

[Fideist345]

I think you are right that the origins are lost in time, but isn't true that it has been rebuilt on several occasions, and in one of the numerous Muslim civil wars it was removed from Mecca altogether and what is there now is what was rebuilt after the return?

I can't give a quote for this, just seem to remember reading it somewhere.

The origins probably have to do with what most sacred places have in common. Wells, springs (especially those that come from rock) and strange geological formations, etc. Yeah, the cube has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. And the "black stone" (I think it might be a meteorite) that normally resides in a corner of the cube, was once stolen and held for ransom. Is that maybe what you're remembering?

[Dr T]

The origins probably have to do with what most sacred places have in common. Wells, springs (especially those that come from rock) and strange geological formations, etc. Yeah, the cube has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. And the "black stone" (I think it might be a meteorite) that normally resides in a corner of the cube, was once stolen and held for ransom. Is that maybe what you're remembering?

Could well be. Sounds about right.

[Heathen Dawn]

The origins probably have to do with what most sacred places have in common. Wells, springs (especially those that come from rock) and strange geological formations, etc. Yeah, the cube has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. And the "black stone" (I think it might be a meteorite) that normally resides in a corner of the cube, was once stolen and held for ransom. Is that maybe what you're remembering?

The Arabs have a history of worshipping stones before Islam, when they were pagans. The Roman Emperor Elagabalus, born an Arab, brought a stone to the Roman Senate for purposes of veneration.

[geneticperfecti]

The Arabs have a history of worshipping stones before Islam, when they were pagans. The Roman Emperor Elagabalus, born an Arab, brought a stone to the Roman Senate for purposes of veneration.

The only old-world Roman emperor born an Arab was Filip the Arab - I'd take that comment with a very large dosage of salt.